This is topic Hatrack Writers April 11 Monday Check In in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.


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Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
 
I didn't see where anyone else started it - so I guess I will.

What were your goals last week, if any? Did you meet them? What are your goals for this week?

And just for fun - what is your working title of your novel/short story/textbook whatever you're working on?

Thought for the week - There is nothing easier than NOT starting that novel you always intended to write "someday."

[ April 11, 2005, 03:56 PM: Message edited by: Belle ]
 

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Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
 
Last week I had the goal of finishing up all the character sheets for my main characters - and I didn't make it. I only got the protagonist done and part of the way on another character. So, I'm transferring that goal to this week - I want to get all those character sheets finished.

My working title is "Prophecy of Stone" it's a working title because it's lousy - I hope I come up with another one by the time I finish.
 

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Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
 
My goal was to have a complete rough draft of a short story ready, and I failed miserably. I didn't even sit down to write. Lately my eyes have been getting really tired after a day at work, and I haven't felt like staring at words all evening.

My working title is "The Grand Unified Theory" or "The GUT."
 

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Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
 
Isn't it the eleventh?

My goal was to at least write something. Which I did. Woo!
 

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Posted by Ryuko (Member # 5125) on :
 
I didn't really write anything, though I've been thinking about it for a while. Oh, wait, yes I did. I wrote a few lines on the script for my webcomic. Woo!
 

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Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
 
Yes, it is the 11th.

Why did I write the 14th?

Who knows? I'll fix it.
 

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Posted by xnera (Member # 187) on :
 
My only goal last week was to complete Part II of My Big Fat Geek List (a review of the TV shows I had watched during March), which I did, so I'm happy. Part One, in which I reviewed all the books I read, was posted earlier in the week.

This week's going to be busy with personal errands and obligations, so there's not too much time for writing. My three major goals, then, are:

1. Make an appointment with one of my RPG partners so we can discuss where our characters are heading.
2. Work on the backstory for my RPG character.
3. Continue reviewing the stuff I've watched/read THIS month.

I actually have a fic planned to explain a bit of the backstory. It's tenatively titled The Lost Sheep. I would love to find time to start it this week, but I'm not holding my breath. If I DO have time, it won't be until Friday.

edit: And I just initiated contact with my RPG partner, so yay!

[ April 11, 2005, 04:15 PM: Message edited by: xnera ]
 

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Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
 
Goal: Not reached

Title: The Institute
 

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Posted by Katarain (Member # 6659) on :
 
My goal was to have written and finished a short story by today. I have gotten the rough draft done, and I'm (nearly) 2 1/2 pages into the edit. I'll be fixing it tonight. I wrote all 10 pages last night. It's due tomorrow--I have to turn it in for critique by my classmates. (I'm in an Advanced Creative Writing: Fiction class.) Yes, I procrastinated. Right now, it's a little short, but my edit should add a good 5 pages or so. But still, it's a SHORT story.

Anyway, it feels good to have the basic story written down. It's crap, but most first drafts are. My second draft is shaping up much more nicely.

This story I'm working on is a preface/background story for my as-yet-unwritten novel.

Okay, my working title... Right now, it's "Alexandra: Mother" but I pretty much hate that title. I'll come up with another one later. Or not. We'll see..

-Katarain

[ April 11, 2005, 04:19 PM: Message edited by: Katarain ]
 

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Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
 
Message for Synesthesia: I got half way through your story but due to evil coincidences I lost it all. However, I'm going to try to get it back to you tomorrow, like I promised.
 

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Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
 
I think I may have to back out of this for now... I put little enough effort into my studies as it is, and I found myself thinking about this and writing my story/novel rather than doing the homework and such that I needed to turn in.

Maybe I'll rejoin in the summer, if this is still around.

Have fun.
 

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Posted by Leonide (Member # 4157) on :
 
My goal was to do something, at least a few steps of the snowflake process, which i did.

I condensed my idea into an under-fifteen-word sentence, and also wrote a six-sentence synopsis. However, my synopsis doesn't follow the intro, disaster,disaster,disaster, conclusion framework -- but i don't know where my story's going yet so that doesn't bother me.

My story is totally untitled. but it's about aliens.
 

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Posted by larisse (Member # 2221) on :
 
No writing for me, as well. Although, I think I have a better handle on a new story idea. It should fit in nicely with my other story ideas. Hmmm... I wonder if I should make a list of those story ideas for my blog. They would certainly help add some entries and could inspire me to actual write them out.
 

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Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
 
Lost it?
 

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Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
 
Well, the editing, not the story. I didn't save it on my computer, just opened it, so it became a temporary file, and then I forgot to properly save it...

*sigh*

Anyway, I'm doing it faster now because I know what I commented on before, so you'll get it tomorrow.
 

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Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
 
Raia, this is not something that you have to join or anything if you feel like posting to it, do so but please don't feel like there is supposed to be any pressure on anyone.

I just want us to encourage each other, and for those that want accountability, to have a place where they can come and say something like "I need to finish chapter 15 - someone tell me to get off my butt and hop to it."

All of us are swamped with work (I've got school work to worry about too!) so I don't want this to be added pressure.
 

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Posted by DavidR (Member # 7473) on :
 
After reading the other thread on this I was inspired to actually get off my butt and try to write some of the stories I am always thinking of. I have written before, something between two and three dozen short stories when I was in high school. Unfortunately they are long gone now, destroyed in a flood in my Mom's garage while I was in the Marines. I have read a lot of the articles in Uncle Orson's Writing Class, and this past week I read some more of those and I followed the link to the snowflake method, mentioned in the other thread. I have been using OSC's thousand ideas in a night method to flesh out some of my story ideas this past week and I think that I have a good story idea to work with. I'm going to try using the snowflake method to focus my efforts toward writing a short story with a goal of getting the first three steps done this week. I also plan to have a working title chosen by the end of the week. At this point I am not too worried about writing anything publishable so much as I am hoping to get back into the habit of writing and developing my writing and story crafting skills. I have also had an idea for a novel clanging around in my head for four or five years now and I hope to eventually write it, but I think that I need to work on the basics before I try to tackle the novel.

[ April 11, 2005, 06:56 PM: Message edited by: DavidR ]
 

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Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
 
Almost all of you stated that you hate your working title. Does anyone ever really like a title they settle on? I mean, come on. I imagine that even a published book has a title that might make the author cringe at the cliche, or the rhythm, or the corn...

Any published writers out there that can tell me if I'm crazy or not?
 

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Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
 
When my first story was published, they changed the title.

I wasn't crazy about my title, but I liked theirs even less.

*shrug*

I had a good title once, for a novel I was working on. It was a dark urban fantasy, and the title was "Strands of Twilight" - the title came from the final line of a poem the protagonist wrote.

The book went nowhere, but I liked the poem and the title.
 

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Posted by kwsni (Member # 1831) on :
 
I wanted to get a page a day every day last week, and failed miserably. I think I got three pages total.

I've got the same goal this week, so we'll see if I do better now.

Ni!
 

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Posted by Choobak (Member # 7083) on :
 
My goal was to write a poem, that i do. You've got it here. I've begun another one. And it will be finished soon. I rewrite, and i am glad.
next goal for next Monday : finish it, and make another one.

 

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Posted by Bella Bee (Member # 7027) on :
 
Weird double post.

[ April 12, 2005, 06:55 AM: Message edited by: Bella Bee ]
 

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Posted by Bella Bee (Member # 7027) on :
 
Well, I aimed to get a chapter finished and I only did about half of it. In consolation, I got most of the rest of my novel planned out, so now I know where I might go with it if I ever get there.

All in all, I'm reasonably happy.
 

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Posted by xnera (Member # 187) on :
 
*bump* So, how's everyone doing this week?

I received a reply from my RPG buddy. We're either going to talk next week, or just continue trading email. Likely a combo of the two.

I also did write three short reviews a few days ago, as I had hoped to.

But as I expected, it's been a busy week, and that's all I had time for so far. But IT'S FRIDAY!!! and many of the obligations I had for the week are coming to an end, so I expect to spend a lot of time this weekend working on my RPG character. I have a habit of going to the library before my therapy session so I can get some writing in away from home; I might try to go an extra hour early tomorrow.

Goals for weekend:

1. Finish the reviews. I have three more.
2. Get a decent amount done on the character sketch.
3. Respond to RPG buddy's email.
4. Start the backstory fic. Even one paragraph would be good.

quote:

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Hatrack Writers April 11 Monday Check In

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What's this thing?
 

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Posted by mothertree (Member # 4999) on :
 
I had a couple of reading sessions, but not everyday. I guess I need to hold myself to a schedule for the BNU SOTG class or it just eats up my time like some kind of time eating vermin.

Working Title: The Strait and Narrow Jacket.
 

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Posted by DavidR (Member # 7473) on :
 
Belle,

was there a check in thread for this week, 18th? If so I completely missed it.
 

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Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
 
What was my goal? I forgot. Oh well, I'll say I reached it anyway. Does anyone know how to convert amount of words into amount of pages? Because I'd like to know.
 

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Posted by DavidR (Member # 7473) on :
 
My goal was to apply the first three steps of the snowflake method to the story I am working on. I did the first two and started but never completed the third. I discovered that I misunderstood one of the scientific concepts that I was pinning a major plot point to. I think that I have reworked the idea into a stronger one now, but we will see.

Goals for next week. Revise steps 1 and 2. Finish step 3 and do steps 4 and 5. A little ambitious, but I learned to aim high rather than low in my expectations.
 

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Posted by Choobak (Member # 7083) on :
 
I succesfully manage my goal for this week : i wrote two poems and have begun another one. I am free from my devil. I hope continue by writting two other (with the one i have begun)

I hope you'll manage too !
 

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Posted by DavidR (Member # 7473) on :
 

quote:

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Does anyone know how to convert amount of words into amount of pages? Because I'd like to know.

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1. Count the number of characters in an average, mid-paragraph line (BTW, this all assumes a monospaced font. If you're using a proportional font, the number of characters can vary immensely, throwing off the numbers and word count).

2. Divide by six. This is the number of words per line.

3. Count the number of lines on a page. (This includes any # for blank lines.)

4. Multiply #2 by #3 to get the number of words per page.

5. Multiply by the number of full pages (plus any fractional pages), to get the total number of words.

6. Round the number to the nearest hundred. Authors tend to round up; editors round down. This is the number you put on the front page of the manuscript.

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