Here is a list of things that you can do each week as we work on our novels (suggestions welcomed).
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Last Week's Goals
I did not do anything this week. I got a severe kick in the head by Life's Distractions. Very bad week.
My goals for next week:
Same as last week if I can.
What did I learn this week?
Nothing here. Bad week.
--William
DREAMER'S ROSE: Work on chapter exchange revisions as they come.
Close. I'm one behind, but I'm planning to work on that this weekend.
THE SHAMAN'S CURSE: Let it rest for a while longer.
Such an easy goal.
THE IGNORED PROPHECY: I really need to find a way to work in better explanations of the world and the characters.
This is what I've been working on. I'm almost done with the first segment. Then I'll look for a reader or two to tell me how I did.
BLOOD WILL TELL: Send two new queries out.
Only one.
MAGE STORM: Let this sit for a short while before going back for the second draft.
Another easy goal.
OTHER:
Update my blog twice a week.
Work on a couple of short story possibilities.
Yes to the blog. No to the short stories.
Next Week's Goals:
DREAMER'S ROSE: Work on chapter exchange revisions as they come. Continue to think about how I would change this to YA, if that's what I decide to do with it.
THE SHAMAN'S CURSE:
Let it rest for a while longer. When I've finished the chapter exchanges on its sequel, I'll take another look at it.
THE IGNORED PROPHECY:
Continue revisions to work in better explanations of the world and the characters, among other things. I cut down and combined the first two chapters and I like that beginning much better.
BLOOD WILL TELL: Send two new queries out.
MAGE STORM: Once I've got that first segment of THE IGNORED PROPHECY DONE, it's time to get back to work on this for the second draft.
OTHER:
Update my blog twice a week.
Wait for word on any one of the four short stories I currently have out.
Short stories - working on one (Animorphosis) while editing two others (Demons and Cageless Zoo).
Slowly doing research for my alt-history novel and got a few rejections for my sci-fi novel The Digital Sea.
Onward, upward, faster, farther!
The Unbeliever's Realm: As I was afraid 'Seeds' gobbled up all my focus for now.
The Seeds of Persephone: Is in full swing. I just sent out the prelude story - How to kill a god - which is my Wotf possible to a bunch of hatracker's. I'm a little nervous about it because it was meant to be the prelude to 'Seeds' and was originally going to be part of the book, but it was such a crazy concept - that I thought - I wonder if this can stand alone, and now I'm not sure. But I have most of the outline done for 'Seeds' so I got sucked right into it and am almost through chapter one, and it's already gone places the average book would never go. So I'm biting my fingernails at the same time as writing it. History and myth is certainly full of some CCCRAAAZZZYY stuff. Some of the research was like (Scratch head) "Should I use this??? Ah, what the heck, throw it in and make a nice pot of devil soup!"
Hopefully I won't be excommunicated for it, not that I'm religious anyways.
The Unnormal Lot: Took a funny turn. I was joking around about it with some artist friends over drinks, and they said they liked it and told me to write it up as a comic book script, and they would do the art. So I'll have to wait and see where thats really going.
Other than that- write, write, write.
and try and stay away from to much TV.
W.
Add on: Got some crits back on 'How to kill a god' - doesn't work as I was a fraid of - to much info not enough story - but the good thing is - I figured out a way cannibalize small parts of it to use for 'Seeds' and in a more entertaining fashion.
Add on: new goal of the week: New story for WotF.
[This message has been edited by walexander (edited August 21, 2010).]
After reading through many of the posts on this site last week, I didn't write a single thing! I suddenly felt very naive and amateurish. As mentioned in my intro, I am on my very first novel and have decided to finish it or die trying! It is SF and I believe in it. I have yet to title it. After some encouragement from the group on my "low level of expertise," I am taking a big breath and diving back in.
Lis
That you believe in it is the main thing.
Goals for this week:
1) Another 1K
2) Work through cut-and-pasted sections and note all the things I need to update
3) Update them!
I really need somebody who doesn't know anything about either story (TIP or its predecessor THE SHAMAN'S CURSE) to take a look at it and let me know if I've done a good enough job of reintroducing the milieu and continuing characters, as well as enough, but not too much, background on how they got where they are now, without making intrusive info dumps or slowing the story down too much.
Any takers? I'll gladly read an equivalent segment of your WIP or other story in exchange.
W.
I did get 1,000 words written last night though. Not bad for an hour and a half. I just need to get into the habit every day. That's the trick.
--William.