No time to do a longer post today. My numbers are below.
—
Words written today: 1,055
Words written total: 13,245
Plus / Minus target: +1,245
Currently writing: The Last Outpost
Currently publishing: Sisterhood
Latest release: n/a
My plan going into all the stories this year is that they should be in the 5,000 word region. The first draft of Sisterhood ended up being longer than that and The Last Outpost looks like it might be even longer. And I’m asking myself if that’s a problem.
The whole point of this process is to finish stories and does it really matter whether it’s 52 x 5,000 word stories or 26 x 10,000 word stories? I don’t think so. Even if some of them end up verging on the novella length.
If I was thinking about sales and marketing (which I’m not) then I might even say it’s advantageous to write longer stories. But I’m not thinking about marketing or sales, so I won’t.
The important thing is that I am averaging 1,000 words per day, and that I am finishing everything I start. Which so far I am.
I ended up writing at the kitchen table this morning and the change of location felt strange at first, but once I was writing I got used to it. I’m happy with what I wrote and looking forward to finding out where it goes next.
—
Words written today: 1,132
Words written total: 12,190
Plus / Minus target: +1,190
Currently writing: The Last Outpost
Currently publishing: Sisterhood
Latest release: n/a
The Last Outpost is slower going than Sisterhood, but I’m enjoying it a lot more. Not completely sure where it’s going, but I have a rough idea and that might be helping.
Today I officially crossed the threshold to having being a day ahead of schedule. That has happened a bit slower than I was expecting, but it’s nice to know that if something comes up one morning, and I can’t write, I won’t lose my daily average or have to catch up later.
Tomorrow I am going to be starting the post-production process on Sisterhood and it’s going to be interesting to see what it’s really like when I look at it critically. I don’t think it’s really possible to judge a story while you’re writing it, and I know it’s a mistake to try. I’m hoping I can turn the story around quickly so it’s available to buy by the time The Last Outpost is ready to be edited and I am onto the next first draft.
Feeling a lot more possitive about everything today and enjoying things again.
—
Words written today: 1,062
Words written total: 11,058
Plus / Minus target: +1,058
Currently writing: The Last Outpost
Currently publishing: Sisterhood
Latest release: n/a
Started the second story of the challenge today, and it went well. It Starts on a spaceship at some point in the future, so completely different to Sisterhood. Which I like. The main character is also quite different. At the moment it feels like it’s going to be a bit shorter as well, which might get me back on track for writing a story every week.
Tuesdays are always busy so going to keep this short. Almost a full day ahead of my goal for word count.
—
Words written today: 1,141
Words written total: 9,996
Plus / Minus target: +996
Currently writing: The Last Outpost
Currently publishing: Sisterhood
Latest release: n/a
It took a little longer than expected, but the first draft of the first story is now done. Tomorrow I will be starting a new story and I am looking forward to that.
I would say that Sisterhood had been a real learning experience for me. There were some mistakes that I made that I hope I can avoid in future stories. I went into this one completely blind, and that might not be the best way to do it for me.
In the past I have usually planned what I am going to write, and I think there are definite advantages to that. Even if I don’t end up sticking to the plan, having one can be useful. So I think I am going to try that for the next story. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate, just a sense of what the ending is going to be, but having that will, I think, make a big difference.
The publishing of Sisterhood will start on Thursday. I am not sure how long that’s going to take, but probably not long. That’s when I will work on the cover and things like that.
Tomorrow then, it’s a new story and at this point I have no idea what that is going to be. Looking forward to finding out later when I sit down and try to come up with a plan.
—
Words written today: 1,067
Words written total: 8,855
Plus / Minus target: 855
Currently writing: Sisterhood
Currently publishing: n/a
Latest release: n/a