Monday, February 20, 2012

(insert sad trombone)

I don't have much to report this week writing-wise.  Last week was another insanely busy week, and I only managed to get just around 600 words down, bringing my total word count to just over 71k.  BUT (yes, this is a big BUT), the good news is I'm pretty sure those 600 words were my second-to-last chapter (yes, a very short chapter).  So that means all I have left to write is the last chapter!  And I think that's part of why I'm okay with the fact that I didn't get to write much this weekend.  Cuz a couple more hourly sessions and the story should be finished! 

Well, the rough, ugly first draft anyway.

So I've been toying with some ideas for this last chapter.  Well, there may be one more little short one after it, but all the closure will happen in this one.  The story switches viewpoints throughout, so I'm thinking maybe the final chapter will be told from each viewpoint, instead of just Riley or Ella's.  It's going to be pretty fast-paced; meaning all the shit is going to hit the fan pretty quickly. I just need to wrap my head around how it's all going to go down.  Of course, I probably won't actually know til I sit down to write it.  Cuz that's how I seem to roll.  I can plan where the story is going, but ultimately I don't really know til I start typing away. 

I'm excited to finish this one, though. I think it's really got some potential, if I can clean it up and tighten it up and stuff.  Ah, revisions.  How I'm both dreading and looking forward to you at the same time.

In other news, holy crap you guys, it's already like, the end of February!  I can almost smell the fresh spring air and see the flowers bursting out of the ground.  Spring seems like an appropriate time to work on revisions, doesn't it?  The world is waking up, being reborn into something beautiful, and hopefully my story will, too.

Monday, February 13, 2012

So close...

So, last week ended up being a hell of a lot crazier than it should've been.  I can't even remember what I did on Monday night, but Tuesday I ended up at a car dealership until almost 8 pm, and I unexpectedly drove home a shiny new car that night.  Totally spur of the moment; my lease wasn't up until September but thanks to some crazy deals I got the updated version of my car with some fun new features and I'm paying $20 less per month.  Crazy, right??  Anyway, then Wednesday I had to head back to the car dealership after work to pick up my garage door opener I'd left behind in the old car (dooops) and drop off my old spare key, and Thursday I hosted the girly night...so basically, what I'm trying to say is that writing was on the backburner last week.  Until Friday, when I thankfully took a mental health day and was able to plug away at the WIP a bit.  I also managed to squeeze in some time on Sunday, so when all was said and done, the week was not a total wash:

Total Words Written: 2,385
Total Hours Spent Writing: 2.5 hours
Total Word Count Overall: 70,872

That's not so bad, huh?  I mean, I know I've been consistently under the 3,000 word mark, but eh.  I'm still happy with how the story is progressing.

That being said, I'm actually allllllllmost done.  I think there will be two, maybe three, more chapters to go and then the rough, rough first draft will be complete.  I already know the revision process is going to be a beast and a half on this one.  I flat out hate the beginning (again) and I really want to add a bit more "oomph" to certain spots.  I've been revising a bit here and there as I go, mainly because I think of things, write them down, and just want to get them added before I get ahead of myself.  So anyway, at this rate, now I'm thinking it might end up just under 80,000 words.  Which is sort of funny, because originally I thought it would go on longer. 

Just goes to show that the story is in control, not me.

Monday, February 6, 2012

I want more

A thought struck me the other day, probably a result of reading two books in a row that really stuck with me (John Green's The Fault in our Stars, which I know I haven't shut up about in three weeks, and then Maggie Stiefvater's The Scorpio Races, which made me want to go out and learn how to ride a horse even though I would die from my allergies to them. But hmm, maybe I wouldn't be allergic to waters horses?  Worth a shot).

So what I decided this weekend was this:  In the end, I just want to write a book that matters.  At least a little bit.  At least to one person.

When I first set out to write a book, I just wanted to tell a story, nothing heavy or serious, just something to help someone escape for a little while. 

But now I want more. 

I still want the first part- reading is all about escapism, after all.  But now I want my words to resonate with people.  For my characters to stay with them long after they've finished the book.  For it to make them think and feel.

Some of this also may have stemmed from the fact that I reread certain parts of the WIP last week and realized how far away I am from the story being done.  Not word count-wise, obviously, but in adding more to it, giving it more "oomph", if you will.  Don't get me wrong, I'm still proud of how far I've come with this one and I still think it has real potential.  And I plan on making it so much prettier when I set out and start revising it for real.

I just want it to be...more.  If that makes sense.

Sigh.  All day today I've felt like I am battling a case of the Mondays.

Anyway, I probably could've written a bit more last week, but a few revisions knocking around in the ol' noggin were demanding to be let out so I spent some time going back and adding in a few things here and there.  I still did pretty well though:

Total Words Written: 2,846
Total Hours Spent Writing: 4 hours
Total Word Count Overall: 68,487

It's good to be inspired.  And that's what all these amazing authors do- inspire me.  With every great book I read, I just become more and more antsy to reach my own goals, to get my own words out there into the world.

I hope someday it'll happen. 

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Three Things Thursday-What I Hate About Me

Well hello there!  Look who's finally back on Thursday!  Yep, it's ME!  Although today I am tired and sore and want nothing more than to curl up under my desk and take a little snooze, the guilt of skipping yet another Thursday blog will eat at me like a dog gnawing away on his favorite bone.  So, here I am, although originality is not really with me today...

This edition of Three Things Thursday details a few things I don't really like about myself; things I wish I had the ability to change or would like to work on.  Soooo here we go:

1) I wish I could enjoy working out more.  I just started hitting the gym again this week, and I decided to start off somewhat easy, doing intervals of walking and running on the treadmill for a half an hour, loosely using the Couch to 5K program as a guide.  God, I hate every freaking minute of it.  I know some people love running, love working out, love the feel of those endorphins kicking in through their system, but I am SO NOT ONE OF THEM.  Plus, I sweat like a dude.  It's not hot.  At all.

2) I wish I was more adventurous when it comes to food.  I'm not against trying new things, really, I just feel like I don't often get the chance.  And when I find something I love at a certain restaurant, I'm not gonna lie, I do end up ordering that same dish pretty much every time.  For years I turned my nose up to the idea of sushi, and when I finally broke down and tried it- LOVED IT.  Same thing with Thai food. I was always afraid it'd be way too spicy or something, but pad Thai is one of my favorite things in the world now.  So, I would like to get some more opportunities to try different things.  As long as it's not super spicy, doesn't have nuts (allergic to most of them), or onions, or peppers, or anything creepy & slimy.  Uhhh...

3) I wish I could magically grow new hair.  Yes, this is a shallow one, kids.  I have the. worst. hair. ever.  Just ask my stylist (who is somewhat of a miracle worker).  She probably cringes every time I make an appointment.  My hair is frizzy and oddly wavy and just...ugly.  Thanks to some amazing products and the best flat iron ever, I manage to get by.  Every so often I let my hair air dry just to see if it's getting any better in its natural state, now that it's getting longer.  Yea...it's not. 

Sadly, I could probably think of a lot more to add to this list.  Like getting over my shyness and having panic attacks when I have to talk in front of a group.  Like being wildly envious of talented writers and wishing I could steal their words as my own.  Like not knowing when to say NO when it comes to shopping or making plans when I know I'm broke as a joke. 

But anyway.  Hope everyone has a great weekend!