What I do when I'm not blogging

So I wasn't around here for a couple days--instead of writing my blog, I was spending all my free time praying. I wanted so desperately to win the book give-away contest at The Sphere.

Well, it paid off. I'm a winner. I won a copy of the book The Cleaner by Brett Battles. I'm excited, because I really don't win things too often. (I did win some CDs and DVDs from the local radio station last year for picking the most games right in the first week of the NFL season--13 out of 16. I didn't win it again because more people joined after that, and there was usually at least one person who picked every game right.)

I've been doing some editing this week--if you remember, a large chunk of my book was backstory, taking place in 1975. I had that in all as one chapter. I've taken it out now, chopped it up, and moved it around the book. Now I'm going through and cleaning it all up. When I'm done with all this, I'll let my wife go through it, and I won't look at it again for a couple weeks.

I've got a book in at the library--Joe Hill's Heart-Shaped Box. I'm really eager to pick this up. I've heard it's great, and I've even heard that it tops his dad's books. Joe Hill is Stephen King's son. So, yeah. It'll be cool.

Kate's Story

So I did a good bit of editing yesterday. I'm going through the whole manuscript and I'm just looking at those parts involving my female protagonist Kate Miller. I want to make sure I keep her story and her character consistent. Actually, her character changes, but I need to make sure that the change progresses smoothly. When I'm done with Kate, I'll go back through and look at someone else, and someone else again, until I've done everyone.

I also realized that I haven't distanced myself from this book enough yet. I'm going to finish this edit, then give it to my wife to mark up, and just not think about it again for a few weeks. In the meantime, I'll start on Book #2, featuring the band Hemlock Lane. That's the new name for the protagonists' band. If you remember, the old name was The Unended, which I still kind of like. But the wife suggested Hemlock Lane, and that's cool, so that's what it probably will be. Unless anyone out there has a better suggestion?

False Start

Maybe the editing I did Saturday was just a false start. I didn't do anything yesterday, but I'm hoping to get some more editing in tonight.

One major thing that I've already changed is the name of my city. It was Marietta, now it's Glastonbury. Glastonbury is the name of an English city that has a very distinct history, at least in mythology. For one thing, it's supposedly the place where King Arthur is buried. It was also reputed to be a doorway to the Otherworld by the ancient Welsh. That's kind of a neat heritage, huh? So I decided to name my city after that one. Plus, one of those facts just might tie in with my book a little bit.

Well...

I know yesterday I said I wouldn't do anything writing-related, but then I ended up editing almost the whole first 2 chapters of my book. I guess I'm started on that now. It's going quickly for now--but the beginning of the book was better written than the rest. I'm sure it'll get slower and more interesting as I go.

It's funny, but I barely remember writing the stuff in these early chapters. It's fun to go back and read them, and make them better where I can. I wish the whole book was as good as these first couple chapters. But, hopefully by the time I'm done, it will be.

CURRENTLY READING: Elmore Leonard Split Images. I've never read anything of his before, and I found this at the Goodwill the other day. I'm only a few pages into it, and already I'm enjoying the easy manner in which it's written.

The Sun

The sun's out today! It's a wonderful day! And I'm stuck inside working.

Oh well. The extra cash is always needed, and we got out for a little bit already this morning. We hit the Goodwill already--today is the half off sale. I got a couple books and a record. We got the Big Boy a full-size nerf football. It's kind of ratty, but it's the only thing he wanted.

I bought Dan Brown's Deception Point. My theory is that his books get worse with each one. I don't have any proof yet--I've only read two so far, and the newest is my least favorite of the two. I liked Angels and Demons better than The DaVinci Code. Deception Point doesn't have any art or art history at all, I don't think, so will be very different. Can't wait to read it.

Also got Neil Diamond's Hot August Night. I really wanted this one the last time I went to the goodwill, but it was scratched and I didn't want to spend a buck on it. But for 50 cents, I'll try out a scratched record. (I know I'm a tightwad.)

Haven't done anything writing-related today, and I probably won't. Yesterday I did write a Prologue to my book--not the new one, the one that needs editing--but that was all I did, about 5000 words. I may start working on it again tomorrow. We'll see.

Not writing

So the more that I don't work on Book #1, the more I research and brainstorm for Book #2. I might actually have a fairly thorough idea of where #2 is going to go by the time I finish all my editing for #1. I just hope I don't start mixing in things that I plan to use for #2 into #1 while I edit.

While #1 (I really need a working title!) is more of a fantasy than a horror book, #2 will be more horror, with people coming back from the dead and much evilness. I don't think there will be any other-world involvement in this book, although I'm already planning a few references to #1 throughout #2.

I guess what I really need to do is just start editing #1. I really want to get it close to a finished product so I can send it out and try to sell it.

RECENTLY LISTENED TO: Blues Traveler Live on the Rocks.

Relaxation

This is nice, being done and on a break, not worrying about trying to write more. I'm not constantly thinking about what I have to write still--because it's all done. But I kind of miss it too. I'll probably get started on the editing soon. I want to make this thing good. And I want to make it done by the end of April. End of May at the latest. I'm trying to be realistic, in that I know it should take more than a month to edit 100,000 words. That sure sounds like a lot, doesn't it? 100K. It is a lot. Right around 450 pages.

I've still been thinking about my next project. The main character is the lead singer of the band. I need to come up with a good name for a young rock band. Right now they're called The Unended. That's all right, but I know there's got to be a better name for them. Suggestions?

RECENTLY READ: I just finished The Stainless Steel Rat by Harry Harrison. Good book. It's nonstop action from the start to the finish. But it's not just about the action--we see what's going on inside the main character's head, we see his character growth. Well done all throughout.

FINALLY!

I finished my first draft yesterday afternoon, just as I thought I would. I wrote about 800 words in the epilogue and called it done. And it feels great.

It weighs in at a respectable 102, 798 words, which is almost 13,000 more than I intended. While I'm sure I'll a lot during the editing phase, I know I'll be adding things as well. My goal will be for the completed product to be under 100K words.

I'll probably take just a couple days off, then get to the editing. I've already started working on the backstory for my next project--I don't have much so far, just vague ideas. I'm not even sure what the main story is. But that's the funnest part to me, coming up with all the ideas.

Whereas the main characters in my first book, still without a title, were in their mid-thirties, a little older than myself, I think the characters in the next book will be younger than I am, probably early twenties. I'm excited to see what the rest of the story is about now.

RECENTLY WATCHED: 24. I love that show. How is Jack Bauer going to save the day next time? He's amazing.

One more time

I know I said it before (yesterday), but I'll say it again today: I should finish my rough draft tonight. I had some other things come up last night, and I didn't quite finish. I did finish chapter 31 and start on the epilogue. But, since I had to put in a new thermostat for the furnace last night, I didn't quite have enough time to finish the epilogue. But I've probably got less than a thousand words to go, so it will be done today.

CURRENTLY WATCHING: The original Star Wars trilogy. With the commentaries on. I love watching movies with the commentaries running--if I've seen the movie often enough, obviously. I've gotten through A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, just have to get to Return of the Jedi and I'll be finished. Maybe I'll get the Prequel Trilogy from the library and watch those as well.

One thing that I've discovered from the commentaries is that George Lucas has been editing each version of the movies ever since they came out. The original Star Wars wasn't labelled as "Episode 4: A New Hope" until it was released on VHS the first time. The studios thought that calling the first movie in a series "episode 4" would confuse the audience.

I knew he'd been editing them more in recent years, changing little things here and there, but I had no idea he'd started it right from the beginning. And then that made me wonder, What if writers edited each printing of their books that was published? What if they went in and said, Hey, before you print that next run, let me change this paragraph around? Or, Let me add some more dialogue to show the relationship between these two characters a little?

Just a thought. I know it does happen on occasions--Stephen King recently published a new version of his book The Gunslinger, the first book in the Dark Tower series, so that it would agree with the rest of the series better. But I can't think of too many other instances of that happening, and I guess when you're one of the bestselling authors in the world, you can do about anything you want.

Home Stretch

Well, I know I keep saying I'm getting closer and closer to the end, and that I'm almost done, but this time I really mean it. Last night I wrote just over 2,200 words, and wrapped up the bulk of the action. Now I'm into chapter 31, and I just have to resolve a little bit of the story. Then there's a short epilogue--just 2 scenes, and I already know how those are going to go. If I get one solid hour to write, I can probably finish tonight.

And if you get a chance, don't forget to check out the store that my friend and I started. I hope to get some more designs up soon.

Saturday night out

So my wife and I got to go out for a couple hours last night. We enjoyed a nice dinner at O'Charley's, and did some shopping. Without the children. It was nice.

Didn't find much time to write, though. I squeezed in 289 words. I've started Chapter 30 now, and shoudl be done within a couple days if I can just get a littel time to write.

CURRENTLY READING: Still reading Citizen Soldier, but this morning I picked up a paperback I bought at a library book sale last weekend. The Stainless Steel Rat by Harry Harrison. It was written in 1961, so it has an odler feel to it as far as the science fiction goes, but I like it. The author take sa typical sci-fi world (typical for his time period) but makes the main character a scam artist. It's fun.

Friday Afternoon

Managed another 1340 words or so yesterday afternoon. Didn't get much chance to write last night, I was so tired I could barely think. Went to bed semi-early so I could get up and work today, get some overtime in.

With those words, I finished Chapter 29 and broke 98000 words. Chapter 30 should be my last, maybe with an epilogue at the end. Then I'm done with my first draft. Then the real work begins.

RECENTLY WATCHED: The Office. I love that show. one of the best shows on TV. We taped Thursday night's comedies and watched the two-part Office last night. Hilarious stuff.

RECENTLY LISTENED TO: Mirrorball by Neil Young. I spent a good portion of a day putting all my Pearl Jam and Neil Young albums on the computer so I can put them on my mp3 player--approximately 23 albums. While I was doing that I rediscovered Mirrorball, an album that has Pearl Jam as the back up band. Phenomenal stuff on it. Can't wait to listen to it all the way through.

Good Night

I'm not saying "good night," I'm saying I had a good writing night. I wrote about 1300 words last night. Not sure what my total is up to. Too high, I know that. But I'm almost done. I think most of the action will be resolved here in Chapter 29, then there will be a wrap-up chapter. Maybe an epilogue. I still have to write a prologue, too, but I'll leave that for the editing phase, since I'll be changing the beginning of the book along with that.

I feel bad for one of my characters. In my original plan, he/she was going to die at the end of the book. Then as I got close to the end, I thought that the character would probably live. But just yesterday I found out that he/she was really going to die. I don't want him/her to, but that's how it has to be. It's a shame.

RECENTLY LISTENED TO: Pearl Jam. They're the best. On their 200 world tour, they released copies of every concert that they performed on CD. I've got a couple of those. Pearl Jam is just so awesome live. Their studio albums are good, but nothing like the live show.

On their 2003 tour, they made all of the shows available on their website within hours of the concert. Several were also released in stores. A couple days ago, I was in a used CD store, looking through the clearanced CDs. I already had The Rockfords, a side project of Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready, when I came across one of those shows that was released, the Perth, Australia show. It's not one of the best live CDs of theirs, but it was only $3.88 for the 2-CD set. How could I pass that up?

RECENTLY WATCHED: V for Vendetta. I love this movie. This is only the second time I've watched it. It was even better this time around. I can barely begin to describe it, it's just perfect. I just wish they hadn't shaved Natalie Portman's head.

RECENTLY READ: I finished Cormac McCarthy's The Road. Great book. It's so simple, yet profound. It's almost like a diary--there's no overall plot, it's just little vignette's from the lives of the father and his son, whose names we never even learn.

So now I'm back to reading Citizen Soldier by Stephen E. Ambrose. This is a good book, with lots of interesting World War II stories, I'm just having a hard time getting through it.

Forever!

Wow! I know it's been forever since I posted, and I'm really sorry. I miss not posting on here every day, and I'm going to try to get back into the habit of it. My company ended up being with us for a few days, and when I have a friend here, I find it hard to sit down at the computer for 5 or 10 minutes and write a little entry. I wouldn't have had anything to report anyway--if I can't write a blog entry with a friend at the house, I'm probably not going to write my book.

But I'm back at it now. I wrote over 600 words last night, and tonight I'm already up to almost 300. Not a lot, no, but I don't have a lot to go, and I need to make sure I get the order of things correct here at the end. Should be done soon! (As I've been saying for weeks now.)

My friend and I have set up a little store for T-shirts and such. If you get a chance, go visit it.

28 in the Can

Yesterday I wrote almost 1,500 words, and finished off Chapter 28. It feels great every time I finish a chapter. I know that chapters don't really mean much--they could be 1 page or 50. But I'm to the point now where I know there's only room for maybe three more chapters, and it's exciting. I like the little milestones.

There's still a lot to go. I don't know if I'm going to be able to finish my first draft this week or not. We'll see. It'll be close.

CURRENTLY READING: The Road by Cormac McCarthy. I can't praise this book enough. I'm nearly finished with it--another reason I haven't been writing a whole ton of words. It's an amazing story about a father and a son. It's told with such a simple language, but you know that every word is important. When the characters are hiding and watching for the bad guys, I feel like I'm watching too. It's like I'm a part of the story. That's brilliant writing, to be able to bring people in like that.

CURRENTLY LISTENING TO: Rust Never Sleeps by Neil Young. I just got this album in the mail today and couldn't wait to listen to it. "Thrasher" is an amazing song, as is "My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)," as I've already mentioned in a previous post.

Quickie

I've been trying to do an Off-Topic Topic each Tuesday, but I've just been swamped today. Sorry. I'll try to work something up for Wednesday, if I get a chance.

I did end up writing just over 1,000 words last night. I just broke that mark for today, too. I plan on staying up a while longer and getting a few hundred more words in. There's so much going on in my book right now! It's all exciting. I don't want to skimp on the ending, but the pace is so fast right now, I don't want to slow it down. I guess I should technically have all my character development done by this point.

We'll see. I'm going to have a lot of work to do in the editing phase, which is exciting to me. I hope to start that soon!

Back!

I know I haven't been around much. I believe that will change now. I've had a nice long weekend off, didn't do any writing, because I had company over. Now the company's gone, and it's just me and my manuscript (and my wife, and my two sons.)

So anyway, it's Monday night. I'm hoping to get at least 1,000 words done tonight, and get finished this week, like I thought I would do last week.

Don't have much else exciting to say. But I do expect to report excellent returns tomorrow morning!

Through 27

Last night I was able to pound out 1,700 words or so, putting me through the end of Chapter 27. I am so close now I can taste it. I had been hoping to finish this week, but I don't think that's going to happen. We've got company again this week, so probably no writing the next couple days.

My total does put me up over 90,000 words now. Sorry, I haven't had a chance to update the Word Count off to the side. My goal was to finish my first draft and get to 90K by March 1. I hit the word mark a day late, and I've just ended up with more story than I thought I was going to have. HOPEFULLY, I'll finish up next week. Can't wait.

Veins

"There's nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein."--Red Smith

Great quote about writing. It's just that easy, right? Writing is so much a part of us. The best writing is often the personal writing--it may not be in a journal, but the writing that we put our feelings into. Fiction can come to life when we put all our personal experience, knowledge, and self into it.

What are your favorite writing-related quotes?

Yesterday I squeaked out 1,003 words. I couldn't stay up any later to write. My eyes were falling shut even as I wrote that. I'm so close to the end though that I didn't want to stop. Maybe I'll be able to write a couple thousand words tonight and make up for it.

RECENTLY LISTENED TO: "The Boxer" by Simon and Garfunkel. They're one of my favorite groups, and this is one of my all-time favorite songs. Any compilation of the greatest songs of all time is incomplete without "The Boxer."

It's been on my mind a lot lately because I've been singing it to my 2-year-old to help him go to sleep. I usually have to sing it through twice, but by the time I get to the end of that second time, he's sound asleep in my arms. I love it.