*sighs* Well, as long as you're working on something...

Yup! I'm working on making a detailed outline of the hard scene, and then I'll get writing it.

Good. *offers cupcake*

Ooh, a little competition is always good.

Glad to see you're all working hard on your novel goals! At least you peoples are....hehheh...that basically sums up how my editing is going...

ALINA!

It's been slow, because I'm behind on my Team PYP story.

I'm almost done with stage 2 of the character fractal for Character B (James Walter Scott) who's actually the main character, despite being originally titled character B. For character A, all I know is that her name's Anastasia, she suffers from depression, self-destructive behaviors, and thoughts of suicide. Reasons for the character's current state is still unknown.

I've also decided I want it to be reminiscent of medieval epics, except with more realistic characters and flaws, with mythological and legendary heroes as well.

I'm also thinking, that because it's a dream-world that changes based on the minds of people of the real world, its appearance changes depending on the state of the people's mind, especially values and mores. So, technically speaking, I could have a superhero universe set there, assuming it would work because physics don't apply.

And that post makes me look like I've done a lot more work than I have.

*Glares* Now, now, we must change that. Tomorrow I'm going to head over to the gdoc again to make some more comments. You have no excuse to not to respond to the comments and work on editing.

I love hearing about your stories, Varon.

Thanks.

I'm not seeing any of you fine chaps over at new authors fellowship That's where I chronicle a weekly post (Tuesdays) about my writing. Anyway, in summary, I have notes on my 2nd draft, but I'm stalling because I'm afraid the science doesn't work, but in ways that are beyond my education. I guess the next step is just to make it serviceable and hope I can get beta readers forgiving enough to read unpolished fiction through to the end to tell me if its logical and scientifically accurate.

I've been blessed with major leaps in my writing (according to my mentors from Team PYP), so that's exciting. My short story for this quarter is a ton better than the first two and I'm prepping to submit it to Writers of the Future.

I'm daunted by the fear that I don't read enough sci-fi, and so the progression of my universe's technology isn't logical. I'm afraid my book is too complicated to try and lay out the pieces in order to get advice, so my only option is to have people read the book. If they're anything like me, they'll probably not finish it because the writing isn't very good.

Anyway, so that's my update. Pray for me, please, as this is new territory (editing a novel). I've only ever taken notes or rewritten.

I read NAF, but I don't comment often, and when I do, it's my real name.

I've never edited a novel either. Actually, I've never even finished one.

As much as I love hearing your updates, Tim, I'm trying to juggle four forums, so I don't keep up with blogs too well. I really like it when you stop by, though.

Having been in similar places of distress, I am sorry to hear you're going through a rough phase. Such phases hurt; we lose confidence in our writing, and sometimes our goals are severely shaken. But they are a necessary process. When we turn to God and seek His guidance, He will pull us (and our book) through, and we'll be stronger for it.

-sighs- I need to finish my plot soon, so my actual book can be written. So I challenge myself to finish the plot of Penalty before March 20th, 2012. So I have 40 days to complete it. You people may poke me to finish it quicker, either in chat or PM.


(yes, upon advice, I made the goal harder)

*is quite glad Vivace is in on the game*

Well, I knew that I wouldn't finish it if people didn't poke me to do so... Which is why I set that goal.

My goal for this year is to finish my novel. It might just be the whole first draft finished, I'd like to have started re writing it as well, but we'll see how it goes. I felt very set back after I lost a lot of my work. But I'm over that now, and am going to just work with what I've got, try and remember what writing I lost and hopefully it will come out better.

I'm going to set goals for myself that are smaller, so I feel more encouraged when I achieve them, rather than looking at finishing the whole novel.

I have been buying myself lots of pens, and books to write in. It just means I can work away from the computer. My Mother and I have set times where we are going to sit together and write, so we'll encourage one another to get more writing done.

I set my goal to complete the planning phase for my secret project (Which is actually just a random one I gave it because I can't think of a real title) as June 1, 2013.

*needs lots of poking*

*pokes*

Then to be effective, I shall threaten those in need of pokes with an atomic super-poker.

You go, Varon! And you know I'm always happy to hear about your progress.

That is wonderful to hear, Elanor. Have you set any smaller goals yet?

Good ideas, Elanor. I started the weekly goals thread with that reason in mind. I get overwhelmed easily, so small goals help. Problem with those are that I work more like a train than a motorcycle, in that I need time to build speed and don't stop very easily once I'm moving

Yes, good to hear, Varon, thanks. That's the first step, finishing the novel. Hopefully 2012 will be your year to finish one.

Aubrey, I'm sorry, I was kidding around. I understand that people are busy. Wow, four forums?@>? (that's the symbol combo for one eye closing and the other going into hypnosis, in case you didn't know that already )

Yep.

I actually finished my goal very quickly! But I'm going to revise my current plot more, to see if any sub-plots can be added. So my current goal still stands, but with the plan of revising my plot by 20th of March, instead of creating the plot. Hopefully revising the plot more will increase its length. Continue poking me!

*laughs* That's quite the smilie, Tim.

Awesome, Vivace! Keep it up! Or else!

Alright, I need to get back to working on my two current novels. I might have to use the " " face to get the laptop away from my mom for a while, but I'm going to work on one of them later.

My original goal was to finish rewriting The Justice Project by the end of this week, but with any luck I'll be done today. I'd like to jump right back into revising from the beginning again... but I have two stageplays I need to write by next Thursday, so I need to get working on those.

Alright, the plot is finished!!! I should set harder goals... But anyway, I'm setting a goal for me to finish all of the introductory chapters by February 26th, 2012. Hopefully I can do that...
--needs poking--

Sounds good to me.

Go, Vivace! Write!

Right now I'm doing roughly 500 words a day on writing in general. That can be outlining, world building, whatever. I've got a bit to go in this scene before I will have to really start clarifying things about slave markets through research.

I have returned! And I said I wanted writing updates. So no one shall escape!

How is Penalty going, Vivace?

I'll be cheering for you, Elanor! How far are you?

How is that planning going for you, Varon?

Abby! You said you needed poking. *pokepokepoke* So if I poke you enough will you give me an update?

Zolly! How is working on those novels going? I shall be poking you too! Beware!

Vanya, I heard you finished the draft! Congrats! Now what writing project are you working on and how is it going?

There, did I miss anyone? How is the other thread lurkers doing on their novel goals?

Same project, next revision. Lots of stickiness, head-banging, writer's block, ecstasy, and agnst going on. Nothing really coherant to report.

It's coming along well. I'm about done with the second stage of the character fractalling for the MC, James Walter Scott. I also have a name for the female MC whom I need to give her a bigger part in the story, so she doesn't get Dejah Thoris syndrome and do nothing but get rescued. Oh, her name is Anastasia.

Coherent or not, Katie has been consistently working, and that's what's important. *nods*

Yup. That's more than what I've been doing.

Well, keep at it. Sometimes these things can get sorted out through time and all that brainstorming. Just don't hurt your head with all that banging.



Good, Varon! Sounds like a plan.

*pokes those in need of poking....pokes self*

*Studiously pokes Lottie*


I need poking too. I... decided to restart the first draft of the novel I started during Nano.

I'm not usually one to restart during the middle of the first draft, but I discovered the snowflake method. It's exactly what I need. I've been rambling away in the first draft for way too long, and the most efficient way for me to do this is to restart. So I'll need lots of poking.

The Snowflake method is quite lovely! How many stages of it have you done, Mae?

Not very much yet. I already have a logline for the first step, but when you are considering making fairly large changes like switching the POV from two characters to one, it's kinda hard to know if you should advance or not until you decide.

In the mean time, though, I am working on other writing projects. Like character fractals.

I finished step two of the character fractal for James today while at the dentist's office. I was going to start step 3, but I had to look up some words and I didn't have a dictionary.

Awesome, Varon!

Mae, the nice thing about the Snowflake is that you don't need a clear plan to proceed. Part of the beauty of the method is that you develop it as you go, and can go back and change steps as you discover your story. For that matter, you could try each step multiple ways, if you're toying with different ideas!

Thanks.

I'll give the Snowflake method another shot.

*comes into a thread she has not been in for a while *

So, my last goal was unable to be met because Daddy wants to physically read my first book (he's had it read to him) and see if he can make any suggestions before I send it to an agent.

My new goal is to get the first three chapters of my book written by April 10th (random date). I don't just want them written, though, I want them solid. So, this means approximately 18,000 solid words. Because this is the third book in the trilogy it means a lot of thought has to go into every chapter. I have a lot of things to fit into this last book, so intentional planning must go into everything (:P).

Also, I need to read the chapters Cammie sent to me and see how her male character holds up as a guy. I want to get this done and in her inbox before that date.

So, as soon as the forums are caught up and things taken care of, I’m off!

*likes hearing about Airianna's progress and goals*

*is happy to hear those goals*

I wrote over 1,500 words this morning. Not loads, but still getting somewhere!

I've made no progress recently, because of two really big school research projects, and working to get a week ahead in school. Hopefully I'll get some stuff done next week when I'm in Florida.

I have one chapter left to send to Cammie.

Writing... we shall see after today what I have to report on that end.

1,500 is a good chunk of works, Elanor! Keep it up!

*also hopes Varon will have some time while in Florida*

*is waiting for Airianna's progress report and hopes she is good and writes before working on the t-shirt designs*