Yesterday’s bounty: 2K new words on the mystery, and a revelation in the backbrain about revisions to be done on the fantasy, plus some long-range promo work done for DEAD MAN’S HAND which you can get your own hands on in 12 days…. and I declutterd the office, which after three days of rain was starting to remind me […]
this fog will never lift it will always be like rain Read More »
After Monday’s “think it through without actually thinking about it” phase, Tuesday saw 3K new words get laid down, and a clear idea of where the next chapter’s going. I don’t know if I’ll get another 3k today, but it’s not going to be a stop-and-stare day, so it’s all a win. Mystery writing is,
coffee at my elbow, cat on my knee, brain in a jar on the shelf Read More »
I woke up yesterday morning thinking “the bit in the outline is no longer the bit that should happen.” Â Frustration occurred. Â And I wrote about a hundred words of a new bit, and then stared at the screen and thought “well, what do I do with that, then?” And then I was distracted by a
sometimes you go forward sideways, with the prevailing winds Read More »
For those who might be interested… In an earlier post, I outlined the predicted structure of SILVER ON THE ROAD, as follows: Part 1: Flood Part 2: The Road Part 3: A Magician Part 4: Bones and Stone Part 5: Silver on the Road Part 6: Spanish Flu Part 7: The Dust Roads As of
Reordering The Actions Read More »
The great and horrible thing about multiple projects is that even when one’s in a resting phase, the others need kneading. So while I let Silver on the Road sit for a bit, I’m going full-tilt on Gin & Tonic #4 (due in July), and restarting work on Sylvan Investigations #3. It’s actually sort of relaxing, being
Mix, knead, rest. Repeat. Read More »
I’ve created the Damage Board (where I sort out how much worse the characters are at the end than they were at the beginning). I’ve determined the subplot for the next book. I’ve figured out who lives and who dies. I have Draft 0 of SILVER ON THE ROAD (The Devil’s West #1) Now –
“They’re fools, young rider. You know what happens to fools, here.†Read More »
Some people can write five or six or ten thousand words in a day, and suffer no ill effects. Some people are pleased if they manage a thousand. There’s no ideal speed (so long as you hit your deadline) and the writer who goes at a slow and steady pace is no better a writer,
Words Are as Words Will Read More »
Today, as those of you who follow me on Twitter may have seen, I wrote my way into a massive conflict between Story & Outline. Decided to give them pistols at 10 paragraphs, and let them sort it out. Much to my surprise, that worked. Or rather, what worked was, I looked at History and
some people don’t understand me when I talk to my screen…. Read More »
For newcomers: the wordwar room is an online co-writing session, wherein convivial peer pressure (in 30 and 60 minute ‘wars’) makes the words happen.  Also the griping, whinging, and idea-testing.  The room runs 24/7, with members across the globe. Any serious-about-it writer is welcome to join us. ——————- Ideas are easy. Execution is where you
Weekend Wisdom (?) from the Wordwar Room…. Read More »
This is a story about a story. Â But it’s more than that. Somewhere in early 2012, I’d started working on a story, set in the same universe as my short stories “Crossroads” and “The Devil’s Jack” (forthcoming in DEAD MAN’S HAND). Â But about three thousand words in, I realized that there was more here than
“I am terrified, but I’m not afraid” (a writing year in review) Read More »