This is topic Did You Write - October 29, 2012 in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.


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Posted by rstegman (Member # 3233) on :
 
It has been a long time since I have done one of these notes. I am only doing it as I wanted to post and no one had started it yet.

This is a place to brag about your accomplishments, cry about your failures, and otherwise tell about what is going on in your life.

As to what is writing, the answer is, "if you think it is writing, it is."

I went through some medical stuff this week that made even thinking rather uncomfortable so writing was sparse. Even so, I've taken my story from page 8 and 3914 words to page 11 and 5201 words. I have four or six more scenes to write out and I can write THE END On the draft. Of course it is crap so I will have plenty of rewriting to do after that.

I have had no interest in writing story ideas. It looks like that phase of my life has ended with my accident back on Easter.
 
Posted by Meredith (Member # 8368) on :
 
Welcome back, rstegman!!

Yes, I wrote. I'm doing simultaneous revisions on BLOOD IS THICKER (almost done) and THE BARD'S GIFT (just started). Yes, I am crazy.

Also, two blog posts.
 
Posted by Robert Nowall (Member # 2764) on :
 
Nah. I think I'm bummed out by finishing my last thing, and going back to work. But I should start something shortly---at least, I oughtta.
 
Posted by Owasm (Member # 8501) on :
 
Worked on rewrites/proofs for two books which are now done! Now I can publish them and move on to my Brull novel... ironically, just in time for NaNo except my target is 120,000 words by the end of Nov.
 
Posted by Heresy (Member # 1629) on :
 
Welcome back, rstegman!

I'm west coast, so it's a bit later when I'd start it if I don't get to it before I leave for work in the morning. At least until you're recovered enough that you want this back, we could share, whoever gets to it first and wants to start it does for the week. Sound good?

I got the final edits for my upcoming book, Bound, done, and sent it off to a fresh test reader for one last opinion before I send it to be formatted. I also got my Goodreads account converted to an author account and added the book there.

I've also been busy building my next project as I attempt to contain my enthusiasm to start my NaNo novel, while doing an out-loud pass of editing on another book. Keep busy is my substitute for patience, really.

I did a couple of blog posts while I was at it.

I think that's it for me for the week. Is it Thursday yet?

-Julie
 
Posted by rcmann (Member # 9757) on :
 
Well, I published my first three short stories on Smashwords and Amazon. Sent off a heavily re-written novelette to my editor for review. About 85% done with the third story, a novella, set in my forest kingdom. And tinkered with the outlines of my demon hunter story and the alien colony war.
 
Posted by walexander (Member # 9151) on :
 
Just found the breathing room to get back to writing. Worked my butt off this summer. I practically lived at my work. I had to move three states away just to separate. It was a tough choice. They offered me a partnership to not leave and what do I do--choose poverty, and move to the little hole in the wall town of my youth. No more big city, no more the person people needed to know, no more fast-pace life. Just slow quiet life, never saw this happening but I needed a change. No writing yet except for checks to pay all the bills for this excursion, but tonight seems like a good time to start.

W.
 
Posted by lizluka (Member # 9916) on :
 
I worked on a short story that I have underway. Didn't spend as much time on it as I was hoping but I plan to be more diligent this week:)
 
Posted by Grumpy old guy (Member # 9922) on :
 
walexander, I have been in that place where professional asprirations take secopnd place to 'the heart's desire'. My advice: Do what you really desire and stuff the rest of the world.

I found out late in life that my words can move people to tears. What higher praise can anyone receive?

Phil.
 
Posted by walexander (Member # 9151) on :
 
thanks gog,

I'm still in that nervous transition phase with my ex-boss still dropping me txts asking if I have changed my mind yet.

But I'm slowly starting to relax and i think throwing myself into my writing will be a helpful stimulant to ease off that need for something to constantly be happening.

I'm looking forward to unwinding a little.

It's just tough going from general of the armies of the north to gladiator, wondering what tomorrows going to bring. [Wink]

W.
 
Posted by History (Member # 9213) on :
 
rstegman: Wishing you a return to full and painfree health. Congrats on still being able to write. [I recall writing 20K to finish my novel The Kabbalist in the 1 week prior to my coronary stenting in 2010. Nothing focuses the mind better than one's sense of mortality. I hope your medical concern was minor].

Meredith & Owasm: Both of you! Your productivity continues to amaze me. How many completed novels is this for each of you now?

Heresy: Congrats on Bound. Well done. I haven't learned much about Goodreads yet, but I was impressed with your author's site.

rcmann: Mazel tov on your opening Smashwords foray with the self-publication of your stories. Please keep me aprised of how they do (I should consider this someday, I think). If I recall, you have a fairly extensive stable of completed stories. Do you plan to continue adding them to Smashwords? Hmm,. Your list of works in progress sound interesting and delightfully diverse. Are some of these part of a series, like Owasm's Brull? Will you be collecting them together for self-publication?

walexander: I feel your pain about work versus writing--and admire your big step (if nervously). I do enjoy being a physician (mostly), but the time commitment is a drain on body and soul, especially as I (semi-gracefully) age. Mazel tov on your fresh start. "It's just tough going from general of the armies of the north to gladiator, wondering what tomorrow's going to bring." Sounds like a great story. Write it. [Smile]

lizluka Great. A new story. You may send it to me when it is done, if you like. I appreciate your last critique of a story of mine.

Grumpy Phil "I have been in that place where professional asprirations take secopnd place to 'the heart's desire'. That summarizes my life pretty much, old guy. "Do what you really desire and stuff the rest of the world." I wish that would have been possible. I'm too rational, I guess (and I like to eat and have a home of my own). Also, there are rewards in the professional life that I would never have achieved in pursuing my dream to be a writer. I had (have) as much (perhaps less) chance of making a living as a writer as a little leaguer has of playing pro ball. Unfortunately, this remains true. "I found out late in life that my words can move people to tears. What higher praise can anyone receive?" Neither praise or dreams feed or clothe one's child or send them to college. "Later in life" it seems I can entertain many (not all) with my tales, and there is satisfaction in this, it is true. Sure. I wish I had not stopped writing for three decades, that I had made the time to be a professional and to write (Robin Cook, Michael Crichton, Michael Palmer did); but I do not regret what I've achieved and the good I've done during these years. And I've still got time, G-d-willing.

Dr. Bob Mazel tov on revising your newest novelette The Witch's Curse and submitting it to a speculative anthology focussed on female protagonists; and for submitting your frequently praised but yet to be published "Erev Tov" to another anthology. Then there was that flash you tossed off for Dustin (axeminster)'s Halloween Challenge (better luck next time--it gave me the creeps). And a new 1k flash first draft entitled The Hunt as the Fall hunting season in Maine gears up, and also the 7k last week on your new cross genre story (possibly a WOTF submission) for your self-assigned 4th quarter 2012 Story-a-Month Challenge. Alternate history, future sf, space colonization, Jewish mysticism, automatons-pseudoSteampunkish, murder mystery tale? We'll all be surprised if you can pull this one off. Good luck (you'll need it). P.S. What ever happened to that next Kabbalist novelette you promised me?

Respectfully,
History
 
Posted by rcmann (Member # 9757) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by History:

...rcmann: Mazel tov on your opening Smashwords foray with the self-publication of your stories. Please keep me aprised of how they do (I should consider this someday, I think). If I recall, you have a fairly extensive stable of completed stories. Do you plan to continue adding them to Smashwords? Hmm,. Your list of works in progress sound interesting and delightfully diverse. Are some of these part of a series, like Owasm's Brull? Will you be collecting them together for self-publication?...

Respectfully,
History

You are always remarkably thoughtful. Thanks. To answer you, I am still processing some of them (It takes about a week for the final copy to go through evaluation on Smashwords and be included in their premium catalog, and roughly a day on Amazon). I had ot go back and reload a couple because of newbie formatting errors I made. So far I have only posted three short stories - in the nature of dipping a toe in the water. I do have several of them in a series. You can get some idea on my blog, which is linked from the author page on Smashwords. I am planning on collecting a few together once I finish the next novella.

If you are interested, there are coupons for my stories on the publications thread. Or send me an email and I will be glad to send you a free coupon to all three. Right now I am in grass-sowing mode.
 
Posted by Meredith (Member # 8368) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by History:
[Meredith & Owasm: Both of you! Your productivity continues to amaze me. How many completed novels is this for each of you now?


I can't speak for Owasm, obviously. I suspect he beats me on this.

If you count a completed first draft as complete, I have 9 finished novels at this time. Of those, one has been e-published and another (sequel) will be. I still have hopes of traditional publication for three of them. The other four are going to require re-imagining and re-writing before they're ready for prime time.
 
Posted by Heresy (Member # 1629) on :
 
Thanks, History, both for the congratulations and the comment about the site! I'm glad you liked it. [Smile] I'm a bit nervous about hitting publish on the book, which will likely happen sometime in November (while doing NaNo), but if you don't get it out there, people can't read it. Fingers crossed.

-Julie
 
Posted by Owasm (Member # 8501) on :
 
Originally posted by History:
[Meredith & Owasm: Both of you! Your productivity continues to amaze me. How many completed novels is this for each of you now?

I started about four years ago and concentrated on short stories to learn more about the craft and since then I have completed nine novels (including first drafts of which six have been published - by me.) I've published an anthology and I've written about 125 short stories, novellettes and novellas-with a few sales to token markets and some WotF HMs.

Next year, I'm planning on five or six novels. I'm lucky that I'm an empty nester and work from my home, so I can carve out good chunks of time to write.
 
Posted by wise (Member # 9779) on :
 
Yes! Working on the outline for the last half of my novel, trying to think through the details. Then I reread chapters 1-10 looking for continuity problems. Found one, plus made minor changes in awkward sentences. I also reread "Ender's Game" during my lunch time at work this week to be inspired by a carefully crafted story. Sigh. I don't ever think I'll get close to that, but, hey, I'm writing!
 
Posted by LDWriter2 (Member # 9148) on :
 
Even though I'm late yes I did,

Six new stories last month. One is 200 words though. It's an expanded version of my Blue of home story.

Wrote on this forum and one other, E-mails and crits also.

And here http://musingsofle.blogspot.com even though those two new posts should be listed in next week's Did Your Write thread.
 
Posted by History (Member # 9213) on :
 
Six in one month!
"PG-13 expletive!" Wow, LD. You're giving Owasm a challenge in regard to word production.

I'm pushing my limit to complete one story per month these last three lunar cycles of 2012. And two of these were in a state of half-completion earlier in the year.

Don't know how you all do it....wait a minute. I've seen none of you in person. You're...you must be...artificial intelligences!...master computers partitioning yourselves from your primary duties of monitoring nuclear arsenals, guiding World Monetary Fund transactions, and CERN particle trajectories. I can hear your circuits chuckling at we mere humans who plod together word after word, stacking one precarious block upon another like children, while you spin epics and weave volumes and volumes of anthologies.

Respectfully,
Dr. Bob
 


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