Writer-In-Progress

Because I’m a total nerd and not afraid to admit it, I had to post this quick followup before lunch:

I have a little writing tracker software program I picked up years ago from Kresley Cole (still on her website) where you plug in the word count of what you want your finished work to be, how many days it will take, and it spits out how many pages a day you need (or words a day) to get to that goal on time.

Plugged in today’s word count (2722) and realized that it was exactly 1000 words more than last count (1722.). Exactly. Very cool.

Told you I was a nerd. Did I say it was EXACTLY 1000 more words?

I think I need food. I’m getting a little silly here…

• Comments Off
• Filed in Random Writing Stuff

yeah, lofty goal those 15 pages were. Should have set that goal prior to hanging out last night until 3am for a friend’s birthday celebration …lol…

Now, though, the tea has kicked in, and I’m onto the last section of chapter 1 in my outline–one I think will be fun and fast writing….alas, as luck has it, my 2p.m. deadline has arrived and it’s time for a little shopping and lunch. Should be back around 4, in time to write for 4 more hours.

(sports alert…if you don’t like sports, stop here as it’s time for a little Buckeye football reference)

I sacrifice a lot for my writing…I give up lunch dates, meetings with friends over coffee, chances to clean my kitchen (such a sacrifice) but I’m not giving up watching Oklahoma beat Missouri so my Buckeyes have one more shot at getting into the national championship game in New Orleans. Plus, it’s the last college football game before the bowl games…another six months without college football…sigh….so I’m working to get my stuff done today by 8pm so I can get my last gridiron fix of the season without guilt for not writing til midnight.

Go Sooners…

• Comments Off
• Filed in Random Writing Stuff

I’m working on the book right now and have come up with a problem (not big, maybe more like an issue) and wonder how other writers deal with it.

As I write (two more pages down since noon today), I’m finding places where I need to insert some research or quotes in order to make the information resonate. I don’t usually include those things in the first draft (nonfiction we’re talking)–that’s a second/third draft issue.

My question is…I’m writing the first draft, and normally my second draft is for content editing (changing sentences and paragraphs) as opposed to copy editing (grammar, spelling, etc–usually my last draft). I’m wondering if I should use the second draft as a “quote and research” draft only and leave the content editing for the third draft, or should I do “quotes and research” AND content editing in the second draft together? Or, hell, do “quotes and research” AFTER content editing? That almost seems more logical as the quote & research placement is meant to enhance particular text.

Or is all this talk just procrastination because I’ve spent 20 minutes working on one paragraph that refuses to solidify on the page? Hmmm….

Goal: page 15 by 2p.m. The hubby and I have gift certificates to spend that expire today (!!) so we’re doing lunch and shopping at two. Good deadline….and since I’m hungry, I’m gonna go meet it!

More later (maybe)

• Comments Off
• Filed in Random Writing Stuff

Just checked email before getting started on the writing today & found a very nice surprise.

My article on diabetic summer camps for Diabetes Explorer magazine was to originally be published in September. I received the check after the final draft was turned in, and the editor emailed to let me know there were some changes going on at the magazine …my article would be pushed back for publication.

I didn’t expect it to be published. I’ve never had an article get pushed back, and have heard only disappointing stories from other authors who’ve been through the same thing only to have their articles cut from publishing.

So today’s email–a PDF final draft of my article to edit–was great news. It’s slated for the January issue and I’m excited. This article is one with a lot of personal attachment for me. The two guys I quoted are two of the most important people in my life–my brother Richie and best friend Nate (and Darlene, the camp director I quoted, is a dear longtime friend as well). The camp I mention in the article is the one I’ve worked at for the past 14 summers. Makes it even more special.

Being patient as a writer is hard but it’s a good thing.

• Comments Off
• Filed in Random Writing Stuff