Keepers DAY [who knows?]

I have been derelict in my duties and my goal to report daily on my progress on my latest book, Keepers of the Sword. Rest assured (for the one or two of you that might actually be interested in what stories are locked away inside this odd little brain of mine) that I have continued to write nearly every day, but have not committed or found (made) the time to type that writing into MS Word since about my last entry. As I sit here, I look down at the foot of my desk (off to the left and almost around the side) and see three full 70-page, college ruled notebooks full of the book, with another one in my bag that is nearly completed. That's nearly 280 pages of handwritten material to type up (that will equal well over 300 pages in Word). Keepers is, to date, my longest book.

As I near the ending, though, I suspect I will continue to do what I have always done, and that is finish my handwritten draft, take a month or so to type it up, do a couple of edits and rewrites, let a few close friends read it and get feedback on it, and then submit it to an eagerly (and patiently) waiting editor and publisher and hope it passes their board.

I'm not sure how often I will write in this, but I commit to try harder to keep you all updated.

So let it be written...

so let it be done.

Keepers DAY 57

I gotta say, this new, little love "side-story" is turning fun to watch and write. It never ceases to amaze me when even these new, "unplanned" side-plots and stories seem to fit perfectly with the big picture and main story. This new scene that I wrote yesterday served as the catalyst and lead-in for the next chapter so perfectly that you would have thought it was part of my original outline, but I didn't even see it coming until the moment it was on paper. I love being in "the zone."

I'm also wrapping up the last details and rewrites on The Watchers, and getting ready to send it out. I am really struggling with the common author questions: do I get an agent or proceed on my own. So far I've done OK without one, but this next book was written for a wider audience. I think I may try a couple of publishers that accept submissions without them, and then take it from there (while I do some research on who to approach).

I've said it before and I'll probably say it again, but it is sad how work gets in the way of life.

So let it be written...

so let it be done.

Keepers DAY 56

Watchers is just about wrapped up. Cover letter - check; Detailed narrative - check; First few chapters polished - check; Letter to current publisher explaining disappointments with editing, marketing, and distribution efforts - check.

I will likely need a couple of nights this week to finish typing the edits from last week, but today I start back on Keepers. It's exciting to see how it's all going to fit together.

So let it be written...

so let it be done.

Keepers DAY 50

Well, I should be a lot further along than I am. I have hit that point where it becomes difficult to see how all of the story lines and sub-plots are going to interconnect. I'll be honest, for me this is the scary part. But as I push through those doubts and worries I find myself writing scenes that accomplish exactly what I feel they should. I like the direction the story is going.

But this week I have decided to take a break from Keepers and finish up The Watchers. I started writing this new book before I had completed the rewrites on the old one. Over the weekend Natalie asked what was happening with that book. I had to admit not much. Rich, a friend and early reader, found some "plot holes" and weak story lines that I had doubts about, myself, and have hesitated correcting them because of the overall work and rewriting that might be associated with it. But this week I am going to add/correct those parts and get it sent off to the publishers.

So let it be written...

so let it be done.

Keepers DAY 43

Writing dialog is one of those things that is very difficult, very detailed yet must come across as effortless and natural. I like playing with double meaning, innuendo, and the like, but it is hard not to make it sound "forced." Nothing kills a book (or a movie, for that matter) than poor dialog. I studied and read movie screenplays for a couple of years trying to get a better ear for it, and I think it helped. It may be time to complete a refresher course and watch those good movies and read those books that display great dialog, where the words all have meaning, move the story along, and are a joy to listen to.

On another note, my interview aired last night. I'm pretty pleased with it. Because it was on so late I need to ask the host if it is available on their website (as a link) or if I can post the copy for people to listen to.

Anyway, I had to remind myself a few times yesterday that I am not writing the finished draft at this stage, and that I just need to push through to the end and then I can go back later and flesh it out. But I have to say I'm really liking the two main characters, and the intrigue is just beginning.

So let it be written...

so let it be done.

Word Count: 33,715 (+1202)

Keepers DAY 42

OK, last week was a "slow" week. There is so much going on that I needed some time to "recharge" (or at least that's what I'm calling it). One night last week I watched The Hitman (edited down, of course) because I felt that needed to recharge my batteries, so to speak. It is hard being creative all the time. Now, for me it's true that when I am in those creative moods and periods that I can't write fast enough to capture what is going on in my head, but like anything else, I need to find inspiration and immerse myself in it. Now, I'm not saying that The Hitman was truly inspiring, or anything like that, (in fact, it seriously lacked a good story and dialog, but the premise was pretty engaging, not to mention some pretty amazing camera angles and sword play...).

During this "down" time I also realized that I am starting to get bogged down with the finer details of the story. From here on out there is a lot of interaction, a lot of dialog, most of which has been "fleshed out" in the outline and I know where it's going and what needs to be said, but I found myself worrying that the new sub-plot isn't deep enough (and what do I have the two of them say), or that the chapter won't be long enough because I don't have every word of their exchange mapped out. I have had to remind myself that I'm in the stage of just getting the story out, the bones, the skeleton, and that there will be time later (during the first edit/rewrite) to add to and take away then.

I am looking forward to a good week of writing.

So let it be written...

so let it be done.

Word Count (32.513) (+0)

Keepers DAY 37

Not much to add today. We are short handed at work this week and I find that on these days I end up not even taking a lunch. (I have a great team and they are helping with the work load, but I feel guilty even taking a lunch break when I know someone else is helping with/doing my work.)

I have just finished up the last of the "setting up" chapters. The story line is established, the characters are somewhat fleshed out, and now comes the "hard" part of them all interacting and dealing with each other. I have the skeleton outline done and will be relying on it for guidance but this is the stage where the characters start taking on a life of their own.

As for my typing schedule, I've not typed so far this week. Tonight is another softball game but Natalie said she'd go, which means I need to take full advantage of the time and type my little fingers off.

So let it be written...

so let it be done.

Word Count: 31,320 (+0)