July 2015 Motivational Thread

[J.D. Carelli]

Main Goals:

1. Get pirate novel (2nd draft) out the door--this one is almost complete. I just finished my latest read-through. It's looking much better, but I'll let readers decide. One thing I can't believe, however, is that we cut 25k words in this draft. That's a whole novella!
2. Short stories--I'd like to focus on some of my trunked stories and get them out there. Not sure if I'll write any new ones as I have plenty of decent stories that need to be revised.
3. Ashwalker novel--this has been sitting a while and needs to be picked back up. Once the other novel is finished, this is going to be my main focus over the summer.

 

[Andrew LH]

we cut 25k words in this draft. That's a whole novella!

That's what I call an edit. Well done, chaps.

 

[hunt]

That's what I call an edit. Well done, chaps.

Agreed. Fantastic work!

 

[RedMage]

Main Goals:

1. Get pirate novel (2nd draft) out the door--this one is almost complete. I just finished my latest read-through. It's looking much better, but I'll let readers decide. One thing I can't believe, however, is that we cut 25k words in this draft. That's a whole novella!

@Andrew Leon Hudson and @hunt, thanks guys! I'm really glad (and proud) we were able to cut that many words. The reviews we got on the first draft really helped us to understand those things that were vital to the story and those that were simply nice and/or interesting. With a story that was over 140,000 words, some of it had to go. I'm amazed at just how much we were able to remove!

 

[RedMage]

You can do it, RedMage. Focus, focus.

Thanks, Nila! I woke up at 6AM today due to the extreme heat and humidity in my area, as well as the noise from garbage trucks in the street. Wohoo! But I'm up and getting an early start. Let's see what I can accomplish this weekend. Maybe I'll even surprise myself!

 

[RedMage]

I have 4 days off for the holiday (US Independence Day) weekend and very few plans. I'm hoping to get through a few of the remaining chapters, maybe even up to or through the big Halloween trick or treating chapter I need to partially rewrite. I'm not holding out hope for that, but it sure would be nice to get through that chapter.

Finished this! And it's only the third morning of my 4 day vacation. Why did I think I would have trouble? Oh, right. Because long weekends like this can make me into a terrible procrastinator.

 

[SteveW]

Finished this! And it's only the third morning of my 4 day vacation. Why did I think I would have trouble? Oh, right. Because long weekends like this can make me into a terrible procrastinator.

Congrats on keeping your nose to the grindstone. I suffer from the same problem the second I get a day pass from the wife and kids.

 

[N. E. White]

I suffer from the same problem the second I get a day pass from the wife and kids.

My husband and I go kayaking (or hiking or biking) almost every weekend. Recently, he joined a volunteer kayak organization (they work with disadvantage youth and disabled people to get them outside doing stuff like camping and kayaking). Anyway, it means he's gone when normally we'd be doing something together. I don't mind because I figure I'll get lots of writing done, right?

(sigh)

I don't, but I did manage to read through and finish a light edit of my novelette (sounds so pretentious) before passing it onto a beta reader. Once I get feedback from my writing buddy, I'll edit and throw it up on the workshop. Or if that takes too long, I'll just post it later this week. We'll see how long I can hold out before I need some feedback on it!

My immediate writing plans is to finish a novel crit for another writing buddy (not on this forum) and then start on the outline for another novelette. But first I have to go get lunch.

 

[kmtolan]

Spent the start of July cruising the Caribbean and using quiet interludes to add a few pages to my next "Hobohemia" novel's first draft. Have returned and am back on the primary WIP again, hoping to push three more final draft chapters through my reading group.

 

[Facing]

My word count is chunking right along this month. I'm at 5309 which is great for me, but all of those words have been added to my first contact story which was already too long for Michael's contest. I'm having a lot of fun but I don't foresee myself being able to trim it down to spec. That's one deadline I'm going to pass on.

Now I'm off to finish the story.

 

[RedMage]

And I finished the book 1 of the Halloween story. I stayed up an extra hour tonight to do it but, wow, it is so nice to have it done. Now I just have to figure out how publishing works, or at least the first steps I need to take. But I think that can wait until tomorrow...

[insert sigh of happiness, contentment, the world is perfect]

 

[J.D. Carelli]

@RedMage -- are you going to workshop it or is it done done?

 

[JonLaidlow]

Struggling this month, as last month. One goal: write something!

 

[Facing]

Struggling this month, as last month. One goal: write something!

One word at a time.

 

[SteveW]

Struggling this month, as last month. One goal: write something!

You should take a look at the monthly Micro-fiction contest. It is a very small obtainable goal. Maybe it would be enough to get you back in the game.

 

[RedMage]

Struggling this month, as last month. One goal: write something!

Do you have a main project you have been working on, but are stalled on it? Perhaps taking a break and doing something else, something new would be helpful.

 

[RedMage]

@RedMage -- are you going to workshop it or is it done done?

I had not planned to workshop it as I have put it through the Workshop numerous times in its various forms. However, I wouldn't be against having others read it if they wanted to. I like the changes I have made, but those have also caused other, minor changes for consistency and things aren't always said as well as they could be. But, I don't think I'll put it up in the Workshop because of how many times it has been there before.

Does anyone want to read it?

 

[Facing]

I had not planned to workshop it as I have put it through the Workshop numerous times in its various forms. However, I wouldn't be against having others read it if they wanted to. I like the changes I have made, but those have also caused other, minor changes for consistency and things aren't always said as well as they could be. But, I don't think I'll put it up in the Workshop because of how many times it has been there before.

Does anyone want to read it?

I'd like to read it but I just started something else. Can I get back to you about this if I finish the other story in a timely manner?

 

[RedMage]

I'd like to read it but I just started something else. Can I get back to you about this if I finish the other story in a timely manner?

I think I know the other thing you're starting

Sure! Just let me know when/if you want it.

 

[SteveW]

Does anyone want to read it?

I can give it a read. I critiqued one of the earlier drafts and have been a big fan of this. I'd love to see what you changed. You've got my email.