Category: writing

New name. New story. Still haven’t decided on an update day. Either Sunday or Monday as those are the days I have the most ‘free’ time. And yes, updates once a week.
Since this web story is all text, you have to remember that you get a lot more story with each post. If I was to update two or three times a week with the size posts I have planned, this story wouldn’t even last a half a year.

While I suppose that’s good if you’re really enjoying it, I certainly don’t want to rush things. Plus an easier update schedule is better for me.

On the flip side there are still a few things around the site that are not quite done yet. The bar on the right is one of those. I also have the character pictures drawn (just not colored) so those will be up pretty soon as well.

So I hope you come back and see how the story and the site progress.

So after Nanowrimo, I’ve really been trying to clean up how I write. Trying to put some sort of order to it (I love order) so that I can once again get that feeling of accomplishment as I had after winning Nanowrimo. To do that, I feel like I want to get some of my more ‘complete’ stories, ie, ones with a semblence of an actual ending, to a posting quality. Not publish quality, but a point at which I’m perfectly happy to have people read.

In order to do this, I first must have the rough draft, which I do for the stories I’m looking at. That would be the first draft. The second draft, which I’m planning on starting soon is where I add in the scenes and ideas that got left out of the first draft, such that everything I want to be in the story is then there, even if it’s ugly. The stage after that will be grammar, spelling, and tweaking everything to the best I can make it. After that, the fourth draft which I hope to reach one day will be when I post the story and look for feedback on the story and any mistakes that manage to still be in the story after the first three drafts.

But if Nanowrimo has taught me anything, it’s that I need a deadline to get anything done. As such the story I have picked is Shifting Winds and I will have the second draft done by the end of January. That’s my deadline and I will hold myself to it.

The only problem I see with this is that the ending is weak. I know it is, and so I have to figure out how I can fix that, but I have other scenes to add and stuff to change while I think about it. It should be good.

The month was long but I ended up making it. 50,000 words in 30 days and the story isn’t quite finished. It’s really a messy bunch of words, but all the ideas are there. Well except that I’m still not sure exactly how it’s going to end.

Either way, this seems to be the way that I would be most productive writing. Some people (like my husband) have to have a plan before they start, have a nice outline and characters all planned. I think I do better just writing down whatever and then editing once I’ve finished. Perhaps if I try this again even if not for nanowrimo, I might get one of my other stories finished some time.

I suppose I’m giving up. And I wanted to let the few people who come here know.

I had the post ready and waiting, but then Tuesday didn’t feel like Tuesday and before I knew it, it was Thursday and I didn’t have time for the last edit and posting this up before I went up to Baltimore for Otakon.

I know, excuses, excuses. Blah I suppose.

The chapters are kinda screwed up. Not really good breaking points, but then life goes on. This post’s a little late, but still posted on Tuesday. Got the much needed productive energy from Paula! Yay!

Since this is the easiest way to get this picture to my father, here is the link. Don’t forget to bookmark it, Dad.

That out of the way, yeah I missed last week. I’ve beaten myself up about it enough. First draft is bare bones and I still had a horrible time writing it. Blargh. More interesting soon.

I love gryffins, and I always have them in some way, shape, or form, in every story I write. In this story they’re a rather important part, seeing as how the gryffin of the Founding King is on the country’s flag. They’ll be more on gryffin knights later.

This post is a little less polished this week because I have gotten a copy of Adobe Premiere Elements and I am busy rushing up the learning curve of all Adobe products. (The way you edit text that is already in place is so far from intuative it made me sick.)

As for the story, Shae and Kwen are now in their new home. Or temporary new home. Not quite handmaidens yet.

Having an uncle in town when the inns are full is quite handy. Plus they get to meet the awesome Kelbrand!