and one day i decided to write a novel

Trilogy

noreply@blogger.com (Robin) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:14:00 +0000

I'm still working on my blog-style novella, but I've also started a new novel. With the sequel to the Teardrop Game done, I feel compelled to write a third. And I'm excited to write a third. I think my writing goals for 2012 will be the following:

finish Another Year or Two
finish the third book of the Teardrop Game series
rewrite (again) the first section of the Teardrop Game (I've reread this recently and realized it is more or less irrelevant to the rest of the book. *sigh)
clean up all three books and see what I have

Should be fun.

Something Else Entirely

noreply@blogger.com (Robin) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:15:00 +0000

I've decided to take a new approach to writing my next novel. Basically, I'm going to write the whole thing online, using a blogging platform to create posts by multiple characters.

If you'd like to learn more about what I'm doing, how and why, see this page.

To start reading, just to go vitzy.com.

What Next?

noreply@blogger.com (Robin) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 14:18:00 +0000

I reread Chaos Ward this weekend. It might need a different title, but otherwise I'm satisfied it is a complete first draft.

Which means it is time to move on to my next project. I have three different ideas I'm playing with. In many ways the most logical thing would be for me to rewrite The Cooper Files. It's been a long time since I wrote that draft, and have some excellent feedback from multiple sources and lots of ideas on how to improve it. The problem is I don't feel very connected to that particular novel right now. I'm feeling more inclined to go through The Teardrop Game and polish up the writing (it could use a lot of polishing), or start a grand experiment I've been contemplating that will involve writing an entire novel via interconnecting blog posts of different characters.

So while I'm trying to decide between these three options, I'm not doing anything. I suppose I'd better just pick one and see how it goes. Maybe I need a three-sided die?

Chaos Ward: Finished

noreply@blogger.com (Robin) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:25:00 +0000

This morning I finished the first draft of my current novel. It came in right at 100,000 words. All in all, I'm quite happy with the way it turned out. I'll probably tinker with it a bit more, then put it away for a while to let it mature while I move on to the next thing.

Making Headway

noreply@blogger.com (Robin) — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:33:00 +0000

Yesterday I passed the 50,000 word mark on the draft of Chaos Ward, meaning I'm about half way done. So far it's going well and it's been pretty fun to get back to the characters and world from The Teardrop Game. But of course I need a new antagonist and new character motivations so it has been an interesting challenge to came at the constants with a fresh take while still maintaining a connection to the earlier story.

At the moment it's moving right along and I'm hopeful to get it wrapped up by November.

Chaos Ward (working title)

noreply@blogger.com (Robin) — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 13:12:00 +0000

After rereading The Cooper Files and starting to work on an outline for the rewrite, I found I lacked motivation for that particular story at this particular time. Then there were a few weeks of not writing much. I suppose everyone needs a break from time to time.

Then I started to feel the itch again. I've been making an effort to read more broadly in the YA and urban fantasy fields, since I still think the tone/voice of The Teardrop Game could be refined a bit. I read Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr and that got me to thinking about how much fun it is to create a world and run with it. Which in turn got the wheels spinning in my head.

A few weeks later, I'm 20,000 words into my first sequel. For now it's called Chaos Ward and it picks up three years after The Teardrop Game ends. Most of my main characters are the same, and writing about them again is really pretty fun. It's like hanging out with old friends.

East of Turnpost

noreply@blogger.com (Robin) — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 17:47:00 +0000

My new novel is done. I even came up with a title for it without a huge amount of difficulty. I actually finished it over a week ago but I must admit I'm having a little trouble letting go. I worked on this one for about a year and a half (taking an extended break to rewrite The Teardop Game in the middle). Still, I've gotten attached to my characters.

I'm already thinking about the re-write, but I know I need to let this draft mature for a while before I start ripping it to pieces.

So, next up, total rewrite of The Cooper Files. I read through it the other day and started to narrow in on where it came be improved.

Oh and I redesigned this website (again). :)

Getting There

noreply@blogger.com (Robin) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 14:10:00 +0000

I haven't been writing as consistently as I would like. The holidays, the flu, and lots of work sort of shouldered out the daily words for a while.

However, I'm back on track and the finish line is in sight. The narrative is starting to feel like it's winding down. With less than 20,000 words left before I reach my goal, I'm hoping to have the rough draft wrapped up within a month.

Half Done?

noreply@blogger.com (Robin) — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 21:06:00 +0000

I'm over 58,000 words into the story now, and I've hit a bit of a hiccup. I suppose it's mostly a symptom of the fact that I need to stop building and start concluding. I've never written such a slow-paced novel before, and while it's a good challenge the process of concluding things is a good deal less obvious when there's not many plot points to resolve. Anyway, I'm plugging along and reassuring myself when things get sloppy that it's just a first draft, which will be entirely ditched for the inevitable re-write anyway.

Six Thousand

noreply@blogger.com (Robin) — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 13:15:00 +0000

I've been doing a decent job or writing, though not as decent a job of posting about my writing every day. I've added about six thousand words to my progress. I've got some new characters in the mix now, though this story is so far pretty slow to take shape.

Back at It

noreply@blogger.com (Robin) — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:16:00 +0000

I've finished with my rewrite of one novel to so I can start sending that to agents, and the editing of my novella so that can get off to press. Now I'm back to just writing. I must say there is something fantastically relaxing about exploring a vague idea and getting to know my characters. The rewrite process is more challenging (also quite satisfying at times) - get the plot from point A to point B in X amount of words while dialing in your characters. But the more organic process of creating the first draft is so enjoyable and relaxing. Plus, it's exciting. You never know who's going to wander onto the stage.

Anyway, I've been back to this 'new' novel for a few days now. I wrote a few thousand words so far this week.

Today's Count: 1,004

Total (will be using the thermometer again to keep track): 23,196

Done Again

noreply@blogger.com (Robin) — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 01:23:00 +0000

Well, I've just finished the total rewrite of my first novel, and it emerged from the whole process 25,000 words shorter and a whole lot better (I hope).

Now I get to take another stab at handing it off to an agent. Wish me luck...

Too Many Irons in the Fire

noreply@blogger.com (Robin) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:03:00 +0000

I've got a lot going at the moment. My new novel is still on the back-burner. The Teardrop Game is about 75% rewritten, with lots of big, big changes. My old novella has been picked up for publication by the Brown Wing Press, so that's very exciting but has shifted my focus from writing to publishing. Still, it's a great step forward, I believe.

Diversion

noreply@blogger.com (Robin) — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 14:02:00 +0000

In spite of my lack of activity here, I've been busy. I'm 18,000 words into a drastic revision/overhaul of The Teardrop Game, so my new novel is temporarily on the back-burner.

14

noreply@blogger.com (Robin) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:21:00 +0000

Today's Count: 1,021

13

noreply@blogger.com (Robin) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:50:00 +0000

Today's Count: 1,022

12

noreply@blogger.com (Robin) — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 15:20:00 +0000

Today's Count: 1.030

11

noreply@blogger.com (Robin) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 20:17:00 +0000

Today's Count: 1,067

10

noreply@blogger.com (Robin) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:17:00 +0000

Today's Count: 1,801

9

noreply@blogger.com (Robin) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:13:00 +0000

Today's Count: 1,038

8

noreply@blogger.com (Robin) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 14:11:00 +0000

Today's Count: 1233

7

noreply@blogger.com (Robin) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:56:00 +0000

Today's Count: 1,190

6

noreply@blogger.com (Robin) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:26:00 +0000

Today's Count: 1,864

5

noreply@blogger.com (Robin) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:05:00 +0000

Today's Count: 1,120

4

noreply@blogger.com (Robin) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:41:00 +0000

Today's Count: 2,024