Saturday and the Writing Bug

I thought I might have reached a burn out stage by now withe the second book, A New World: Return.  I began this writing binge on Monday with 20,000 words into the story and finished last night with a little over 41,000 surprising me with how easy the story is flowing now considering the block I felt before.  Perhaps it’s just that I didn’t want to.

Writing is such a funny thing and very much akin to reading in my humble opinion. – yes, I do have humble opinions.  The story changes, evolves and twists as I’m writing it just as it would for a reader.  A thought will come to mind as I’m typing and it’s down on “paper” before I know it, complete with its own little story line and everything.  Then, I come to a stop thinking about how I’m now going to have to incorporate that into the entire story.  Or the character will do something I didn’t expect or intend and I will have to allow for that.  See, I treat the book and story like a living. breathing thing.  Alive.  And so am hesitant to go back and change something or rewrite it.  I have only done that once and it was for a minor aspect.  The story flows through me.

For instance and a small one as I don’t want to give and of the story away.  Jack and the group were moving along a road, alert and ready for anything.  I thoughts, well lived the moment to analyze the surroundings to describe them.  I then thought about seeing a dog as part of the scenery, then that morphed into the dog trailing us as I typed along.  The thought of befriending the dog came to mind and a side story line developed along those lines; my mind seeing and my fingers typing.  the story just flowing through.

Well, obviously I have had a lot of caffeine and rambling on now.  Time to get to the book.  I hope everyone has a tremendous day today and it treats them well!

Friday and at the keyboard!

The second book in the New World series is starting to flow along nicely.  Hit the 37,000 word mark yesterday and so the impossible goal of finishing the rough manuscript by the end of the month may entirely be possible.  We’ll see.  As long as Jack and his group doesn’t throw any new twists in that I have to account for.

Sales on the first book seem to have stabilized in the past couple of months.  I’m glad to see that but the house over the lake is still some distance away.  Okay, just kidding there as I write to tell the story and not for the dollars.  I’d be in a bit of trouble if I was writing for that reason.

It’s rather lucky the sun is hiding behind the fog or I might just be tempted to take the kayak or bike out although I am feeling a little under the weather.  Probably a good thing as I really want to spend today moving the story along.  Seems the procrastination but is biting me a little but once I get to the story, I will find myself immersed in it.

Well, not really much to write here today as the story is now calling.  I wish everyone a great and fun Friday!

Another writing Wednesday

Well, the book seems to be flowing along.  Whatever block was there isn’t and it’s a great feeling.  My goal was to hit a third of the way through yesterday – 33,000 words.  I feel a little short hitting 31,000 but was having some trouble with my eye.  But, today is another day and we’ll see where we get to.  I’m still shooting for the end of the month to have the rough draft complete.  In other words, story complete.  but, there is so much for Jack and group to do before landing at the end of this book.

I have been formulated the third one in my mind already and ready to get started on that one as well, but, need to get this one out.  Other stories are popping up in my mind, so, notes are being taken and I will get to them.  I don’t know how many books will be in this series as yet.  I know at last four but that may go into a fifth.  It’s one of those that can go on for as long as I want or even fold into series.

Okay, the sun is coming out so time to type before the temptation to play gets stronger.  Enjoy your day!

It’s nice to be back!

Had a great day of writing.  It was hard to stay attached to the keyboard as the warm, sunny day was calling.  On the other hand, it was great to be back on the keyboard.  Jack and group has been calling and weighing on my mind.  Finally reached the point where they are ready to begin their journey once again.  It was a surprise to reach that point as it kind of arrived before I knew it.  I am thinking I am rather a spectator watching the story unfold.  Surprised by some twists that occur.  I’m not sure I am actually writing the story – ha ha.

I am eager to push on with the story.  It seems there is a bit of character development in this book which will then carry over to the next few books which will then allow me to be more action based.  But, now, with a lot of that development completed, the action can now continue within this one as well.  I am hoping to push on with this story and finish the story and editing by the end of the month with the additional hope of having it out sometime in September.

It will be interesting to see what happens.  I have the story outlined and such but the story seems to take off once I get into the flow and some aspects develop seemingly on their own.  I hope you enjoy reading through the day to day aspects, well, sometimes day to day.  Feel free to subscribe if you want to follow along.

Well, Jack and the horde awaits my attention.  Enjoy your day!

Break time is over!

I have been taking a break from pounding away at the keyboard lately for a few reasons.  One is that the sun has come out and, if you have ever been in the Northwest, you know that is must be taken advantage of.  The sun has a filling effect within and, with the top down on the Jeep, it is hard to stay away from.  Plus, my son has been over quite a bit and I am enjoying time spent with him as he is headed off to college soon.  Happiness and sadness with that.

Additionally and the biggest aspect was one of a creativity block.  The book and writing have been weighing on me to get to and to finish.  I was taking the approach of trying to write it from a mental point of view from the outside rather than living it.  I realized this late last night that I have not been living in it and trying to force it.  This caused very straight forward, linear writing, the result of which I was not very happy with.  The writing yesterday caused a twist in the story which I am not to happy with but may keep anyway and weave it in.  Realizing where I was coming from caused the block to vanish and I am now eager to get back into the story.  That is the place I was in writing the first book and it just flowed.

Well, the sun is out again and I’m going to go play for a little bit and then sit back somewhere, possible with the sun beating down on me, and go on with the story.  I hope everyone enjoys their day and it treats them well!

 

I’m Back!

A bit of a break and now I’m back at it.  The book is gaining a little momentum now that I’ve reached the first action scene.  The characters are set the dialogue necessary for the interactions set.  Well, at least I hope so.  They are some gabby folks.  Still locked on the Island in the book but should be venturing off to new places shortly.

The book sales for the first one aren’t the greatest and I haven’t retired to the beaches as yet.  But, then again, it’s not about the dollars, it’s about telling the story and hoping everyone enjoys it.  The reviews that have come back have been great so I am hoping those that have read it enjoy (ed) it.  the second should be just as good and the third and subsequent are filled with the action – at least in my head.

I do need to figure out how to use all of the characters that have come into the book.  In order to keep them involved in the story, the main character Jack has taken more of a delegation role.  I’m not overly thrilled about that and the editing will have to change that.   From here though, I am changing that to a large degree.

I hope everyone has a wonderful day!  Spring is out and Summer is coming!

A Day In the Sun

Well, it’s time to get started back on the book.  Took a couple of days off as the sun, warm weather, and friends beckoned.  Took the top down on the Jeep Friday.  These days were just meant for heading out with the top down.  Music cranked, top down, sun out – priceless.  Not to mention BBQ’s, bonfires, and “there I was stories.”

Now the high clouds have rolled in for the moment – still a pretty day – and so it’s the laptop in the sun for a day of writing.  Well, that’s the plan anyway.  If the sun comes out full time, then all bets are off.  The Puget Sound waters are beckoning as well.

Ach!  The clouds are thickening as I write this.  It should only be a temporary thing though.  Okay, I left the book just into the first action sequence and I think Jack is getting impatient.  Happy end of the weekend all!

‘Twas a good day!

It was a good day of writing yesterday.   The characters are on the move at long last and I have the vision of events.  There will be more accomplished on that today – a short bit this afternoon and then tonight.

One of the hard things is splitting time between writing and marketing.  The marketing aspect can take on a full time status as there are a lot of avenues to cover, but, that takes away from the writing.  I am hoping the sales portion gathers momentum and reviews come in.  As of now, there have not been a lot of reviews but the ones I have had are quite favorable.  The stats on Amazon show that over half of those who looked at the page purchased the book.  Now, to get folks to look at the page.

The first in the series went out to Sony, Kobe, and Apple the other week and should be published there soon.  The publisher also sent another to Barnes & Noble so I had to withdraw the copy I had out there.

Well, off to wear my keyboard down some more.  Enjoy your day!

Back to it

Memorial Day has come and gone but I want to give a quick thanks here to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we  can continue.  Thank you!  And to the families who have lost loved ones.

I spent most of Memorial Day writing.  I have been writing and writing but the characters haven’t moved.  They are apparently a gabby bunch.  I think it may be more that I am stalling for the next action sequences as I haven’t played them through my mind as yet.  I’ll be interested to see what happens next.  I know the where’s and when’s but not exactly how it will go down.  Hopefully I will get there today.

I’m only about 15,000 words into the story.  I had hoped to be further, like almost done, but the weather has been rather nice and so I played a little this weekend.  Well, played on Saturday and recovered on Sunday.  No, not hangover but I’m afraid the age thing is catching up.  Sore muscles and such.

Okay, I’m off again to see what happens to Jack and his merry band.  I hope everyone has a great day!  Happy hunting!

 

It’s a Monday!

Well, the nice weather the past few days have not been very conducive to writing.  I ended up spending a sleepless night with other books to write running through my head.  I have to hold onto those and concentrate on the one in front of me.  I’ll be writing more on that one tonight.

The sales on the first one are not all that impressive but, it’s not really about the sales and money per se, it’s more about the writing and getting the story down.  Don’t get me wrong, it would be nice to sell a ton but more so on people reading my story as opposed to the money.  Obviously it’s not the entire case or it would be out there for free.

I have Jack a third of the way back from his trek half way across the world.  He’s a bit tired but about to launch on another leg of the trip with one additional stop on the way.  More information to gather before he begins the final leg.

The writing is taking on a different mind as there is one part I want to get to but so much has to happen prior to getting there.  I also find my mind venturing to stories and events that are in the next book in the series.  There is a slight impatience that goes along with that and I have to keep focused on the current moment in the book.

Enjoy your day all and happy reading!