FEB-APR ROUGH DRAFT OF SAND AND STORM
MAY/JUN EDIT SAND AND STORM ROUGH DRAFT PROJ 2
JUL ALPHA READERS ROUGH DRAFT PROJ 2
AUG-OCT SECOND DRAFT OF SAND AND STORM ROUGH DRAFT PROJ 2
NOV BETA READERS EDIT
DEC EDIT SAND AND STORM EDIT
It's been a while since I've stopped by and written anything here. In fact, I haven't written anything at all in a while. But I have a new plan for that, and I'm just going to run through it shortly.
FEB-APR ROUGH DRAFT OF SAND AND STORM MAY/JUN EDIT SAND AND STORM ROUGH DRAFT PROJ 2 JUL ALPHA READERS ROUGH DRAFT PROJ 2 AUG-OCT SECOND DRAFT OF SAND AND STORM ROUGH DRAFT PROJ 2 NOV BETA READERS EDIT DEC EDIT SAND AND STORM EDIT
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So, it's time to admit it, but I'm starting over with Sand and Storm. And, I think, this may be my last go at it before I decide it's time to put it in a drawer and move onto another one. I want to give it this chance, though, because, when I was doing the original draft, and then it got deleted from my computer for ever, I promised myself I wouldn't give up on this one easily.
But this is my fourth draft. I had to restart once because it was deleted, then restarted again because it wasn't meant to be proper epic fantasy with 300,000 words, and then again, now, because something is wrong in the integral structure of the book. Does this mean that, even with this draft, the story won't work? I don't know, but we're going to find out together. Why am I excited? Well, I bought this notebook for worldbuilding, and, well, I've been world building like crazy. So, I think this break from writing has been a good decision.
In additional news, one of my friends has started reading what I've written and she doesn't think it's half as bad as I do. Yay! I have hit my goal for the month- I don't recall if I mentioned that- but, while I'm still very much in love with the characters and story for Sand and Storm, I've found that I need some sort of break from that book. Not a complete, take a month, or even a week, off, sort of break, but an "I'm running out of steam a little bit" sort of break.
So there are two smaller works that I'll be tinkering away at. The first one is tentatively (more or less tentatively I guess, since I'm actually rather happy with this title I just don't know if it'll be something I'm happy with forever... whatever) called Wonderland and it's a graphic novel series. I've been working on characters and general plot. The other one is called, because I can't think of a title and don't really care to at the moment, Ethereal Road Trip Novel. I'm just writing scenes whenever the inspiration hits- I literally have no thoughts or plans for anything to do with this novel, just the general sense of "I have to write it because I've always wanted to" and an awesome soundtrack (Elton John, Billy Joel, Counting Crows, etc.). Well, that's what I'm kinda working on. I've also added little notes about them in my WIP page. School is hard and I just don't have the same motivation as I did over Winter Break, but I'm still writing, and I'm still writing quite a bit, I'm happy to report. I just have to work a little harder to make myself sit down and write and chapters take some more time. Rather than finishing a chapter each day as I was doing, it now takes me about two days. Not a bad pace, I know, but definitely a down grade. I did manage to write a whole chapter today, and that made me really happy. I should be reaching the goal for the month in about a week I think. That would be really wonderful, honestly.
Don't get me wrong, I've been really enjoying writing Sand and Storm. It's been an experience that I wouldn't give up. But as I write I often find myself thinking that this scene, while it's decent, or even good, now, can be better after it's been edited. And I find myself looking forward to that stage. This is especially pleasing for two reasons:
One, it means I'm, even subconsciously, expecting to finish this novel. Which, as I've mentioned before, I've never done. Two, it means I really do like this story. The whole time I consider it a good story, with not just potential but actual substance already. I don't feel myself growing tired of it and it's keeping going at a pretty good pace. This is another thing I've had trouble with in the past and I'm glad it's not giving me trouble right now. Anyway, back to writing, just wanted to update everyone. First of all, have you seen Taylor Swift's new video for Out of the Woods? No? Here it is for you: Okay, I just absolutely love this one! Not what I pictured when I listened to the song, but a really awesome video that I will definitely be coming back to on occasion.
So, the month- the year!- is over and it's time to reevaluate where I stand in my writing. This month my goal was to write 500 words a day, and that didn't happen. Well, I did write a lot, just not every day. I surpassed my original goal, which was fantastic, but also failed to completely reach the original goal in that I didn't write every day. Well, in 2016 that will be changing. No matter what, even if it's been a really busy day, I will write 500 words minimum. Other than that one little thing, though, my writing has surpassed my goals and I have to reevaluate what they will be. December- I wrote just over 22,000 words when I had planned to write 12,500 January 2016- 15,000 (total: 37,000) February- 14,500 (total: 51,500) March- 15,500 (total: 67,000) April (camp nano)- 33,000-50,000 (total: finish the novel) May, June, July, August, September, and October will dedicated to editing Sand and Storm, and I'll also probably work on another project at the same time. I don't know what that project will be, yet (since I have so many idea), but I want to have several options to query with if one doesn't work. Obviously, more information will come when I finish Sand and Storm. Plan for Smoke and Mirrors: November (nano)- 50,000 December- 15,500 (total: 65,500) January 2017- 15,500 (total: 81,000) February- 14,000 (total: 95,000) March- 5,000-15,500 (total: finish the novel) April, May, and June will be spent editing Smoke and Mirrors, and editing whatever the previous project was, since I don't think there will be time to complete anything of greater length in that period. Plan for Wind and Rain: July (camp nano)- 50,000 August- 15,500 (total: 65,500) September- 14,500 (total: 80,000) October- 15,500 (total: 95,500) November- 4,500-50,000 (total: finish the novel) So, that's the plan. It's not too much changed once you get past Sand and Storm, but I just wanted to update it completely for my own records as well. I'll check back in sporadically as I write, as per usual. Hopefully, I'll meet my 500 words a day count. Basically, I'm going to act like it's not a possibility not to. Happy New Years! Let's just say I found my momentum again (because I did and it's amazing to be back on this horse!).
Do your characters ever surprise you? I don't want to spoil anything, but the chapter I just wrote ended up being the most surprising of any I've written so far. Two of the characters, which I always planned would be romantically intertwined, had the sweetest scene in the world. Writing it was a pleasure and I hope to write many more scenes with them together. Even though I knew they would end up together, I never much pictured their relationship. But I'm in love with them being in love. Just wanted to let y'all know. Happy Holidays! This is probably the worst thing that could happen to me right now. I've just reached my goal for the month early, the words flying from my fingers, the story spread through my mind and infecting me to the bone... but now I haven't written in days. Days, guys. It's killing me. My drive went somewhere and now I can't find it!
So, I took a step back to see what happened, where it might have gone. I had to take two days off of writing because I was busy all day, and any writing I did those days wouldn't be worth the time it took. I do believe this to be true. However, I should have at least spent time outlining, because it was on one of those days that my brain gave up and said "no more". What do I do when this happens? Often, nothing, which is a big problem, and I wait for the bug to bite me. But, no, not this time. I need the bug back NOW if I'm going to stay on schedule. So I did the first thing that really helps me out- I prowl through some of my favorite author's blogs to see where their roots come from. Seeing that actual published authors have been in this same situation means so much to me. I'm going to continue to prowl around, but I thought I'd write about it here, because someday I hope to be a published writer and I want my readers to be able to see that I had these same exact problems. I do plan to write tonight, and if I don't I'll tell you about it tomorrow. Fingers crossed I can pump out at least 500 words. So this is particularly crazy, because I've never written this much in my life! I now have the first six chapters done, coming in to a total of 13905 words, when my goal for December was only 12500! This is so unexpected and amazing and it makes me happy to write again! I don't think I can convey how much this actually does for my self-esteem and general goals of being a published author one day- it makes me happier beyond belief and more hopeful than I've ever been.
Sand and Storm is flying from my fingers, even though Chapter Six was a bit rough, and I think it will only continue to go as smoothly for the rest of the month. I am a bit worried that when I start school again things will slow down, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. I guess I'll have to change my goal a bit. You might recall that my goal for the end of January was 27,500 words, and at the pace I've been going, this might be a reasonable goal for the end of the month, for me. So, my new goal is going to be at least 25,000 total for the month, with a hope for 27,500. I think I'll actually be able to get there. If I can get that many words done this month, then I can probably finish the novel by the end of May instead of the end of June! Here's an updated plan, since I really like these things:
Then July, August, September, and October can be for editing and starting Smoke and Mirrors! Yay! I hope this works out! |
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February 2016
Me!Samantha Mrozek is the real person who writes about imaginary people using a fake name. She is a nineteen year-old college student currently studying at a small liberal arts college in her home state. She wants to graduate with a degree in Creative Writing. |