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Author Topic: NSG 11/5 - 11/11
WBSchmidt
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Welcome to this week's Novel Support Group (NSG). Anyone can join. If you're new, tell us a bit about who you are and what project you are working on. Feel free to update the NSG Work in Progress thread with your current projects. Although we can report on any number of things, here is a list of suggestions (suggestions welcomed).

  • What were your goals last week and did you accomplish them?
  • Describe what you worked on.
  • Set goals for next week.
  • Did you learn something during this week?

Here is a list of things that you can do each week as we work on our novels (suggestions welcomed).

  • Writing on a novel
  • Characterization
  • World Building
  • Relevant research

=-=-=-=-=

Last Week's Goals

I did not get any writing done this last week either. I had back issues most of the week, which is why NSG is late this time. I can't use that as an excuse since I have not been writing lately anyway.

My goals for next week:

  • Improve scene details
  • Write detailed scenes

I will continue to try to get some writing done.

What did I learn this week?

Once again, just keep moving.

--William


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Meredith
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Wow. Guess I was too busy with revisions and crits to notice this wasn't up on Friday. : In my defense, Friday was a really busy day.

Next Week's Goals:

DREAMER'S ROSE: Continue to let this one rest while I contemplate what almost amounts to a rewrite.
Easy goal.

THE SHAMAN'S CURSE: Let it rest for a while longer.
Another easy goal.

THE IGNORED PROPHECY: Time to start thinking about getting back to this. I mean it this time.
I marked what revisions I want to make. That's it.

BLOOD WILL TELL: Put the first chapter or three of this out for critiques. I need independent assessment of whether the voice really is YA before I can move forward.
Yes.

MAGE STORM: Start the revisions for the third draft.
Just barely.

SEVEN STARS: Work on chapter two. Try to find the MC's voice. With everything else, this goal may be a long shot. Still, this is my new work, aka, the sandbox.
I haven't worked on chapter two, but I did figure out what I need to change to improve the MC.

OTHER:
Update{url=MeredithMansfield.WordPress.com] my blog [/url]twice a week.
Work on revisions to another short story.
Yes to both.

Next Week's Goals:

On the Shelf
I am officially putting these stories on the shelf until I complete some reassessments of my writing style, whether I really should focus on YA, and what to do with these stories in light of those decisions. These novels are:
THE SHAMAN'S CURSE
THE IGNORED PROPHECY

DREAMER'S ROSE:
Continue to let this one rest while I contemplate what almost amounts to a rewrite. I'm unlikely to get back to this one before next year, since I am now focusing on MAGE STORM.

BLOOD WILL TELL:
Wait for the critiques of the first three chapters to come back so I can make a decision on whether it really should be YA. In some ways, this story reminds me a little of GRACELING.

MAGE STORM:
Continue the revisions for the third draft.

SEVEN STARS:
Rework chapter one. Normally, I don't like making revisions until I've completed the first draft, but this is about getting the MC set up with the right level of experience (less than before) and the right frame of mind. Can't build the novel on quicksand.

OTHER:
Update my blog twice a week.
A whole bunch of critiques.

[This message has been edited by Meredith (edited November 08, 2010).]


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Owasm
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I finished Bellia's Journey and it's in review, so there's nothing to do on that novel yet.

The Tower of Secrets novel outlined for NaNo is at 40K words in the first week of NaNo. My goal is to have it finished by the 14th. I'm having some trouble extending the outline as it's coming in a bit light on the word count. I may need a new plot line (it's pretty linear) and throw a lot more description into the novel.

Now I'll be faced with planning another novel in December, but for now I concentrate on NaNo and WotF.


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satate
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I finished the second chapter of my Princess story and I wrote almost every day so I think I did good.

This week I want to write Monday through Friday and finish the third chapter.


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History
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THE KABBALIST query and synopsis received by Penguin (UK) who kindly informed me of this. The last of my proofreaders and test readers has been delayed but I hope to have the corrections in and do a final reread and rewrite the week of December eighth.

Living Room is making the rounds. I'm contemplating a rewrite but propbably will not.

The Golem of Chester Court is the short story I've selected to complete. Wrote the first third of Act 2 today. This may turn out to be a novella.

Exception to the preceding is the first thousand words and draft outline of an Untitled thriller based on current events [Al Queida in Yemen and creating an undetectable bomb] that I am cowriting with my father, an 81 year-old self-pubished author of seven North Shore, Massachusetts mysteries.
It's a father-son thing.

Respecfully,
Dr. Bob


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BenM
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Popping in to say hi, and can I join? I could use the motivation of reporting on my progress each week I think...

Just finished the first draft of a 16K word outline this weekend. Currently going through and looking at plot holes, foreshadowing issues, plot arcs and pacing. As this is multiple pov SF it's new ground for me, so I'm wary of setting a deadline for finishing the outline and starting writing. My goal for the week then is to finish rereading it and making notes, so that next week I can start editing the draft.


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satate
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Hi BenM

Of course you can join

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LDWriter2
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I have been working on just the one
"Bright Lights and Chaos"

Around 20,000 words.

I just realized I had forgotten an important part of the plot. I can either go back and add it or put it in later than planned. And I'm later than planned with my MC tackling what I call the main problem. She has had some lesser problems, and is about to fight her, up to this point, toughest and most deadliest battle. I'm still not sure quite what she will fight but it's something from the darker reaches of Fairye.

My goals are to finish that fight scene and to get her into the main problem, finding and freeing kidnapped children. And to decide if her love interest goes with her.

And boy, Meredith has been busy.


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Crank
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PREVIOUS WEEK
"Metzgerhund Empire" (YA): Essentially the same as last week: I’m getting closer to the results I want, both with the ever-troublesome Verse Seven and the agent cover letter, but I find myself sneaking away from the novel and spending time working on a series of short stories that are based on the same characters. If this enjoyment carries over into my performance on the novel and the letter (and I already know it does!), then I don’t mind the diversion one bit.

Mainstream novel: I’ve been alternating between writing new scenes and editing current passages. Essentially, I’m working on whatever I feel like working on at the time.

"Agents of the Fourth Wind" (SF): It’s been nearly a month since I’ve touched the actual words of this story, but I’ve been slowly piecing together certain aspects of what I feel will be the pivotal scene.

UPCOMING WEEK
"Metzgerhund Empire" (YA): Complete the last few scenes of the last chapter, and rewrite the agent query letter.

Mainstream novel: Business as usual.

"Agents of the Fourth Wind" (SF): Continue my technical research. One of these days, I might actually write an actual sentence or two.

BLOGGATHAH
No new postings this past week. The Capitals are in first place in their conference. Where did you expect my attention to be?! Oh…and I blame my kids, too.

NOTES
Short story overview: During a recent day off, I pulled out all my notes (character sketches, story outline, star charts, back history, etc.) for one of my SF short stories and allowed them to speak to me. Less than an hour later, I found myself on the other side of a barrier that used to keep me from enjoying this project. If I ever required justification as to why I keep every scrap of paper and every digital document pertaining to a story project, this success was definitely it.

Three of my science fiction short stories, and one mainstream short story, currently reside on the desks and/or slush piles of various editors.

If you’re interested, check out the details of all my writing exploits on my site.

S!
S!


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RoxyL
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Took the last writing challenge story, Life in the Flesh, and it's now my YA NaNo story all gussied up and expanded. Up to 22k there, but I started it earlier (yeah, I'm a NaNo rebel) so it's really at 35k.

This is the most I've ever written (I started writing again last Feb after a 25yr hiatus) and it's intimidating and exhilarating. I think the biggest breakthrough is to realize that editing can work miracles. It allows me to write crud, but at least it's writing, and I know it can be fixed. I loved whoever posted that 'you can't edit a blank page.'

Oh, also posted my first ever fan fic (yeah, I'm late to the game for a lot of writerly things, it seems).

Next week - hit 35k or more officially for Nano. With that and teaching and sick kids I don't think I have energy for much more right now.


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