The Novel Wrapped

In today’s Journal

* Quote of the Day
* The Writing
* Of Interest
* The Numbers

Quote of the Day

“Give a man a fire and he’s warm for a day, but set fire to him and he’s warm for the rest of his life.” Terry Pratchett

The Writing

The novel wrapped with another 3700 words. It also proved to be a Blackwell Ops novel instead of the genesis story for a new series.

You can see the cover and the description at StoneThread Publishing.

Most of my Blackwell Ops novels seem to wrap at around 35000 words. This one held on until 51000. That said, my first reader has already gotten feedback to me (Thanks, Russ), so I might add words today.

Also, my 4000 words-per-day writing goal is probably right where it should be. Over 14 writing days, the average for the novel was 3691 words per day. So at least I don’t have to think about changing that for awhile.

When I include the short story (thus far) the average jumps a little to 4020 words per day. That’s probably closer to right since I wrote the short story during five of the same fourteen days I was writing the novel.

Again, it isn’t WHAT you write that’s important, it’s THAT you write.

As usual, I’m a little sad to see it in the can and on its way to my first reader. I very seldom “celebrate” a novel ending. My first novel, yeah. And personal milestones, like my 50th and my forthcoming 101st.

But most often, as we all do in all other aspects of life, I celebrate new births (starting a new story or novel) and I grieve deaths (end of a story or novel or series).

But as Gus McCrae (Lonesome Dove) said, “The only thing you can do with death is ride off from it.” And the best way to do that for a fiction writer is to start a new story or novel.

I could write these two characters forever, but it certainly wouldn’t be in the Blackwell Ops world. If they ever offer me another new story, I’ll write it. But I doubt they will.

Still, I haven’t been happier to meet two people since I wrote the story of Wes Crowley and Coralín.

I’ll finish the short story too in a day or two so I can add the numbers to this year.

And awhile back I said I would intentionally not start a new novel until at least January 1. Well, that was just stupid. I’ll start a new one as soon as a new one comes along.

Stay tuned and I’ll talk with you again soon.

Of Interest

Step Two… Ramp Up

The Numbers

The Journal……………………………… 450

Writing of Blackwell Ops 16: Tarea-Garcia

Day 1…… 4968 words. To date…… 4968
Day 2…… 3677 words. To date…… 8645
Day 3…… 3307 words. To date…… 11952
Day 4…… 4467 words. To date…… 16419
Day 5…… 4193 words. To date…… 20612
Day 6…… 2061 words. To date…… 22673
Day 7…… 3250 words. To date…… 25923
Day 8…… 2036 words. To date…… 27959
Day 9…… 3789 words. To date…… 31748
Day 10…. 4093 words. To date…… 35841
Day 11…. 3771 words. To date…… 39612
Day 12…. 4366 words. To date…… 43437
Day 13…. 4533 words. To date…… 47970
Day 14…. 3709 words. To date…… 51679 (done)

Writing of “The Love of Soleada”

Day 1…… 1079 words. To date…… 1079
Day 2…… 1444 words. To date…… 2523
Day 3…… 0225 words. To date…… 2748
Day 4…… 0747 words. To date…… 3495
Day 5…… 1105 words. To date…… 4600

Fiction for December…………………… 107132
Fiction for 2023…………………………. 507966
Fiction since August 1………………… 392742
Nonfiction for December……………… 21370
Nonfiction for the year……………… 276950
Annual consumable words………… 781409

2023 Novels to Date……………………… 11
2023 Novellas to Date…………………… 0
2023 Short Stories to Date……………… 8
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………… 81
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)…………… 9
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)…… 236
Short story collections…………………… 31

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Disclaimer: I am a prolific professional fiction writer. On this blog I teach Writing Into the Dark and adherence to Heinlein’s Rules. Unreasoning fear and the myths of writing will slow your progress as a writer or stop you cold. I will never teach the myths on this blog.