Great!

Awesome!

Andrew

Thank you very, very much.

Well, I have started writing my NaNo again. I plan to put 10k on it by the end of December. This is a really busy month, but I should be able to get that.

Great goal, Rosey!

I've had a crisis with Peter's Angel.

I reached 90,000 words and decided to go ahead and plot out the remaining scenes in the book.

I have 64 scenes left to write.

To put that in perspective, I've written 45 scenes already for a total of 90,000 words. That means my book is, at best, half-done... as opposed to nearly done.

*cries*

There is no way I can write 64 scenes in the remainder of the month. I'm going to have to extend my deadline to the end of January, at least.

It was a big shock. I honestly didn't think my book was that long. I know God has a plan. This book has survived being deleted (yes, really); it can survive being twice as long as I thought it would be. It's just... a bit upsetting.

So I have to do some reevaluating. I'm also pondering the logistics of splitting the book, if for no other reason than the costs of self-publishing a 600 page book in print are outrageous.

*deep breath* Prayers are appreciated.

I'm praying. I know God will be with you and helping you, as always.

Thank you very extremely much.

Splitting the book would be a good idea, I think, for multiple reasons.

I'm praying.

Me too.

The writing has been going well for me, but it appears the world-builing is being neglected as result. I'll try to squeeze in that world building post tomorrow, just in time.

Thank you so much, y'all!

Airianna, perhaps sometime (as in the next few months - no rush ) you and I should chat about long books and splitting.

Tentatively, my new goal is to get part 1 finished and sent out to test readers by the end of the month. That means writing 15 scenes and giving the entire part one light proof-read.

*is happy for Mae's progress*

I... er, have not really done well on Firmament so far. It's been difficult.

*gives Gracie cupcake* Talk about it?

Thank you. It's not the story so much as the sickness. But talking about it might be good sometime, there are a few things that I can't decide on. *hugs*

I'm yours.

Sure. You let me know when you want to talk.

Not this weekend... we'll figure it out after the podcast, howabout? *hugs*

Works for me.

I've decided not to rush my editing process and take it at a more normal pace, I would still like to be done next summer sometime, though.

I have a title for Third Earth!! (random, I know...) I need to do some etymology study and maybe pick another word but for now it's called the Karistome Project. (Karistome is one of the names for my female MC.)

Great job, Vanya!

And good choice, Lottie. Don't rush it.

*is very happy Katie figured out a new title*

Does Leah like the title?

I have all sorts of cool stuff to elaborate on (waiting rooms are good for something!) but it shall have to wait until my typing is back up to speed.

I do.

*will hopefully hear some of that expounding later*

My NaNo has been going fairly well, I was stuck for a bit, but now I'm back on it.

*fortifies Mae with cupcakes*

I need to do 2 scenes a day on Peter's Angel, sans Sunday. That will have me finished with part 1 next Thursday so I can give the part a proofread before next Sunday.

I'm having trouble cracking this scene I'm working on, but the foundation is solid. It's just the expression that's dragging - my one character is talking too much for his personality...

*Blinks at self* Why did I put that here? That was supposed to go in th Hemingway thread. *Fixes*

Cleared 100,000 words on Peter's Angel last week!

So far I'm on track with my goal. Planning on finishing the drafting on Thursday and proof-reading the rest of the week.

This morning I sent an email out to all potential test-readers regarding Peter's Angel. If you're interested in test-reading and didn't get the email, let me know. Ideally I'd like to have my team organized by week's end so that I can send part one out on Saturday (if I finish it early enough) or Monday.

YAY, PHILLIE! *Already got excited on twitter, but gets excited again* Congratulations!

*likes Mae being excited*

Well done, Aubrey!

*Whispers in very small text* I don't suppose you are needing more test readers? Just if you are?

*hugs Elanor*



Mae, did you even read my entire post? Go back, reread the last paragraph, and send me a PM with your email.

*Follows orders*

*goes to read PM*

Part one is almost done.

*cheers Philli on*

*broad smile* Thanks, my friends. I cleared 110,000 yesterday... er... make that 112,000. Long scene. Six scenes left!

YAY FOR PHILLI!!!

Thankee!

*has been working with Dieki on cover design and is super-happy with the progress* Now I have to actually write my scenes, though.

Well, you've only got six scenes left for part one.

Somehow I keep getting unsubscribed to this thread, which bugs me because I'm missing out on great progress. Just from this page I see Aubrey is progressing nicely. Nice work!

Just real quick. I finished the second draft of my novel! It came out at 73k, which was 40k less than the first draft and a complete rewrite (minus 800 words). I have had my zombie novelette returned from a publisher asking for a polish! I sent the polished version 10% shorter a few weeks ago, so waiting to hear back on that. I've got some flash fiction my mentor is very excited about, so hopefully I'll be published soon. Though, you never know how long it could take when you're not self-publishing.

I am now free to work on new stuff and am using Anatomy of a Screenplay to structure my next project. I may try my hand at a web series, though I won't publish it until it is finished. That's all. Sorry to miss this thread, guys. Keep up the good work!

Wow. You've been busy, Tim.

Yes, Jonathan, to put it mildly

I'm not sure if you guys know this, but I was accepted into a Feature Author role at the New Authors Fellowship. This is a small group of Christian Speculative writers that blog weekly about their journey. My posts go up on Tuesday around 5:30am CST. You can check out my profile page, which shows a concept cover of my book (Keven Newsome threw it together for me along with helping me write the back cover blurb), and a link is there as well to take you to the page with all my posts.

I'd love for you guys to come visit me there. Since I'm required to post every Tuesday, that has become my weekly updates. I hope to remember to stop in here, but you know how that goes. NAF is far more formal, so it's still nice to come in and post on this thread to get your feedback.

For example, my goals for the new year are to reopen my novel and start the third draft. I'm not sure where to start. My last go at revision led to a complete rewrite, after a month and a half of note taking that seems a little wasteful now that none of the page numbers and most of the plot stuff is now different. I don't want another rewrite, and I don't want to take a month and a half to fill 50k of notes.

As I said in my last post, I'm working through Anatomy of a Screenplay. Hopefully the structure I learn there will show me what needs to change. I started taking notes about the novel as I read, then realized that doing so was essentially working on the project, and I need some time off to get a fresh perspective (and because I don't want to get sick of it before starting the next draft). So, I'm taking notes on the method presented in the book and applying it to a new project, then in a few weeks, or when I'm done reading this book, I'll go through my notes and flush out my novel accordingly. How's that sound?

*likes using screenwriting books to help with novel writing*

Would you recommend that book, Tim?

As for Firmament... I got some ideas last night on how to fix things, and one of my new year's resolutions is to GET THIS THING PUBLISHED!

*steels self for work with prayer and cookies*

Hi J. Grace,
Yeah, it is kind of funny using a screenwriting book, but since it's about story structure more than what to put by what page (though there is some guideline type advice there, which you can just use math to apply to a novel or short story), I'd say it is very helpful. I'm only 33 pages in, but I'm taking my time and writing notes. It is clarifying how to set up the Main Character, Opposition, Window Character and Objective to make the story centered on the Main Character's journey.

I bought it because Lou Anders, head of Pyr Books recommended it because the author, Dan Decker was his mentor. You should listen to the Writing Excuses podcast with Lou as a guest (Here). They discuss the Hollywood Formula, which is a very helpful method for structuring your 3 Act Story. The head of my mentorship program, Chila Wychik, said this podcast was the best writing advice she's ever heard in fifteen minutes. So, yeah, good stuff. I'm curious what Aubrey has to say about this book since she's done screenwriting.

Thanks for the podcast recommendation! *mention of podcasts reminds her she has two more to edit* *adds to to-do list*

Yes, I'm a filmmaker and have done some screenwriting, so I've read a few screenwriting books, most notably Save the Cat. While screenwriting is more tightly structured than novel writing, the principles of story are universally applicable, methinks.

(to make this post on topic) I am planning to work on Firmament today if I get time. That should make Leah happy.

Is Leah ever happy! Tim stopped by, Gracie's working on Firmament... what more could you ask for?

Tim, it's wonderful to see you! I've missed your updates. It's always so exciting to read about your progress, and you're encouraging towards others when you post. However, seeing as you've been busy with amazing opportunities, I guess it's a good thing that you've been absent. I shall check out that blog when I have a moment - I'm so happy you're featured!

Yes, applying screenwriting theory to novel writing is an excellent approach. I haven't done much with using screenwriting structure to pace my novels, but there are other exercises I learned in filmmaking that I use frequently for my books.

Yes, yes, Gracie working on Firmament is a very happy thing. I'm going to hold you to that resolution, dearie, so I'll be expecting updates and some goal-setting!

Yesterday I was saved my by own miscounting. I thought I had six scenes left, which meant I needed to do two a day. Well, I actually only had five (which is what I thought I had earlier, but I miscounted somewhere), which was a huge relief because yesterday did not go very well. At this point I am pretty much forcing words out. I have to pray for strength every time I open the document. Yesterday I avoided my writing in the morning, then had the words come very slowly... and then my dinosaur of a computer locked up and ate part of my work. But after that I figured out slight change in the plot that helped me pull through the scene, and figured out I only had four more scenes left to write, so I was able to get by with just one yesterday. So two today and two tomorrow, and then a proofread!

Yay Grace! Work on that Firmament! And yay Philie! You're almost done!

As for myself, I plan to have hit 60,000 words on True Freedom (novel I started during Nano) by the end of today!