Some more development - though not exactly what I had planned.
When I first decided to choose between a Sci-Fi project or an Urban Fantasy Project, it was a pretty simple thing. I decided quite early on that I was going to focus on the Urban Fantasy project. So started working on brainstorm for that.
I must admit, I was tempted a few times to start writing. But I stuck to my plan and kept working on brainstorm, because as I have proclaimed here before, I am now definitely a planner. My pantser days are behind me. Then today, something entirely different happened. I veered off, and thought about another character, and then some of the ideas I had used in other projects (not started, but just at the idea stage) sort of mingled with this one, and then I was thinking about completely different Urban Fantasy.
I still like the premise of my original Urban Fantasy, and I am keeping it. But for now, this new idea is pulling me strongly, so I am going to focus on that, brainstorm that, and see what happens. I am hoping that this will be it. I don't really want to keep changing my mind, because I want a solid plot for one book, so I can start writing it soon. But I am also not going to rush the writing if ideas are not properly in place. So keeping my fingers crossed, and this will be it.
What are you working on at the moment? How is it going?
Wednesday, 19 January 2011
Friday, 14 January 2011
Learning Discipline - (Almost) Daily Writer
As you may have noted in my Weekly Goal post, my writing goals are quite modest. Much modest if you compare it to my usual word count goals. 300 words on working days, and 1000 words on weekends - that is certainly achievable.
Why the modest goals? I could probably do more on many days. But the point is, not every day.
Finally I seem to have learned the lesson from 2010. Okay, I probably knew this before, but the message seems to have sunk in at last.
The message: Focus on discipline of daily habit, rather than just the goal
I will admit, I am not at all satisfied with 2010 in terms of my writing. It was a disappointing year, and I didn't meet majority of my goals. I want this year to be different. And I realise what my error was. I was focusing on big goals. I had ambitious goals. And that's good - we need ambition, and big goals. But I didn't keep up with the discipline.
I kept changing my goals, and when not satisfied with one draft, I got stuck in a rut. That has to change. While I am not at all in favour of submitting work that you know is not good enough, there is no point in getting stuck over it. I am a writer, and so I should be writing at least for the majority of 365 days.
It won't be everyday. I know that. Some weeks I will spend brainstorming, some weeks, just editing. But I need to spend more days doing the actual writing. That's why modest goals. Little goals. Daily goals.
These are the goals I KNOW I can achieve EVERY DAY. Even if I miss one day - like this week when I was so exhausted, I feel asleep - I know I can make up for it the next day. That is not to say that I will not write more if I feel like it. More is fine. That's overachieving. But the key thing is to meet the goals, because in the long run, over the course of the entire year, it's the little, daily goals that will produce more productive results than writing frenzies of 10K per day on random weekends.
So I will save my frenzies for NaNo, but day to day, the lesson I am trying to teach myself is to be disciplined. Without discipline, talent or hard-work are not going to amount to much.
It's been a good start so far, but the year has barely started, so really hoping that I won't drop off the Discipline Wagon. And if I do, you guys feel free to yell at me.
How do you deal with issue of discipline? Are you one of those people that are naturally disciplined? Or did you have to teach yourself? How did you manage it? Or are you a constant struggler at it, like I am? Share your troubles and triumphs.
Why the modest goals? I could probably do more on many days. But the point is, not every day.
Finally I seem to have learned the lesson from 2010. Okay, I probably knew this before, but the message seems to have sunk in at last.
The message: Focus on discipline of daily habit, rather than just the goal
I will admit, I am not at all satisfied with 2010 in terms of my writing. It was a disappointing year, and I didn't meet majority of my goals. I want this year to be different. And I realise what my error was. I was focusing on big goals. I had ambitious goals. And that's good - we need ambition, and big goals. But I didn't keep up with the discipline.
I kept changing my goals, and when not satisfied with one draft, I got stuck in a rut. That has to change. While I am not at all in favour of submitting work that you know is not good enough, there is no point in getting stuck over it. I am a writer, and so I should be writing at least for the majority of 365 days.
It won't be everyday. I know that. Some weeks I will spend brainstorming, some weeks, just editing. But I need to spend more days doing the actual writing. That's why modest goals. Little goals. Daily goals.
These are the goals I KNOW I can achieve EVERY DAY. Even if I miss one day - like this week when I was so exhausted, I feel asleep - I know I can make up for it the next day. That is not to say that I will not write more if I feel like it. More is fine. That's overachieving. But the key thing is to meet the goals, because in the long run, over the course of the entire year, it's the little, daily goals that will produce more productive results than writing frenzies of 10K per day on random weekends.
So I will save my frenzies for NaNo, but day to day, the lesson I am trying to teach myself is to be disciplined. Without discipline, talent or hard-work are not going to amount to much.
It's been a good start so far, but the year has barely started, so really hoping that I won't drop off the Discipline Wagon. And if I do, you guys feel free to yell at me.
How do you deal with issue of discipline? Are you one of those people that are naturally disciplined? Or did you have to teach yourself? How did you manage it? Or are you a constant struggler at it, like I am? Share your troubles and triumphs.
Wednesday, 12 January 2011
Tuesday, 11 January 2011
Selecting a New Project
Now that my NaNo Novel is finished - at least this draft - it's time to select a new project to work on while I let it rest for a bit before starting editing. I have decided to leave it for minimum 2 weeks or maximum 4 weeks. I don't know which yet. It will depend on how things go with the new project.
My plan is to use these 2-4 weeks to:
1. Decide which novel I will work on
2. Brainstorm
3. Have at least initial, basic outline in place
Deciding which novel I will work on is the first step. I have a lot of projects at various stages, ranging from a single idea to half-finished books that need rewrites. I have decided that I want to work on something new. In the last couple of years, I have learned a lot of new things, and I hope improved as a writer, but it's been a messy process of discovery. So I want to know if things become more efficient with a new project, because I will be starting with a clean slate.
So that narrowed me down to four projects. One Urban Fantasy, One Fantasy, Two Science Fiction - one of them possibly Space Opera type.
Then I thought about those four projects. The Fantasy one is quite well developed idea, and I already had a rough outline in place. But since then, I have decided to change bits of plot, characters, and so it will require major changes in that outline. I feel like I have too much information for that project - both old and new - so it doesn't feel too much of a clean slate. So I have eliminated that.
One of the science fiction (not Space Opera type) is too new. The strongest thing I have for that is the main character. He is the one I know - but all the other characters are bit vague at the moment, and I haven't got a firm direction for plot. There is hardly any information there, so I have eliminated that. The story I have in mind is quite an ambitious one, and it will certainly be considerably long one I think, so I think this idea needs some time to stew.
That leaves me with the Urban Fantasy and Sci-fi (space-operaish). Between these two, I need to make a decision.
For Urban Fantasy, I have the main characters, couple of supporting characters, back story for the MC, and some knowledge of what kind of story I want it to be. I have main conflict, but not the exact details of MC's role - well, more accurately her occupation or how will she be involved. I haven't got a full plot either. So for this, I have just enough to get started with, but not enough information that it still feels like a brand new project.
For the sci-fi one, I have even less info. I have the MC, and I have his situation. Those are the absolute firm things, and I am happy with that. But there is no plot at the moment. I have vague ideas of the kind of story I want, but without details. So this is also a brand new project.
Both of these should be of equal length - probably around 90K, so whichever one I pick, should take about the same sort of time. That will be an experiment in itself, as I am hoping to write this draft at the same time as revising my NaNo draft. I have done simultaneous projects before, but not with daily discipline, so it will be a challenge to do equal justice to both projects, or even figure out how I am going to manage the time. But I will keep you guys posted.
For now....it's decision time. Urban Fantasy or Sci-fi? I will know in a day or two.
My plan is to use these 2-4 weeks to:
1. Decide which novel I will work on
2. Brainstorm
3. Have at least initial, basic outline in place
Deciding which novel I will work on is the first step. I have a lot of projects at various stages, ranging from a single idea to half-finished books that need rewrites. I have decided that I want to work on something new. In the last couple of years, I have learned a lot of new things, and I hope improved as a writer, but it's been a messy process of discovery. So I want to know if things become more efficient with a new project, because I will be starting with a clean slate.
So that narrowed me down to four projects. One Urban Fantasy, One Fantasy, Two Science Fiction - one of them possibly Space Opera type.
Then I thought about those four projects. The Fantasy one is quite well developed idea, and I already had a rough outline in place. But since then, I have decided to change bits of plot, characters, and so it will require major changes in that outline. I feel like I have too much information for that project - both old and new - so it doesn't feel too much of a clean slate. So I have eliminated that.
One of the science fiction (not Space Opera type) is too new. The strongest thing I have for that is the main character. He is the one I know - but all the other characters are bit vague at the moment, and I haven't got a firm direction for plot. There is hardly any information there, so I have eliminated that. The story I have in mind is quite an ambitious one, and it will certainly be considerably long one I think, so I think this idea needs some time to stew.
That leaves me with the Urban Fantasy and Sci-fi (space-operaish). Between these two, I need to make a decision.
For Urban Fantasy, I have the main characters, couple of supporting characters, back story for the MC, and some knowledge of what kind of story I want it to be. I have main conflict, but not the exact details of MC's role - well, more accurately her occupation or how will she be involved. I haven't got a full plot either. So for this, I have just enough to get started with, but not enough information that it still feels like a brand new project.
For the sci-fi one, I have even less info. I have the MC, and I have his situation. Those are the absolute firm things, and I am happy with that. But there is no plot at the moment. I have vague ideas of the kind of story I want, but without details. So this is also a brand new project.
Both of these should be of equal length - probably around 90K, so whichever one I pick, should take about the same sort of time. That will be an experiment in itself, as I am hoping to write this draft at the same time as revising my NaNo draft. I have done simultaneous projects before, but not with daily discipline, so it will be a challenge to do equal justice to both projects, or even figure out how I am going to manage the time. But I will keep you guys posted.
For now....it's decision time. Urban Fantasy or Sci-fi? I will know in a day or two.
Sunday, 9 January 2011
NaNo2010 Draft Finished
I have surprised myself by having completed NaNo novel tonight. I was expecting to finish it by end of next week, but today, even after I had finished my target of 1000 words, I felt that the end was closer, so kept writing. 2352 words later, the novel is finished.
Final word count is 89603 words.
It will need a lot of editing, I have no doubt of that. There will be cuts, and quite a bit of setting details need to be added. But I am going to leave it for at least two weeks to give myself some distance before starting the next draft. For now, I am just happy that it's finished.
Final word count is 89603 words.
It will need a lot of editing, I have no doubt of that. There will be cuts, and quite a bit of setting details need to be added. But I am going to leave it for at least two weeks to give myself some distance before starting the next draft. For now, I am just happy that it's finished.
Friday, 7 January 2011
What Happened to Your NaNo Words?
Remember last November? The clock hand announced midnight and many of us - after a quick squal of excitement - began to pound the keys. It was a great month. I love NaNo, with accumulation of crazy writerly spirit that seems to spread around the world. Whether you officially won NaNo or not, doesn't matter. Though if you did win, congratulations. What matters is that at the end of it, you had something.
What was it? Short stories, partial book, a script? Where is it now? Have you finished it? Abandoned it? Are you finishing it? Whatever happened to all those words?
I am currently working on my NaNo novel. After unproductive December (barely 2000 words in total), January is going to be better. (YES IT IS). I wrote over 80K during November, so I don't have long to go. There are 4 scenes left. I don't know how many words it will take exactly, but no more than 10K - and even that's probably pushing it. So I hope to fnish my NaNo draft by end of January.
What about you? What are you going to do with your NaNo words?
What was it? Short stories, partial book, a script? Where is it now? Have you finished it? Abandoned it? Are you finishing it? Whatever happened to all those words?
I am currently working on my NaNo novel. After unproductive December (barely 2000 words in total), January is going to be better. (YES IT IS). I wrote over 80K during November, so I don't have long to go. There are 4 scenes left. I don't know how many words it will take exactly, but no more than 10K - and even that's probably pushing it. So I hope to fnish my NaNo draft by end of January.
What about you? What are you going to do with your NaNo words?
Wednesday, 5 January 2011
Books Read 2011
My reading goal for 2011 is to read minimum 80 books, though I am secretly hoping that I could at least match last year's 99. But 80 is the goal. Here, I will keep an on-going list of books I read, and the dates I finish them. Feel free to make your comments, share your views about these books, or about what you are reading. Many of you have joined me in this reading challenge, so share your successes throughout the year.
* books = rereads
BOOKS READ
01. Arctic Drift - Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler - 05/01
02. Princess Diaries: Seventh Heaven - Meg Cabot - 06/01
03. Princess Diaries: After Eight - Meg Cabot - 07/01
04. Journal 1 - Dolly Garland - 08/01
05. The Laurentine Spy - Emily Gee - 09/01
06. The Devil and Miss Prym - Paulo Coelho - 11/01
07. Club Dead - Charlaine Harris - 14/01
08. Knight of Shadows - Roger Zelazney - 14/01
09. Dead to the World - Charlaine Harris - 16/01
10. Dead as a Doornail - Charlaine Harris - 16/01
11. Definitely Dead - Charlaine Harris - 17/01
12. All Together Dead - Charlaine Harris - 18/01
13. From Dead to Worse - Charlaine Harris - 19/01
14. Magic Strikes - Ilona Andrews - 22/01
15. Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader - Anne Fadiman - 22/01
16. One for the Money * - Janet Evanovich - 24/01
17. Pride and Prejudice * - Jane Austen - 30/01
18. Artemis Fowl and the Time Paradox - Eoin Colfer - 01/02
19. LEPrecon - Eoin Colfer - 01/02
20. Nemi - Lise Myhre - 05/02
21. The Six Sacred Stones - Matthew Reilly - 09/02
22. Anita Blake: The Laughing Corpse - Laurell K. Hamilton - 15/02
23. Dead and Gone - Charlaine Harris - 16/02
24. The Half-Made World - Felix Gilman - 19/02
25. Lark Rise - Flora Thompson - 01/03
26. Over to Candleford - Flora Thompson - 04/03
27. Candleford Green - Flora Thompson - 09/03
28. Strengths Finder 2.0 - Tom Rath - 12/03
29. Discovering Your Personality Type - Don Ruso&Russ Hudson - 17/03
30. Promises in Death - J. D. Robb - 19/03
31. Prince of Chaos - Roger Zelazny - 21/03
32. Turn Coat - Jim Butcher - 01/04
33. Globejotting - Dave Fox - 05/04
34. The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde - 08/04
35. James Bond 02: Live and Let Die - 16/04
36. The Forgotten Beasts of Eld - Patricia A. McKillip - 19/04
37. Brave New World - Aldous Huxley - 24/04
38. 84 Charing Cross Road - Helene Hanff - 24/04
39. The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street - Helene Hanff - 26/04
40. Twilight's Dawn - Anne Bishop - 29/04
41. Sixty-One Nails - Mike Shevdon - 01/05
42. Artemis Fowl and the Atlantic Complex - Eoin Colfer - 07/05
43. Dead in the Family - Charlaine Harris - 08/05
44. Wicked Appetite - Janet Evanovich - 10/05
45. Matilda - Roald Dahl - 12/05
46. The Twits - Roald Dahl - 15/05
47. Dark Lover - J. R. Ward - 20/05
48. First Five Pages - Noah Lukeman - 21/05
49. The Road to Bedlam - Mike Shevdon - 28/05
50. Tigana - Guy Gavriel Kay - 04/06
51. Notes on Writing Weird Fiction - H. P. Lovecraft - 08/06
52. The Name of the Wind - Patrick Rothfuss - 17/06
53. Next Logical Step - Ben Bova - 22/06
54. Zen in the Art of Writing - Ray Bradbury - 26/06
55. How to Write a Great Query Letter - Noah Lukeman - 30/06
56. The Art of War for Writers - James Scott Bell - 01/07
57. Writing Fiction For All You Are Worth - James Scott Bell - 04/07
58. Dead Until Dark* - Charlaine Harris - 08/07
59. Journal 2 - Dolly Garland - 09/07
60. Moon Blood - Patricia Briggs - 13/07
61. Coraline - Neil Gaiman - 21/07
62. Heat Wave - Richard Castle - 21/07
63. Twilight - Stephenie Meyer - 23/07
64. New Moon - Stephenie Meyer - 23/07
65. Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer - 24/07
66. Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer - 24/07
67. The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner - Stephenie Meyer - 26/07
68. Four to Score - Janet Evanovich - 30/07
69. Living Dead in Dallas* - Charlaine Harris - 31/07
70. Plum Lucky - Janet Evanovich - 03/08
71. How to Land (and Keep) a Literary Agent - Noah Lukeman - 06/08
72. Diary of a Wimpy Vampire - Tim Collins - 08/08
73. A Game of Thrones - George R. R. Martin - 17/08
74. How to Read Like a Writer - Francine Prose - 19/08
75. Side Jobs - Jim Butcher - 19/08
76. Tenerife Journal - Dolly Garland - 31/08
77. A Clash of Kings - George R. R. Martin - 12/09
78. Fantasy in Death - J. D. Robb - 15/09
79. The Sign of Four - Arthur Conan Doyle - 20/09
80. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Wolves at the Gate - Drew Goddard - 24/09
81. Grave Peril - Jim Butcher - 25/09
82. The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins - 27/09
83. Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins - 28/09
84. Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins - 29/09
85. The Old Man and the Sea* - Ernest Hemingway - 30/09
86. Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians - Brandon Sanderson - 03/10
87. Dear John - Nicholas Sparks - 10/10
88. A Storm of Swords - George R. R. Martin - 24/10
89. Princess Diaries: To the Nines - Meg Cabot - 25/10
90. Princess Diaries: Ten Out of Ten - 26/10
91. Dead to the World* - 30/10
92. The Best of Reading for Your Success - Scott Dinsmore - 11/11
93. Focus - Leo Babauta - 12/11
94. How to Gain Extra 2 Hours Per Day - Brian Tracy - 12/11
95. 21 Ways to Double Your Productivity - Brian Tracy - 13/11
96. Zen to Done - Leo Babauta - 13/11
97. Goals - Brian Tracy - 14/11
98. Maximum Achievement - Brian Tracy - 15/11
99. 50 Best Jobs For Your Personality - Michael Farr - 19/11
100. My Life Planning Workbook - JaiperJAM - 19/11
101. The Ultimate Goals Program - Brian Tracy - 22/11
102. 21 Absolutely Unbreakable Laws of Money - Brian Tracy - 23/11
103. Get Paid More and Promoted Faster - Brian Tracy - 24/11 53. Next Logical Step - Ben Bova - 22/06
54. Zen in the Art of Writing - Ray Bradbury - 26/06
55. How to Write a Great Query Letter - Noah Lukeman - 30/06
56. The Art of War for Writers - James Scott Bell - 01/07
57. Writing Fiction For All You Are Worth - James Scott Bell - 04/07
58. Dead Until Dark* - Charlaine Harris - 08/07
59. Journal 2 - Dolly Garland - 09/07
60. Moon Blood - Patricia Briggs - 13/07
61. Coraline - Neil Gaiman - 21/07
62. Heat Wave - Richard Castle - 21/07
63. Twilight - Stephenie Meyer - 23/07
64. New Moon - Stephenie Meyer - 23/07
65. Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer - 24/07
66. Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer - 24/07
67. The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner - Stephenie Meyer - 26/07
68. Four to Score - Janet Evanovich - 30/07
69. Living Dead in Dallas* - Charlaine Harris - 31/07
70. Plum Lucky - Janet Evanovich - 03/08
71. How to Land (and Keep) a Literary Agent - Noah Lukeman - 06/08
72. Diary of a Wimpy Vampire - Tim Collins - 08/08
73. A Game of Thrones - George R. R. Martin - 17/08
74. How to Read Like a Writer - Francine Prose - 19/08
75. Side Jobs - Jim Butcher - 19/08
76. Tenerife Journal - Dolly Garland - 31/08
77. A Clash of Kings - George R. R. Martin - 12/09
78. Fantasy in Death - J. D. Robb - 15/09
79. The Sign of Four - Arthur Conan Doyle - 20/09
80. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Wolves at the Gate - Drew Goddard - 24/09
81. Grave Peril - Jim Butcher - 25/09
82. The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins - 27/09
83. Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins - 28/09
84. Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins - 29/09
85. The Old Man and the Sea* - Ernest Hemingway - 30/09
86. Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians - Brandon Sanderson - 03/10
87. Dear John - Nicholas Sparks - 10/10
88. A Storm of Swords - George R. R. Martin - 24/10
89. Princess Diaries: To the Nines - Meg Cabot - 25/10
90. Princess Diaries: Ten Out of Ten - 26/10
91. Dead to the World* - 30/10
92. The Best of Reading for Your Success - Scott Dinsmore - 11/11
93. Focus - Leo Babauta - 12/11
94. How to Gain Extra 2 Hours Per Day - Brian Tracy - 12/11
95. 21 Ways to Double Your Productivity - Brian Tracy - 13/11
96. Zen to Done - Leo Babauta - 13/11
97. Goals - Brian Tracy - 14/11
98. Maximum Achievement - Brian Tracy - 15/11
99. 50 Best Jobs For Your Personality - Michael Farr - 19/11
100. My Life Planning Workbook - JaiperJAM - 19/11
101. The Ultimate Goals Program - Brian Tracy - 22/11
102. 21 Absolutely Unbreakable Laws of Money - Brian Tracy - 23/11
104. A Feast for the Crows - George R. R. Martin - 03/12
105. Across the Universe - Beth Revis - 0412
106. Doctor Who: The King's Dragon - Una McCormacn - 05/12
107. Starman's Quest - Robert Silverberg - 05/12
108. The Wise Man's Fear - Patrick Rothfuss - 10/12
109. Third Girl - Agatha Christie - 17/12
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