Any story requires suspense. And a perfect character who always succeeds, and never hesitates will not only be predictable, but also be someone that readers do not relate to.

But what flaw do you prefer? Is the character naïve or indifferent? Is he too intelligent or too stupid? Does pride make him arrogant or is he crippled by self-doubt? Is he an addict, and if so what is the vice? Women, drugs, alcohol, gambling, violence? Or a combination of the above.

My only real issue with the above is with stupidity and by that I mean mental incompetence rather than ignorance. I find it entirely plausible for a character to make mistakes through a lack of knowledge or being oblivious. However, simple and repeated stupidity drives me crazy. This is more endemic in Anime but whenever a character does something completely stupid, I want someone to end them, or me.

It’s the reason the quality of the Star Wars movies is inversely related to the amount of Ja Ja Binks screen-time and why I can’t stand Will Ferell movies. Some people enjoy the bumbling antics of the mentally impaired so it’s a viable option – just a personal frustration. (Please note that a character faking stupidity is another matter entirely.)

Do you have a preference, or one you particularly hate to see?

There’s really no other way to put it. I finished up my 100 x 100 challenge halfway through April and I’m only just getting to updating about it now. The short of it was I failed to meet my goals.

The long however is that despite only managing a 430 word average, that still means I managed to put out over 43k in slightly more than 3 months. Which although nothing for a professional writer, represents a serious increase in productivity for me.

Worse though is the one and a half months between finishing that challenge and the start of SoCNoC 2012 – no website posts, little to no Twitter, and the real problem, NO WRITING !-apart from a couple of scribbles, I spent over 10% of my year doing nothing to grow or improve as a writer.

Now, I have justification – we all do don’t we? I moved house and had three business trips in the course of a month directly after the 100 x 100 challenge ended which quite frankly left me tired and unmotivated. I’m not happy about my inactivity over that month but it’s explainable. I should be able to push past it but the fact that I didn’t means room for growth rather than despair.

However, for the two weeks before the start of June I lack any real excuse. I just didn’t feel the drive and without something prompting me to do more, I lay comfortably in my rut. Oscillating between self-justification and self-loathing.

Near the beginning of June I was indulging in a little self flagellation – seeing what other writers were actually doing – when I spotted SoCNoC – write 50k in a month. Ambitious, yes. Difficult, check. Insurmountable, probably. Yet, because of this I decided to give it a go.

Let’s just say friends are a blessing and a curse when they share the same interests as you. My first two weeks gobbled up by impromptu gaming and drinking sessions among other activities. Which put the proverbial nail in the coffin of me having any shot at the 50k.

I ended up on a paltry 15k. I was disappointed too.

Then I started writing this blog post, part penance, part record keeping and I came to a simple realization, 15K over 30 days is 500 words per day. I’m not where I want to be but at least I’m back on track.

Better still, I’m excited about writing again and it’s only finding it again that’s reminded me how much I missed it.

I plan to be writing well into the future so having a bunch of fleshed out ideas sitting around waiting for inspiration and motivation seems like more of a good thing than a negative. I decided to have a look at where my various projects are sitting.

‘Assimilators’, my first writing project sits alone and forlorn at about 40k words. A Sci-Fi work starting with the painful death of the entire human population of a core planet and the subsequent eradication of an alien species, quietly waiting to be finished. It suffered from two main issues. Firstly, it was plot driven – I knew where I was going, and how I was going to get there which means characterization took a back seat. Yes, silly, silly me but it was my first go at writing a novel. Not to say they didn’t flesh out over time, but it did lots of damage initially. Secondly, it was written entirely in the first person. Moreover, a lot of it was god awful crap – a given really, for a first work but bears repeating. However, the idea was really cool and I’d like to think with a little more discipline, I will have a shot at rewriting it – had some awesome action scenes!

‘Fate’s Own’, my second stab at the novel is my current WIP at well over 80k words; it is awaiting a decent finale and a few more scenes, even as I rework the majority into a second draft state – a high fantasy series with medieval level of technology and magic. Planned as a trilogy, I have the major arcs of the second book plotted out but need to complete this before moving on.

‘Blood Craft’, the result of a single manic weekend, and weeks of thought, is around 10k long and is another high fantasy series with a slightly darker protagonist. This one actually has virtually no plot as yet and is more about writing a world at this stage. So I find myself drifting sideways rather than going forward, but I like the potential, and some of the characters have come truly alive.

Interestingly, the magic system here is more fully developed than ‘Fate’s Own’ mainly due to it being simpler and the focus of my initial thoughts – having a more major tie in with both the economy and power structure of the world.

‘Tilt’ is my newest pet project. Mentioned in several of my posts this week, it is my most recent development and being set in modern times and on our world; it is proving easier in several regards to write – no issues with using modern terminology and references. I want something to sound like a jet plane it does, movie references go for it, political events discuss, etc. Not having to put your writing through a filter is quite refreshing. If I know something, there is no reason my protagonist can’t be aware of it.

So while ‘Fate’s Own’ is my current priority, I do want to have another of these options at a complete first draft state by the end of year. The question is, which? Given the fact that ‘Assimialtors’ needs a rewrite in its entirety they are all starting in a similar position.

I don’t have to choose one yet, but I will need to choose. If I make an emotional choice, it’s up in the air. I may have to see which I can plot out the furthest and go with that. Either way, it’s going to be an interesting year.

So does anyone else have multiple projects on the go?

And if so, do you choose clinically, or play favourites?

Tal just wanted to experience life… he should have specified boring.

Escaping slavery due to a twist of fate, a talent for bloodshed, and a power just beginning to stir, Tal finds himself alone and ignorant in a world he doesn’t understand.

You’d think surviving a life of indentured servitude and still managing to hang onto the vestiges of your humanity would garner some sympathy from the gods.

But Tal has a knack for finding trouble, or trouble just wants to be friends.

Despite anonymity being more important to an escaped slave than air, a skewed moral compass prompts a reckless rescue. A cynical thief and blood loss – a seemingly poor trade for the heat of a noble’s death.

Falling in with criminals was bad enough, but with ambitious nobles looking to secure a legacy and expand their coffers through war, society’s misfits find themselves with a new found sense of civic pride and patriotism, albeit at sword point.

Trained as part of an experimental and disposable unit, teamwork must be learned and resourcefulness pressed to the limit to prevent becoming just another casualty.

As the war kicks off in earnest, Tal finds himself at the sharp end of the spear surrounded by comrades he shouldn’t trust, a haunted mentor with a point to prove, a magic he can’t control, a nobleman intent on extracting a life for an eye, and a hidden hand fanning the flames of conflict.

Tal will have to decide how much longer he’s willing to pay the price for doing the right thing…assuming he can figure out what that is.

Enter ‘Tilt’. A fantasy novel set in modern times and tentatively at this point in California. Quite frankly, it’s been liberating. As I’ve noted previously, creating your own world from the ground up is a monstrous task – a seemingly insatiable behemoth that can, at times, absorb every ounce of creativity. Not that it can’t be fun. It can, and is, but it is time consuming and can easily make you fixate on small unimportant details such as the perfect name.

With real life, a quick flick of the internet and you can learn the actual places, towns, terrain, mineral wealth, population density, crime stats, etc. In a way, the creation is done; you merely need to flip through folders till you find the right detail.

Which means all my creativity gets funnelled elsewhere – in this case, the plot, characters and their abilities (I write speculative fiction. Of course they have powers ) It may simply be experience, but I find the writing so far, flowing more smoothly in this newest enterprise than my earlier endeavours.

Not to say there haven’t been difficulties or road blocks. Just yesterday I had a spirited discussion with my flatmate (a far more scientifically minded individual than myself) concerning the nature and interactions of physics.

Long story short, what I want to do doesn’t work according to forces as we know them. That was initially dispiriting as just the day before he had confirmed another of my plot points I was having doubts about, saving a ton of re-imagining and reworking. Finally, I decided it simply doesn’t matter. Despite using Earth now as a basis, I’m not limited by current scientific understanding.

Impossible today….possible tomorrow.

All that really matters is internal consistency and whether it’s entertaining.

Fingers crossed for both

Guess what got volunteered to take one for the team?

Yep, this update is coming a few days early.

So where am I now?

Currently, I’m hovering at just over a 500 word average which is over 22k words -a large chunk of it being 12k in a new project that I am rather excited about. Constantly writing it has made quite a few interesting plot points surface. So despite being barely an 1/8th of the way through a first draft, I found myself reading through it last night, weaving in foreshadowing and finding it surprisingly easy, and at least, not in my opinion, contrived.

But enough about that. I’ll be touching on different aspects of this current project in other posts this week.

No, this is focused on the 100 x 100 challenge. Having gotten over the initial rollercoaster of success and failure, I have reached a solid upward trend and having broken my first reevaluated goal, it’s time to set another one.

So the new goal, which is reasonably ambitious, is to raise my average word count to 550 over the next 25 days. It may only be a 10% increase, but in actuality will require I write around a 600 word average over this period which is 20% higher than current. Not a bad bump, and reasonable enough that I may even exceed it.

Adding even more leeway is that this push won’t start till the halfway point (50 day mark) as I need to get ‘Fate’s Own’ ready for submission for a course I’m interested in.

The choices nowadays are as numerous as they are varied.

I’ve at some point or another used them all. Albeit the typewriter was so long ago that all I can remember distinctly is the clack of the keys and ink-ribbon stains. No backspace, no do-overs, just tap away. And there is a certain type of nostalgia -a charm from a bygone era – but I’m not much for sentimentality.

Pen and paper – or if you wish to go even further back, pencil – simple portable and cheap. I actually used to carry a small notepad around with me, jotting down thoughts, and ramblings, and the occasional doodle, but alas my handwriting, much and justly maligned, is illegible – often as indecipherable as the scratchings of a chicken deep in the throes of some grand mal seizure.

PC – a fantastic option with a wide variety of applications and endless options. However, sadly stationary, chaining you to a desk. Fine, if you’re under your muse’s spell, deep in an endless trance, but when you need to stretch and seek inspiration elsewhere, you are forced to leave your vehicle behind.

Laptop – a compromise between features and portability – no 24 inch monitor and sound system blasting out your favorite tunes. Yet, capable enough to meet the majority of your needs while still being easily transferred from one location to another. Almost as dependent on a power outlet as your PC, but perfect for writing away from home in a civilized location.

Netbook – small, compact, and easier to move than most laptops. However, the reduced features and a tiny screen are the cost of making the battery last hours and hours. Sadly compromise is often the death of a brilliant idea.

Tablets – the most portable of those electronics featuring a decent screen size. Light as a feather, seemingly endless battery life and designed for those on the go. Again, I suffer from a similar issue as with the typewriter – my actual experience with tablets is limited. The biggest flaw I found was the touch screen nature of the devices; I find myself missing the feedback and tactile nature of a keypad.

The smart phone – my current model, a full Qwerty keyboard Blackberry. Who doesn’t always have their phone on them? Keyboard of necessity tiny, yet still surprisingly easy to type on. Make notes, jot down ideas, or write out a paragraph or two and email it back to yourself. Fantastic for ideas on the go.

With all these options, what are my weapons of choice?

The PC gets a lot of use when I’m home but could be replaced with my laptop, and until three months back, the role of PC was played by said laptop. When it comes to serious writing, I find it to be king. But when I’m out and about, I no longer carry a notepad or pen. My phone serves in that role far more efficiently and accurately.

(With the rare exception when I burn through its battery surfing the net or playing games )

So what’s your usual preference? And are there hidden facets to some of the other options I haven’t touched on?

Finding myself spending more time looking for my writing than the aforementioned task, I started looking for an alternative. It wasn’t something I’d previously considered, merely thankful that I didn’t have to submit myself, or anyone else to the agony of trying to decipher the scrawl some might generously call handwriting.

Scrivener had come up previously, but at the time was a Mac-only product.

(On a side note, I detest Macs because they are the epitome of style over substance. Not that they are poorly made, but that although it may be 10% better than an equivalent PC, it costs 100% more! That said, I do think their advertising is brilliant. As they say, “Windows has users, and Mac has followers.” It’s the same way I objectively admire the work and wit that goes into selling any other crap/overrated product but would never actually purchase (waste my money on) it.)

Back to the topic at hand – Scrivener.

A link on a website led me back to it and low and behold they had released a Windows version with a free 30 day trial! The tutorial was borderline overwhelming with the variety of features and functions flickering across the screen. Slightly stunned, but seeing the immediate benefits, I started my own project.

Not having access to all my files, I started writing something that had been bouncing around my skull for a few months. It was a great, free-flowing stream of ideas – a simple click of the mouse creating a new chapter at a whim. The outline tool allowed me to plan and jot down ideas, all the while letting me flick from beginning to middle to end with ease.

I was sold! And then I tried to upload “Fate’s Own”….

At first, it was grand, cutting it up into nice little chapters, making notations, organizing and editing to my heart’s content.

Then I discovered the dark little secret. You see, the Windows version of Scrivener cannot successfully import OpenOffice files, and when you copy and paste it in, you lose not only editing, but actual words, paragraphs, and chapters at random!

I found myself with a much edited but incomplete version. The mere thought of transferring across the changes was a fearsome enough specter to make me lose the will to write. I lost track of the weeks of pure hell and wasted productivity caused by the oversight. Quite frankly, it was a seemingly unending source of frustration.

Then it was over.

My work was up to date, and I was able to actually make progress again.

Which brings us back to Scrivener, and how good is it?

Simply put- buy it.

I’m using a fraction of the features and it’s been well worth the money. I look forward to more discoveries and learning more neat tricks about the software.

Just be careful when transferring over your data the first time, and you can avoid my calamity (storm in a teacup) and experience nothing but smooth sailing.

So when I spotted a challenge called 100 x 100, I thought it might be what I was looking for.

A simple premise – write 100 words every day for 100 days.

Not hard at all. I mean, I can write that much in minutes on my walk to work, between TV commercials, etc. So achievable? Check.

Now you may be thinking, well if I do that, it’s only 10,000 words over the course of the challenge. Hell! Almost a third of a year, and only what I could produce in a single manic afternoon! Problem is, if you’re like me, then you may only write on a few of those 100 days. Which means you are still likely to end up with nearly five figures worth of extra words you wouldn’t otherwise have.

However, although having an achievable minimum is good, having something more difficult to strive for is also beneficial. So I initially aimed to knock out a 1000 word average. The first week was a series of facilitating events and inspiration and I finished at 908 words. Things interfered afterwards and my weekends, where serious writing usually happened, were a wash. My word average plummeted to nearly half that. Not good.

Nearly a month in and I’m sitting at a mere 391. Far off my original goal, but still nearly 4x the minimum. So I have reappraised and want to average over 500 words which seem doable. Hopefully, I will be able to drag my average up over the next few weeks.

So instead of just waiting for lighting to strike, every day now, I raise a metal rod into the storm and try and bait inspiration. Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn’t, but I get at least a hundred new words out of it.

So what kind of consistency do you aim for, and how do you do it?