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Saturday 25 October 2014

#WIPMarathon Update #9

Last report wordcount and chapter count/scene count: I was at 15K of Shiny Book 2! I was also working on two novellas.

Current report WC + CC/SC:
 I finished my draft at 76K! :D


I also reached 16K of this novella, so that's 4K added this month.

I also worked on several rounds of (intensive!) edits on Shiny New MS based on feedback from two rounds of readers. I cut/rewrote close to 10,000 words (it's now 79K). And I still love it! ^_^

And my first round of publisher edits on Darkworld Book 3 came in from my awesome editor! So... more edits. *brain explodes*

WIP Issues this month: Not so much a writing issue as a technological one, but I kind of broke another laptop. (Or rather, a certain book broke it :P) So I had to replace it with a new desktop computer (which is awesome!) and deal with all the technological.. stuff.


Also, juggling, an inevitable consequence of getting editorial notes on a different project while working on a draft! It meant pulling out my brain and shaking it a bit so it wanted to work on the right series, which was a bit more difficult than I expected! I wish my brain came with a project switch...

Four things I learned this month in writing:

  • Hmm... you know, it's been another rollercoastery month (publishing!), but I think (I hope!) I'm starting to just... write through it. The first half of this year, I really struggled with constant knockbacks kicking my progress off-track, whereas now, something "meh" happens and I kind of give it a glance and then carry on writing anyway!
  • I learned that it's totally okay to stop mid crazy-drafting mode and fix major issues before they steamrollered out of control. I was THAT close to the end of my draft, but some issues were just annoying me so much that it was stopping me making progress until I went back and fixed them. (My OCD means that when something's bugging me, it's REALLY bugging me, so I had to do it, really!) I ended up cutting 3000 unnecessary words and adding a couple of new scenes, and the words just started flowing again!
  • ...that's all I've got. *falls asleep*

What distracted me this month when writing: ICELAND! *ahem*

Goal for next month: Hmm... I wasn't going to do NaNo, but based on the way this series has been going so far, I might give it a try for Shiny Book 3! Or perhaps some short stories. I still need to finish Darkworld edits, though. (Then again, I got over 50K this month without even realising it, so there is hope!)


Last 200 words: Book 2 is spoilery, so this is from the latest version of the first book! 



Skyla grabbed my arm and dragged me out of the way of a swiping claw. The monster reared up to its full height, letting out a roar loud enough to make my eardrums hurt. Claws slashed madly, and the beast drove us further and further back, out into another, narrower corridor.
“We’ve got to lure it away,” I gasped, my dagger suddenly feeling like a flimsy knife in comparison to those claws.
“This way!” Skyla pulled me down a side-tunnel, panting, hair plastered to her face with blood from a cut on her cheek. The wyvern screeched, angry its prey was escaping, and struck out – we backed up further down the tunnel. The ceiling was narrow, so I’d hoped the wyvern wouldn’t be able to fit, but as it dropped to the ground and began to slither in a rapid, snake-like movement, I knew we’d driven ourselves into a bigger trap. Skyla’s nails dug into my arm. We backed away further and further and as its teeth snapped, pure panic took over.

We ran, the beast’s cries echoing behind us, faster, faster – claws swiped at our backs and I felt my coat tear, shredded to ribbons. Another swipe, and the dagger clattered from my hand. No!
No time to stop. My heart pounded in tandem with our frantic steps as we ran through corridors even I didn’t know, until I skidded to a halt at a dead end.
Dead. We were dead.

9 comments:

  1. Your book broke your laptop!? Talk about powerful writing... (Yikes that was cheesy.) =)

    Best of luck with whatever you decide to do for NaNo! Your exert above is INTENSE. Enough said.

    -Amanda Shayne

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    1. Haha, I thought the same thing. :P Thank you! :)

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  2. Ha, I was going to say, every month is like NaNo for you! EXCELLENT job! I think I was impressed with you last month, and this month you did even more! ^^ Good luck next month!

    Oo, you went to Iceland? Fun! Pretty pics!

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    1. Lol, I'm pretty amazed at how the word count climbed! (Edits, though... they take a bit longer. :P) Thanks! :)

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  3. Congrats on finishing your draft! You're such an inspiration. I keep thinking one of these days I'll write my WIP in a month and finish it, because of you.

    I know what you mean about stopping mid-draft to fix issues. I'm there right now.

    Happy writing in November!

    P.S: Your action scenes always rock.

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    1. Aww, thanks! :) I'm sure once the words start flowing, they won't stop!

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  4. Nice action scene! And Congratulations! Another draft down! I'm sure you have officially passed by novel count by now. ;) I hate getting a new computer, but LOVE shiny new computers at the same time. ^_^

    It's totally okay to stop and fix things! I do it all the time. There is no point in leaving a mess there if you know about it. No, no. One of the benefits of being OCD. ^_^

    A switch for the brain would be SO nice. *goes hunting for one* Good luck juggling everything next month! Wow...

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  5. Every month you astound me with your word counts. Actually, I've decided to cease being amazed because you are just that awesome on a regular basis. Congrats on all the words! And good luck with NaNo - I'm sure you'll win :D

    Also, so weird to see photos of Iceland in non-winter mode. Glad you enjoyed your trip!!

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