Archive for the ‘ Novel in 30 Days ’ Category

Writer’s Log 01.12.2018-0758

Good morning all you beautiful people!
Woke a bit earlier this morning, and begin what has become a comforting ritual, beginning my Log. Putting words on a page may be tedious to some, but I find the quiet pop of keys falling, and the appearance of black letters on a white screen soothing in a way that escapes my definition.
Of course, there is the annoyance of the occasional misspelled words or grammar mistake that I must fix, but that annoyance is more like biting into a peppercorn in a delicious meal, a rush of pepper than gone.

Shift, by Frank Darbe
“Two o’clock in the fucking AM on a smoky night with no clouds and only the light from the overglow of distant fires, Toss sat on the goose seat of a Harley Sportster with his arms around the waist of a beautiful woman. He lived a young man’s dream, and all he could think about after hours of driving East was that his ass hurt from his knees to his neck.”
Chapter 3: Chasing Ghosts
Available at JaCol Publishing and Amazon

Writer’s Log – Supplemental – 1628: I wrote a Flash Fiction piece titled, “The Path Most Demanding” using the painting by Johann Georg von Meyer. 812 words.


Painting by Johann Georg von Meyer

A Writer’s Plan:
So far, I have pursued this without a pl;an, other than published a book. Well I’ve done that and now I need to move on. I intend to try something a little different. Writing a series of Novella’s that will add up to a larger novel. Novella’s can be as short as 20,000 words and upwards to 40,000. I want to aim at 30,000 words. I can write one in thirty days or less. For a series, I can have each novel complete on its own, and series arcs.

I am already working on a Novella. I am going to make this either a duology or a trilogy. It will be Science Fiction of the Space Opera genre. It will run like a series of modules in a game, one leading to the next but each being independent, capable of standing alone.

Writer’s Log – Supplemental 01.13.2019-0048
I have written the basic background for the series of Novellas. I suspect it will be a Trilogy. The first novella will be the gathering of the three primary characters and their escape from Breakersbore in search of an ancient colony ship.

Once Again, NOVEL in a MONTH, With Feeling

Editing Shift. Setting the clock. Excited, no, not really. Terrified at my own love of failure. You betcha. More on the flip.


Shift – Rewrote Chapter 2 Scene 1. My editor made suggestions, and for some reasons, I just fought the very idea. But it is done. (1172 of 3000)

Editing gives me a head ache. I think I write clear, clean, and economically, and the editor says overwritten, or in the wrong place, or…

Shift – Rewrote Chapter 2 Scene 2. (1438 of 3000 words).

Shift – Added an appropriate mention of the five POV Characters to Chapter 1.

Shift – Rewrote Chapter 2 Scene 3 (533 of 3000 words)

Ironville – Read and performed minor edits on Chapter 1 (2300 word) as part of diving back into that story.

A number of writers I really admire have suggested that writing a book is a form of monogamy. Others, write one novel while editing a finished work. Some just split their time between writing and editing novels, with short stories thrown in the mix. I more of the later, I think. I’m not sure if it will hurt my attempt at writing, but it is how my mind works.

Struggling Here, If You Get My Drift

The BOOK in a MONTH project.

Ho boy.

Yes, I failed. It is difficult to write 3000 words a day, especially with the kids at home. I could aim for less, and that might work, except that it would be in 30 days.

I also have problems with the way the whole is developed. I’ve discovered after a record breaking 3 attempts to write a novel with different systems, that the Snowflake system is about the best I’ve found.

So, I’m sitting here trying to figure out what I’m going to do, you know.

Shift.

Rewrite Shift.

It’s written, and I can edit the (Place F-Bomb Here) out of 3000 words a day.

So, as of today, I am starting again.

MY PROJECTS
Shift

Scapula

Ironville

Twilight’s Child

Sleeping Lies

On the mark.

Get set.

Go!

Negative is the Mind Killer

(Channeling my inner Herbert)

A Positive Meditation*

Believe in Me

See the Best in Every Situation

Focus on the solution, not the problem

Persist against adversity

*Adopted from BOOK in a MONTH by Victoria Lynn Schmidt Ph.D.

Today it begins.

Reading and Prep Work

Continuing the reading and prep work for the NOVEL in 30 DAYS. My most humbling experience is examining my Self-Esteem. I always knew I had problems in that area, but apparently, I lack any measurable self-esteem. That could almost make a man feel proud.

Picked up my son.

Don’t, I’m getting to the point.

Picked up my son who is out of school early and took him to one of my favorite coffee places, but damned if he doesn’t want to talk to me. Don’t get me wrong, I love talking to my son, but he is a “Distraction” because, being here, he wants to talk, and I am having trouble concentrating.

Well, when he goes to be with the Rabbi, perhaps I can work.

A Novel in 30 Days?

BOOK in a MONTH by Victoria Lynn Schmidt, Ph.D.

BOOK in a MONTH by Victoria Lynn Schmidt, Ph.D.

Question for the day: can you write a novel in 30 days?

Let me back up. The real question on my mind remains can I write a novel in 30 days? I find lots of books about it. Of course, I’ve heard the stories. Ian Flemming wrote Dr. No in 3 days, or so I’ve heard. Barbra Cartland built her career on writing a book a month. Other writers out there do it, so it is possible.

But Can I?

To answer that questions, I’ve decided to put that question to the test. I bought a book titled, cleverly enough, “Book in a Month” by Victoria Lynn Schmidt, Ph.D. With education piled higher and deeper, she should know.

But again, I am sort of a fractured individual. I’ve written books, three months being my record, and can I really apply myself every day?

So, when do I begin, you ask? There are 60 pages to read. I look ahead to “Week 1” and see that the first day doesn’t look too arduous, well except for the, approximately, 2,666 words that I write a day, along with the other stuff that is involved in writing a novel. I’m not sure, but it looks like you are supposed to jump in and swim beginning on day 1. Today, I will read those pages and, if all things go well, I will start tomorrow.