Progress report

Re: Progress report

feeds@yuku.com (BookMastered) — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 11:02:41 GMT

I feel a loss of sanity coming on. My mother's computer isn't working and I offered to fix it. I hope it's something simple. One can hope, right? If all else fails I can reinstall Windows but I really would like to avoid that.

Re: Progress report

feeds@yuku.com (midnightwriter71) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 08:20:14 GMT

I stopped by to check in. Kids went back to school yesterday so I feel my sanity returning. I have been planning all summer to get back to writing today. I write 1552 words on Dead Butterflies! :-D My goal is 1000 a day and to have book one complete by the end of the school year. I call this my Keep the Sanity plan. :-D I wish we could get this board hopping again.

Re: Progress report

feeds@yuku.com (BookMastered) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:07:19 GMT

I know, it's been awhile. How is everyone? I'm doing okay. A bit tired at the moment; kind of a long day.

Is everyone still writing? I am though it sometimes gives me a headache.

The wife and I drove to Michigan in July. Really nice weather. Took part of Rout 66 from Pacifica, Mo to Flagstaff, AZ on the way back. I took a lot of notes and pictures but not sure what to do with them. I thought maybe some kind of travelogue or background for a story (that's a...

Re: Progress report

feeds@yuku.com (Paul W West) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:39:47 GMT

Way to go David. Good luck.

Re: Progress report

feeds@yuku.com (Illandur Stormcrow) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:24:16 GMT

"Fair Trade" submitted to http://www.silverblade.net/

Going to work on finishing "The Shrine of Black Yendoo", the epic poem I started so long ago, tonight. Then it's (FINALLY!!!!) back to the novel. Wow, I really know how to procrastinate.

Re: Progress report

feeds@yuku.com (Illandur Stormcrow) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:39:49 GMT

Snowflower made it into the mail. Fair Trade needs a market. Still looking.

Re: Progress report

feeds@yuku.com (Paul W West) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 08:15:01 GMT

I think if you're having fun with it, it's likely because the writing is going well. That means, to me anyway, that it's likely to be a good story, one that will sell.

Good luck with it.

Re: Progress report

feeds@yuku.com (BookMastered) — Tue, 12 May 2009 18:33:08 GMT

Looked for Sailor on Horseback but it's out of print and the library doesn't have it. Found it online used (between $3.76 and $202.34) and as an HTML document. I'm sure the $202.34 edition is really nice but I'm probably going to go for one that is a little cheaper.

Currently I'm working on a story about a cat and a wizard. They go on a quest to find out why the sacred river has stopped flowing. It's not something I pictured myself writing in any way. Not...

Re: Progress report

feeds@yuku.com (NVwryter) — Sun, 10 May 2009 19:04:08 GMT

Actually, while I was writing that first novel, I was also "working" full time with my writing, and it was easily 40 hours a week. I freelanced a butt-load of articles, wrote nonfiction kids' books, taught as an artist in residence and was still raising a couple of kids. All while I wrote that first novel. I understand what you mean about your creativity being drained, though. It's just I truly believe in your talent and hope you'll find the time to make it happen.

Re: Progress report

feeds@yuku.com (Paul W West) — Mon, 04 May 2009 09:59:49 GMT

Sounds fun, David. Let us know where we can read it.

Re: Progress report

feeds@yuku.com (Illandur Stormcrow) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 22:30:44 GMT

The new story might be the one. Its got legs, and though it is still fantasy fiction, its much more YA accessable than most of my other work. It is something of a departure for me. Oh, and my kids are in it. .

Re: Progress report

feeds@yuku.com (Paul W West) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:31:24 GMT

David, I hear ya. I'm pretty much in the same boat. I work 40 hours a week behind a computer writing letters and reports. When I get home it's usually honey-do time, plus, even if I were to find a free minute to write in the evenings, my creative juices just aren't there. The only real time I find to write is during my lunch breaks at work (30 to 45 minutes per day - but more likely per week as other priorities often get in the way). I'm doing good if I can write one chapter...

Re: Progress report

feeds@yuku.com (Illandur Stormcrow) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:03:49 GMT

Here's the deal Ellen. Its hard to focus. I work a 40-60 hour week at a job that taxes the same "muscles" as my writing does. Programming is a creative and mentally exausting profession. I am generally used up by the time I get home most nights. Its hard to make myself sit down at the computer after a day of the same. It may sound like a cop out or excuses, and maybe it is, but its no less relevant for all of that. I'll write what I write. You got lucky, you had a great idea...

Re: Progress report

feeds@yuku.com (NVwryter) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 05:47:25 GMT

David! Okay, here's the deal, and take it from an old hen.... you ain't no spring chicken no mo'. You're a tough old rooster that needs to focus now. Enough years of letting that talent languish. Glad to hear you're writing. But now that your boys are older, and able to entertain themselves, focus! I expect great things from you. always have.

Re: Progress report

feeds@yuku.com (Illandur Stormcrow) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 23:17:01 GMT

I am writing. A little here, a little there. Starting a new story. Something of a departure for me. We'll see where it goes.

Re: Progress report

feeds@yuku.com (Paul W West) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:52:28 GMT

Hmm. I like that. I may play around with that idea.

Do you write the chapters in ppt, or how do you get them in there?

Re: Progress report

feeds@yuku.com (CorrinaKel) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:38:50 GMT

I use a powerpoint program to make my outlines. It's very strange to think about it, but it's very effective. You can see all the chapters, or scenes, or however you've broken it down, in thumbnails, so you can see the whole book on one screen. It works especially well for timing. I'll color code characters so I won't "forget" about one - you can see at a glance that the person hasn't shown up for 3 chapters. It's gotten to the point that I can look at my...

Re: Progress report

feeds@yuku.com (Paul W West) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:55:30 GMT

Thanks Ellen. If you find it, let me know. If not, I have an outline of my chapters that I can switch around on my word processor, then simply move my novel chapters around to follow suit. It works. I just can't find the time to do it.

Re: Progress report

feeds@yuku.com (NVwryter) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 07:33:26 GMT

Hey Paul,

There's a computer program or two that allow you to do that, then see everything on like a bulletin board. Not sure what they're called, but I can find out.

Re: Progress report

feeds@yuku.com (Paul W West) — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 10:05:10 GMT

I'm trying to totally revise GERTA! Has any of you read "Sailor on Horseback," the story of Jack London? The book describes how London used to write scenes and chapters at random, hang them on the indoor clothes line, then compile them in some sort of logical sequence. Well, I've found that's pretty much what I've done, only on the computer instead of the clothes line. I'm having to rearrange all the chapters that I wrote, to make them come into a different time...

Progress report

feeds@yuku.com (NVwryter) — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 09:16:32 GMT

So how's everyone coming with their projects? Obviously, I'm traveling again, although I do try to stop by here once a day anyway. When I travel, it can be difficult to write, because I tend to lack large chunks of time. Often when I'm on an airplane I sleep, trying to catch up on some precious zzzzs. And then it can be hard to get back into the flow. Still, I'm working on FALLOUT as much as I can and it feels like it's kicking into gear.