#writingprogress

[exploresmallworlds]

Interregum: writer tales

My two projects are vastly different. These are different styles. A deeply personal introspection on the world outside and the other one is exploring the world of the characters which aren't necessarily myself (although somewhat myself of course).

I have written a bit and yesterday i had to give myself the strength to look at the things that I have already written and published. Even as a blog, I still get scared about what I am going to put to my goblin persona. i had them sitting in my scrivener and I wasn't even sure that they were good enough. And they have to be good enough to update because there isn't anything else that is compelling it except the strange impetus of missing out on a couple of months while I had a break.

So if anyone reads and thinks that they have been creating stuff and it hasn't felt strong enough to publish or even that it needs more work please know that even though I have hit my my modest goal of getting better at writing I am still looking at my work and I am still having concerns about the validity of publishing it.

And I am comforted by my conversations with one of my friends that have the same issue with writers block because this person is one of the smartest and most skilled writers that I know and he can't even open a book or listen to audiobook or even write due to burnout. And that is a sobering thought. That our output doesn't have anything to do with our blocks in our brain. That person is still the smartest and most skilled writer even in their blocked state. And that is the trust you have to have in yourself.

[fmaden]

Writing Update

Currently wrapping up revisions on The Court of the Undead. A dark YA Fantasy featuring vampires and history. Can't wait to get this story out to the world.

[spencerrussellsmith]

Just realizing right now that I never updated my spreadsheet from 2021 dates to 2022 dates…the entire year… Unfortunately, I didn’t hit my goal of 1 million words, falling about 15k short at ~985000 words, but I did publish 2 novels, a short story and a novella, and get married, AND I edited over 2 million words this year. (Quite a few passes going over over 300k words of content). Hopefully this year. I’ll pass that 1million word goal, and publish at least four books! I already made some good progress today! #spencerrussellsmithauthor #bookstagram #wordcount #writingprogress #2022recap https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm5eqLeOaDs/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[deborahdeshoftim5779]

Reworking an old story: observations

I’m currently reworking a story that I began in 2016, but never finished. Only today, while going for a walk, did I solidify the real plot problem and vehicles for character development therein. 

On Thursday, I read through the existing chapters and wrote 2 717 words by hand (almost 8 A4 pages) of analysis. Beforehand, I believed that while the story required work, I might be able to keep some of this existing work. In fact, I preferred to do so, as I was attached to the chapters (particularly chapters 1, 4, and 5). 

But on rereading, I found all kinds of problems. The main one was that despite having set up a protagonist in the first chapter, she did nothing. From my old plans (sadly, I deleted all the story notes and plot timeline!!), I had wanted her to act in Chapter 6. But that action only involved a conversation and observation. 

I have since learned that characters must act, not just think. But I think that this problem comes as a reflection of my own life, where I often struggle to act as opposed to overthinking a situation. Only by pushing myself to achieve goals in small time-frames (such as 15 minutes), as well as other methodologies, have I broken through this barrier. 

In addition to this, I had implausible situations. This came from the fact that I had an entirely different plan back in 2016, but one which clashed with the end of the television series episode I was shadowing. So, after having established the protagonist in Chapter 1, I switched to another POV which unleashed a chain of (coincidental events) that affected the protagonist. And for coincidental events, I needed coincidental characters. 

This meant that Chapters 2-5 were unusable, despite my presumptions. That basically leaves Chapter 1 stranded, though I can certainly recycle material from any one of these chapters. I am unhappy with Chapter 1, because the protagonist’s goals were clearly stated and then muddied (and even those goals didn’t involve much forward action). 

My story planning practices back in 2016 were shambolic. Had I not foolishly deleted all the notes I made, along with the timeline and original drafts, then I could have pieced something together from the ashes. The one benefit I can see from having burned all the bridges behind me (thankfully, I have fragments of handwritten notes) is that I can start afresh!

Because I had no clear end goal, and only a vague summary from the beginning, I was never going to finish this story. I was at least developing to the point where I could plot in advance (using a plot timeline, and then highlighting each completed event green) and write detailed character notes (which I now miss!). Since reading more on writing technique in the following years, I now know better than to plunge into the unknown without a clear plan. 

So I have prevented myself from writing anything on this story until I am sure about the goal (which was worked out this morning on a walk), and have done all the preliminary writing for it. This includes detailed character notes, some modest research on medieval warfare and medicine, as well as a completed Table of Contents. From then, I can complete the entire draft in advance, before rewriting, editing, and publishing chapters for review. 

When I do get around to the chapter stage, I will use the same method I have been using to review existing chapters and the relevant episode: numbered notes. That way, I can return to the pages I wrote and look up some particular issue. I am also relieved that these are written by hand, therefore the worst fate they can suffer is stagnating inside my bag, not being deleted online and lost forever!

I find that making notes on the chapter for developmental editing is an excellent way of thinking through and reacting to what I have written, as well as spotting problems in the draft. I wish that I had been more rigorous with my work back in 2016, as well as with my other unfinished (and nearly abandoned) work. Furthermore, I am more strict with counting the number of words written (a real pain when writing by hand) and the time spent on each piece of writing. That gives me an idea of how much time I typically spend writing in a day, which I then log into my spreadsheet. 

Beforehand, I used to envisage hours and hours of uninterrupted writing time. Reality didn’t cooperate with that vision. Often, I could spend hours and hours writing, but often at the expense of important tasks, which piled up. Eventually, I became so exhausted that I would crash and burn. 

Or, I would get busy and then put writing on the backburner. The longer I spend away from writing, the harder I find it to get back in. This applies particularly to fiction, where I become paranoid that my technique has slipped and so I need to read more craft books and fiction (which I do need to do, but that is a lifelong habit, not just one to be used while drafting). 

(And I have to read craft books on nonfiction, as well!).

So I have a better methodology and technique to finish this story, as well as being more consistent with writing by hand (one of my favourite things to do, minus counting words by hand and the pain afterwards). I love making notes, as I feel it better engages my mind with what I am reading and watching. 

This time around, I also will be illustrating my stories. I have longed to do this for years, but stopped short of putting a proper plan into place so that I could achieve this goal. My Art Progress posts now chart my forays into sketching, something which definitely will accompany my fiction and nonfiction works. I love the concentration required for sketching, and the requirement to slow down and think about what I am doing. 

I have often lived in distraction and rushed to get things done. Now I have to do the exact opposite: concentrate on a task, which makes it easier (and quicker!) to get things done. 

While I berate myself daily for having thrown away a good chunk of notes and the plot timeline, I am grateful that I have handwritten fragments. I like the technique of using a numbered timeline, and I will also be using an excellent note-taking method I learned today to keep track of miscellaneous (and in this case, intentional) thoughts. I also find writing on plain paper incredibly liberating, because I don’t have to write in a linear fashion (although I mostly do). 

I will have more updates as the story grows. 

[katzenente]

Inspired✨ . #writingcommunity #writing #writingprogress #writingtime #writer #author https://www.instagram.com/p/B6yMTPsCTPO/?igshid=1h7k951rxjnph

[hrfiction]

twenty-seven pages

Had some down time today and started working on the next chapter of my fanfic. The synopsis was already written from chapters ago, so I just started fleshing everything out starting with the most important scene first. Now we write the others, then onto proofreading. There is so much going on with each of the characters now it’s getting harder to decide which one to start with first. Before anyone asks though, Yes there is finally some action between Chloe and Lucifer. It’s only going to get smuttier from here so ... don’t look me in the eye. I feel great shame for what I have written.

[boots-the-skull]

Nearly done with my 9th and Final draft of the Shadow Knight before I move to Beta readers! If you are interested in beta reading for me please let me know! #news #fantasy #writingprogress #author #betareaders #openingline https://www.instagram.com/p/B0ev4eyAO9e/?igshid=8o7eqged7qgf

[blackrosesandwhump]

Progress Update on Novella!

Progress Update on Novella!

I recently announced that I started work on my second book, a novella this time. I plan to post regular updates on my progress, which hopefully will help with my motivation. So, here is the first of many updates.

Title: The Time Children

Word Count: 837

Chapters: 1

Stay tuned for more!

~H

[theungrumpablegrinch]

0 words, finished Homicide, very good, very tired.

[spencerrussellsmith]

Productivity definitely dropped a bit in the middle of the year, but I did edit a novel, publish a short story and a novel, whip up and publish a novella at the last minute, get married, and then finished REALLY strong with my best writing month EVER in August. I think I wrote more in that month than I’d written in the first few YEARS of writing. #2022recap #wordcount #writingprogress #bookstagram #spreadsheets #spencerrussellsmithauthor #spencerrussellsmith https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm5dJXYLVme/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[virgoslair]

8/6/2018

sooo i didn’t go into work today lol. umm yeah i didn’t get enough of sleeping. i was too busy last night.. up..reading.. so yeah. i am still tired thinking of taking a nap. yesterday i bought a journal, tried to avoid eye contact with a cute walmart employee, and then proceeded to text my best friend about how i’m a big awkward daughter of a bitch. i mean i would’ve said son just then, but i’m not anyone’s son sooo. i apparently wrote more than what i thought i did the other night. i wrote three chapters instead of just one? i wrote in my journal bought a book. probably gonna write or read some love scenes and then take a nap. i’ve been thinking of organizing one of my pinterest boards but i’ve pinned so much in the board i don’t want it to take up all my time. 

ps. umm i ordered a mechanical face scrubber thing that are usually in the proactive commercials and i got it for 70% and ended up only paying thirty-nine bucks for it so.. yeah ya girl is about to get her skin clear as hell. 

pps. umm i want to write but i haven’t planned anything or thought of any actual plot points that i need to cover, so i might just.. nap for half the day...?

[katzenente]

New cozy writing spot🥰🥰 And I have already written 660 words😊 . #writer #writingcommunity #writingprogress #writing #writersofinstagram #writinginspiration #writingspot #writingtime #authorslife #authorsofinstagram #author https://www.instagram.com/p/B6D98slC2At/?igshid=1904us1jyp3tv

[creativewritergirl1]

TWO OR THREE CHAPTERS LEFT AND THEN I’M READY FOR EDITING!!!!!!! 

[boots-the-skull]

Got about 3000 words today for Camp NaNoWrMo! Nearly got this area edited and I can focus on making the beginning as best as possible! #author #campnanowrimo #update #writingprogress https://www.instagram.com/p/BzertuOhJdc/?igshid=11ucw41wab1s3

[rebeckaomalleywriter]

I like to play a game on Twitter, where we share our favourite of the words we've used that day. Mine so far is 'insidious'. What is yours? #amwriting #amwritingfantasy #favouriteword #writingprogress #writersofinstagram

[theungrumpablegrinch]

400 words. Writing mostly preempted by the surprise visit of a dear friend.