Wednesday, September 28, 2005

3 pages...

Day job tried to win today but slow computer connections means I can write between the lines, in the gaps...snatches of conversation, words here and there.

So I managed three handwritten pages - wordcount unknown as I do not have time now to type it on the computer. And I'm very afraid after three consecutive nights of getting to bed around 1am and NOT being able to sleep, that if I start typing now, I will get a second wind and keep writing/typing until who knows when, and I will regret THAT at 8am tomorrow when I speak to my first customer. The customer will probably regret it too, if I haven't had enough sleep. I am SO NOT a morning person!

So, it's now 11.28 pm and I intend to be in bed before before midnight. Everyone else in the house has the right idea, including the cat!

Diane

Tuesday, September 27, 2005

Not a word

Day job won today. No new writing.

However, I have polished my synopsis for the Get Your Stiletto in the Door contest and just need to do the final spit and polish on the first 35 pages and it's ready to send.

I have huge problems naming my characters. First names are quite easy, aided by my 'baby names' book, but surnames, I find it a lot harder. You'd think I would find it easy because my day job is customer service, dealing with customer's records all day. And I see some doozies! Some that I am quite sure I'm not going to even attempt to pronounce.

Having polished the synopsis today, I managed to find a surname for the main guy, and a surname for the antagonist. A random dip into the local phone book solved the problem. Perhaps my characters will be more fully-rounded now they've got a complete title!

Anyone else have problems with naming characters?

Day One - BIAM

Okay, day one of BIAM and I am back at the dayjob. Shame! But that's the way life goes when the rent has to be paid.

However I do keep a notepad and pen right next to me and scribble thoughts and try to keep the momentum going at every opportunity. Every few seconds counts; every few lines adds up. No chance to write at lunch today, but some scribbling managed at afternoon tea.

Some strange things have been happening in doing the Fast Draft challenge last week. Chloe is currently on a date with the grim reaper. Well, he plays the grim reaper at the carnival that has just hit town. I certainly don't remember that in my outline. Anyway, it's more than time for me to hit the sack. I'm back at work in 8 hours.


BIAM total
Zokutou word meterZokutou word meter
1,199 / 30,000
(3.0%)


Novel total
Zokutou word meterZokutou word meter
84,234 / 110,000
(76.0%)


How much better does that second percentage look?

Saturday, September 24, 2005

Got to finish this book!!!

Okay, I've signed up to the ChickLit Challenge BIAM and I'm doing the First Draft workshop at http://www.romancedivas.com because I really need to finish this book and get it out of my system.

I've been at this one for a year now and it's already longer than my last magnum opus.

Surely, surely another 30,000 words and I can declare it done.

If only someone could explain to me why I'll be at home and the muse has gone out shopping. Then I go to the dayjob and the muse wants me to come out and play. Aagh!

Current word count
Zokutou word meterZokutou word meter
83,022 / 110,000
(75.0%)


Diane