Novel Wrapped, Novel Published

In today’s Journal

* Novel Wrapped
* Novel Published
* Of Interest

Novel Wrapped

The Road to Santa Fe wrapped with fewer than 1000 words at a little over 42,000 words total and around 1100 words of cuts. I spell checked the manuscript, ran Find & Replace for a few common mistakes I make, then shipped it off to my excellent first reader, Russ Jones.

Like many westerners, Wes enjoys taking his time. This novel turned out to be only the transition from Amarillo to Santa Fe. Of course, a lot of other characters were doing things and setting other things in motion that have nothing to do with Wes—well, yet.

I can hardly wait to see what’s coming next. But then, I don’t have to. (grin) After a short break, I came back out to the Hovel to help Wes move into his new office.

I did think about waiting until January 1 to begin the next novel, but to me that’s just silly. For one thing, I’m one who believes a new week, month and year (365-day span) begins every morning. Every minute, really.

For another, I don’t like taking things for granted, least of all that I’ll still be here on January 1. Literally anything can happen. I’d much rather fate would interrupt something I’m doing than find me waiting to do something.

Anyway, not a bad writing day yesterday, and much better than if I’d put it off until today or January 1. (grin)

Novel Published

As I reported above, I thought about waiting to start the next novel, but I didn’t think about delaying publishing the one I just finished.

When I came to work this morning at 4:30, Russ’ input was waiting for me. I applied his fixes, designed a cover, created a promo doc, and published The Road to Santa Fe to both D2D and Amazon before 6 a.m.

As I told Russ via email this morning, I only wish I could record these stories as fast as he can read them. (grin)

Then I moved over here to wrap up this edition of the Journal and post it. And soon, soon, I’ll be hearing saddle leather creak again and smelling the dusty prelude to rain as Wes and I continue into his next adventure.

Thanks for being along for the ride. I’ll talk with you again soon.

Of Interest

See “Questions on New Workshops” at https://deanwesleysmith.com/questions-on-new-workshops/.

See “Bob Gottlieb Is the Last of the Publishing Giants…” at https://www.thepassivevoice.com/bob-gottlieb-is-the-last-of-the-publishing-giants-the-91-year-old-editor-waits-for-his-87-year-old-star-writer-robert-caro-to-turn-in-his-book/.

See “Proof of Life” at https://www.thepassivevoice.com/proof-of-life/.

The Numbers

The Journal…………………………………… 410 words

Total fiction today………………………… 3691 words

Writing of Santa Fe: A New Office (novel tentative title, WCG8, Santa Fe 3)

Day 1…… 2815 words. Total words to date…… 2815

Writing of The Road to Santa Fe (formerly WCG 7 Santa Fe 2)

Day 1…… 2190 words. Total words to date…… 2190
Day 2…… 3049 words. Total words to date…… 5239
Day 3…… 2588 words. Total words to date…… 7827
Day 4…… 3373 words. Total words to date…… 11200
Day 5…… 3317 words. Total words to date…… 14517
Day 6…… 3771 words. Total words to date…… 18288
Day 7…… 3102 words. Total words to date…… 21390
Day 8…… 2020 words. Total words to date…… 23410
Day 9…… 1504 words. Total words to date…… 24914
Day 10… 2524 words. Total words to date…… 27438
Day 11… 3156 words. Total words to date…… 30594
Day 12… 1065 words. Total words to date…… 31659
Day 13… 2380 words. Total words to date…… 34039
Day 14… 3159 words. Total words to date…… 37198
Day 15… 3072 words. Total words to date…… 40270
Day 16… 2419 words. Total words to date…… 42689
Day 17… 0876 words. Total words to date…… 43565 (done)

Total fiction words for December……… 62794
Total fiction words for the year………… 277768
Total nonfiction words for December… 23530
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 221610
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 499378

Calendar Year 2022 Novels to Date…………………… 5
Calendar Year 2022 Novellas to Date……………… 0
Calendar Year 2022 Short Stories to Date… 0
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………………………………… 71
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)………………………………… 8
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)………………… 217
Short story collections……………………………………………… 31

Disclaimer: I am a prolific professional fiction writer. Because It Makes Sense, I trust my characters to tell the story that they, not I, are living. This greatly increases my productivity and provides the fastest possible ascension along the learning curve of Craft because I get a great deal more practice at actually writing. It will do the same for you if only you trust it.

2 thoughts on “Novel Wrapped, Novel Published”

  1. It stands to reason that you can’t possibly write as fast as I can read; even as prolific as you are, I’ve had a lot more practice at reading than you have had at writing. Thanks in part to an older sister who started formal schooling two years before I did and who liked to come home at the end of her school day and play teacher to me, by the time I started school myself I was already reading so well that the educational system suggested to my parents that I skip first grade entirely (there was no such thing as kindergarten in my neck of the woods back in those days). My parents quite wisely rejected that suggestion, realizing that even though I might be something of a prodigy at reading I was still somewhat small compared to many in my own age group and even more so among those in the class ahead (who would have been as much as almost eighteen months older than I) and they didn’t want to risk my being the youngest and smallest in my class to serve as an invitation to taunting or outright bullying. Still, you’re not alone in wishing you could write as fast as I can read. I’m already hungry for your next novel by the time I send you my input about the one you’ve just finished, and by the time you do finish that next one I’m ravenous, but not to worry; that just makes it all the more satisfying when I finally get to sink my teeth into it–and it certainly doesn’t hurt that it’s always such a tasty treat. 🙂

Comments are closed.