The Journal, Saturday, November 17

Hey Folks,

Got to the Hovel at 3, then decided to republish Dean’s post from yesterday as a guest post (with permission) over on the main site. So I did that.

Then I created another post on the big site (the “Advice” I posted here on 11/15).

I also decided to work on the site a bit. For one thing, I removed the Become A Patron page from my website. There, I offered a lot of bonuses for patrons, but nobody took me up on it. (I do have a list of a few regular donors, for whom I am eternally grateful.)

So then I went through all the scheduled posts and changed my standard note at the bottom to ask folks either for a one-time donation through PayPal or to at least share any posts they found useful with other readers/writers.

By the way, I updated c9ver for Consequence, then update the Action-Adventure Novels page of the website a couple of days ago, and added a book page for the latest novel, Consequences. If you have time, stop by and take a look.

So not a productive first hour, at least as far as writing goes. But then, my first hour (or two) seldom is.
***

Ah. Usually when I’m in the midst of a new novel, I wake up each morning excited at the prospect of getting back to it. It’s literally all I can do to slow down and make a cup of coffee before I shuffle out to the Hovel for my “fix” of my current characters and story line.

Today that wasn’t the case. The story I started yesterday, and especially the premise on which it’s based, excites me a great deal. But the characters, not so much.

Usually I can tell after writing only the opening whether a story will take off. Not so with this one.

Yesterday, even with 3700 words written, neither the story nor the characters swept me off my feet, so to speak.

So I’ll give it a few hours today. If it doesn’t take off, I’ll cut my losses and delete the whole mess.

It’s also entirely possible that I’m hoping this is a novel when in truth it’s a short story or novelette. If that’s the case, I’ll finish it in a day or two.

This is about the only “agony” I experience as a writer. (grin)
***

Well, I added another 3000 words to the story. Still not really grabbed by it, but at least I’m interested in seeing where it will go. Guess I’ll stay with it for awhile.

Talk with you again soon.

Of Interest

If you’re interested in taking Dean’s workshops, see “Workshop Special Credit Sale Ending” at https://www.deanwesleysmith.com/workshop-special-credit-sale-ending/. If not, you can skip this one.

Also see “Pop-Up Topics Now Available” at https://www.deanwesleysmith.com/pop-up-topics-now-available/. An excellent opportunity for short story writers. Don’t miss this one. (The Pop-Up topics, with feedback from Dean or Kris, are $150 each or you can get them at a significant discount in bundles.)

See “Giving Thanks” at https://killzoneblog.com/2018/11/giving-thanks.html.

Fiction Words: 3023
Nonfiction Words: 510 (Journal)
So total words for the day: 3533

Writing of Dread

Day 1…… 3706 words. Total words to date…… 3706
Day 2…… 3023 words. Total words to date…… 6729

Total fiction words for the month……… 53345
Total fiction words for the year………… 431875
Total nonfiction words for the month… 10150
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 160746
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 592881

Calendar Year 2018 Novels to Date………………………… 9
Calenday Year 2018 Novellas to Date…………………… 3
Calendar Year 2018 Short Stories to Date……… 11
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)………………………………………… 35
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)……………………………………… 7
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)……………………… 193
Short story collections…………………………………………………… 31