Oh, Linky

http://cte.jhu.edu/techacademy/web/2000/kochan/charactertraits.html

Listing of character traits. Yay!

Word Sprints Are Cool

I just made 2466 words in a little over 1-1/2 hours thanks to word sprints. Now, I'm a planner too, so individual results may vary. One of my many yahoo groups is Endurancewriting. It's a great place to find someone to sprint with you. Someone sets a timer and you both (or more) write until the timer goes off without checking your e-mail or online stuff. I got through 2-1/2 scenes. As soon as the timer goes off you take a break for a while. It really is fun. I'm going to have to find a permanent word sprint partner when the kids go to school in the fall.

I do get burned out easily. If you've ever done NaNo and won you understand burn out. Or maybe you don't. But I'm over 33k words now and I'll keep pushing. I thought I'd have to trash some of my writing from the day before last but it slid in nicely. I'm feeling more confident about my word count as well. I'm still a few scenes from the reversal (middle scene) and there are plenty of scenes to follow that as well.

I thought about waiting until I get my feedback to see what direction they think the story may go, but I'm not going to wait. This is my story and I'm going to tell it the way I want to. I'll wait until it's completely done then release it to my crit partners to destroy. :) I mean tell me I'm doing a fantastic job and that nothing needs to be changed. Of course, if they say that, then it's time for new crit partners. :) Or I just rock. One or the other.

Fallen

I placed 3rd in the Fire & Ice Contest. I'll get back the scoresheets and judge's comments soon hopefully. I'll let you know if the final judge wrote comments or not. I'm just excited that it placed with meant an agent read my piece. So now for the work. I did work on Fallen yesterday and some already today. I'm going to try to slam through as much of the second first draft this week and into the next. I have 1-1/2 hours before bedtime. So I'm going to cut this one short.

Edited: The coordinator made a mistake in the first message. No worries though. I'm still excited about getting the feedback.

And She Writes

Yes, sir. Today I wrote while the kids' had their gymnastics classes and hopefully will write this evening when they are in bed. Life has been getting in the way lately, but in the back of my mind, I had this niggling, nagging feeling that I should be writing. Last night my husband and I went out to eat sans kids. We discovered that since coming back state side both of us feel like we aren't accomplishing anything. It's hard when life starts throwing you fast balls to step aside and take the walk. Sorry I'm not very good at baseball analogies. Catching up with family and friends after being gone a year followed by the death of a beloved grandma really keeps you hopping. Though I thought I might find time to write while at my parents' home for the funeral, it just didn't happen. My mom needed me more than the story did. Now though is a different story. I need to write almost as much as I needed to keep occupied earlier this week. I don't shut down in grief. I speed up. Things that should have been done, get done. The next scene should get done tonight and then I need to focus on the synopsis while writing the rest. I want this book to be the story I envision in my head and for that to work, it needs my undivided attention. So here it is, story, attention. Use it wisely.

Tired, Yoga Make Sleepy

Though I would love to press on to 30k, it ain't happening. I'm tired and my body is sore and achy, so I'm going to bed. Will endeavor to produce more tomorrow.

Fallen

New words: 1,120 today; 555 yesterday
Total words: 29,313
Breann: Mad
Jude: Trying to ignore the warrior in him
Things that got beat up today: none today but a few yesterday
Random sampling of text: “Gone.” The word was clipped and spoke volumes. She could blame herself for her failure or she could blame him. She chose to blame him.

I am Writing I Swear

I'm not just looking at pictures of Seeley Booth. This one only took me a minute to find. I wrote some yesterday and let the big distracty thing (The Sims II) distract me. It's not on this computer, but on our main one. I tried to do the egg timer thing but I failed. Anyway, during Yoga last night (first time, ouch), while we were supposed to be meditating, I realized that the part that was supposed to happen and didn't in the scene that I wrote yesterday makes more sense later on. How's that sentence for ya? Tonight is climbing night for the husband so after the kids go to bed I'm writing. What about you? Any revelations? Any writing?

Long Day

Didn't get much done, more hope for the weekend. But I did write which is the important thing. It's really hard to get back on the horse once you've fallen off. And now, your daily numbers:

Fallen

New words: 608
Total words: 27,638
Breann: Not ready to do what she wants to do
Jude: Watching her back
Things that got beat up today: 3 and a half (Not sure if Jude got beaten up or not)
Random sampling of text: “We could stand here and talk each other to death or I could just kill you quickly.” Uvall walked toward her.

The Words, The Words

Oh, yeah, I wasn't joking. He's my muse right now. I'm not even going to use a different picture. Maybe I'll find a different one tomorrow. :)

Fallen

New words: 1,587
Total words: 27,030
Breann: Outnumbered
Jude: Trying to get to her
Things that got beat up today: only Breann
Random sampling of text: He leaned forward until his mouth was near her ear. “There are better ways.” His voice slithered down her spine, oily and dirty.

Fallen Update

Okay, I'm going to have to start every post with a picture of Seeley Booth, because I blush everytime I see him.

Fallen

New words: 3,687
Total words: 25,433
Breann: Ready to kill something
Jude: Confused as all get out
Things that got beat up today: each other twice.
Random sampling of text: (I actually cut the piece of text I put in yesterday, I'm saving it for later in the story) Before he could retaliate, she smacked the blade to the side and closed in on him. She leapt up at him causing him to drop the sword and catch her as she took him backwards. His back slammed into the wall as her mouth crashed down on his.

Dreaming of Bones

So last night I dreamt I was in the show Bones. I was talking to Seeley Booth and the next thing I know I'm waking up neked in bed with him, but wait I really have pajamas on. Damn my dreams for being PG. Nothing happened over night he assured me, right before he kissed the living daylights out of me. And then nothing. But that kiss, wow. Dreams are excellent portals for writing. I have "movie" dreams a lot. I'm not so much as an extra in some dreams. It just plays out in my mind. I've also had a dream where I kissed Brad Pitt in some adventure type dream. What is it with my subconcious that all I get to do with these awesome men is a kiss in my dreams. Oh, well, I guess I get to be faithful even in my dreams.

When I woke up this morning, I wanted to capture that feeling. That kiss. It had so many facets like a diamond. All the feelings that went into it, the repression of desire, the curiosity, the sexuality. That's why I write to capture that type of moment not in still frame but in motion. To share what goes on in my demented mind. I didn't write on Fallen yesterday. I left my characters in the middle of a very interesting situation. That moment of discovery, of feeling something more, of wonder. So that's where I get to pick up this morning which seems right after last night's show.

Fallen Update

Fallen

New words: 1,235
New pages: 3, but tons added to prior Chapters which didn't change page count
Total words: 21,756
Breann: On the prowl
Jude: Impersonating a statue
Things that got beat up today: Well, the original plan was for them to beat each other up but they got a bit sidetracked
Random sampling of text: Without him making a move, she felt as if he’d hit her in the gut. Her smile disappeared, her breath left her and her heart pounded. She couldn’t have spoken if she wanted to. Something truly terrifying and exhilarating laid hidden deep within his eyes.

Up to Snuff

So after spending almost 4 hours rereading and editing 92 pages, I'm ready to start writing again. I'm going to spend the rest of the afternoon entering in my edits which will change the side bar a little and I have a writing date set up with a friend tonight, so yay new words. I'll post my little paragraph thingy after tonight.

Speak to me, characters. I am your voice. Freaky huh? I love writing. Oh, we got a new desk so all we need is a chair that doesn't suck monkey butt and I'll be set. Til later.

Update

Revisions gave me an additional 632 words. I'll have 2 hours tonight to write. I can't wait.

Not Your Average Response

Holy Crap, Batman! I finaled in the Fire & Ice Contest!!! With Fallen!!! I can't believe it! Whoa! This coming off of editing the first chapter of Beloved while walking on the treadmill. Man! Maybe it is average response. Time to tidy up Fallen.