The verdict for 2011 “National Novel Writing Month“?

The 2009 record has been broken!

Bad news: it was broken by more of a whimper than a smash.

For the first part of the month the writing [...]]]> “I want to smash my all-time Nano high word count of 160,605 from 2009. Can I do it?”

The verdict for 2011 “National Novel Writing Month“?

The 2009 record has been broken!

Bad news: it was broken by more of a whimper than a smash.

For the first part of the month the writing was going great, despite some problems with the outlines. I hit 50,000 words in a personal best of 6 days. Yay!

Then November 17th hit. Ow, what a hard wall, and there were walls everywhere I turned. The momentum was never the same after that.

It was more than simple momentum. I also realized that the outlines had problems. Many nights I would have to stop to re-outline a problem area. This wasn’t just on one outline, it was on all of them.

This Nano became more than a simple word count challenge. It became a Nano for learning. Before I get to that, here are the final totals:

Total 2011 NaNoWriMo Word Count: 180,415

Projects completed:
A Turn of the Pipes (A Redpoint One Story)
Secret Illusions (Salmon Run)
Spectre of the White Death (Salmon Run)
Aurora Equinox (Salmon Run)
Breakup – Alaska Style (Salmon Run)
The Great Salmon Run Cake Fiasco (Salmon Run Short Story)
From Alexandria to Andromeda (Short Story)
Vaulted Career (Short Story)
The Doppleganger Accountant (Short Story)
Wolf Dance (Short Story)

(Note that Taskforce Zero is not on the above list. Why is explained below.)

A piece of good news is that all the projects started in November were finished in November. I didn’t have to carry any project into December.

The bad news is that the outlines weren’t as good as usual going into November and the writing pace really suffered for it. A series of Nano planning Workshops in late September and all through October probably didn’t help with the outline situation, as I was focused on helping other people. To top it off, I released a new short story in October (Flying Dutchman of the Spacelanes) and then finished the copyedits for “The Phoenix Eggs” so that it could be published in November.

This meant that the time spent on the outlines was not what it should have been. There were whole scenes and sections either thrown out or replotted on every single one of the five longer works written during November.

Ouch!

When I realized that the outlines were a mess, I made the decision to drop the Taskforce Zero books off the writing list. I want to take my time and go through those outlines again to make sure they are as strong as they need to be. The four books I have outlined will be the start of a series, and I want them to be as strong as possible.

Because Taskforce Zero was dropped off the writing schedule, I needed something else to write for the remaining days of Nano. I switched to short stories and made it a goal to write one new one every single day.

I do not view the problems as something to be depressed about (although I found it depressing when the realization first socked me in the middle of the forehead). Instead, I view this as a learning opportunity:

1. I can hit 50k in less than a week if I’m really concentrating.
2. I now know I can write one short story a day. I’d never done that before, so this was a great thing to find out.
3. I need to take more time for myself pre-nano to make sure my own outlines are ready to go. I waited too far into the summer to start. Next year I start earlier!
4. 200k is doable if I have good outlines, as I came really close this year. Now I just need to do the needed pre-prep and get to it! (watch out 2012 Nano!)
5. I’ve come to really enjoy writing several books in one series all in one month. It helps on so many levels: keeping true to the characters, to the world, to the plot, carrying through small details and plot hooks. In fact, I get so immersed that it’s hard to bring myself out of a particular series, which is why the first short story was a Salmon Run story.
6. Having fellow writers to commiserate with and to RAH you on is the greatest advantage any participant in a writing challenge can have. So, thank you to everyone at Forward Motion Chat for all your help, positive words, word wars, 100-word jumps, and simple support. It meant a great deal and got me through the worst of November.

In summary, November could have gone better on the writing front, but it also could have gone much worse considering the state of the outlines. I view it as successful because of the things I learned. They will help me become a stronger writer in the future.

Learning is always a good thing.

____________________

J.A. Marlow

Before I forget, here is the November release I spoke about:

The Phoenix Eggs (The String Weavers – Book 2)

Growing up has never been easy, but most girls don’t have the added complication of having thought she was human only a couple weeks ago.

Meanwhile, Kelsey Hale struggles to find a place for herself among a group of String Weavers assigned the duty of stopping a madman bent on obtaining as many Phoenix Eggs as he can. What he wants with them, no one knows, but considering the raw power contained within it can’t be good. As if that weren’t enough, there’s no time for her training, resulting in a horrific event that jeopardizes her whole team.

Oh, to be only a typical teenager dealing with high school.

So much for that!

A 96200 word, 384 page (approximate), science fiction novel by J.A. Marlow.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

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The Muse came through! She remembered a story that has been sitting on the back burner for several years now, and decided now was the time! Started writing it today and finished it.

Now I’m going to drop into bed. A full update will come on [...]]]> Day 28 Wordcount: 2025 (Lost in Translation, Short Story #10)

The Muse came through! She remembered a story that has been sitting on the back burner for several years now, and decided now was the time! Started writing it today and finished it.

Now I’m going to drop into bed. A full update will come on Saturday.

***

The challenge in question is the Forward Motion May “Story-A- Day” challenge. See my previous post about the rules. The goal is to achieve the 10 short story level.

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Thanks to several word wars while in Forward Motion Writers chat, short story #9 is finished! I was hoping to finish it tomorrow, but as it crept towards bedtime I realized how close I was. I’m now late getting to bed, but I’m feeling [...]]]> Day 26 Wordcount: 3002 (Mop Jockies and Fighter Pilots, Short Story #9)

Thanks to several word wars while in Forward Motion Writers chat, short story #9 is finished! I was hoping to finish it tomorrow, but as it crept towards bedtime I realized how close I was. I’m now late getting to bed, but I’m feeling great because it’s FINISHED! A full day early, too!

Now comes the problem of finding an idea for story #10. I’ve now written all the ideas I had a strong inspiration for at the beginning of May. But I’m not panicking.

The thing about stretching and strengthening the writing-muscle is that the more it’s used, the more it gives back. Which is why writers who have been at it for a while never worry about running out of ideas.

All month the Muse has been throwing ideas at me for longer stories. Now I get to bait her.

“One more story.”

“Aww. I wanna play.”

“And you will.”

“No, now! Look at this long string. Wouldn’t that make a good book? Or a series?”

“I can’t look at that yet. I need only one more short story idea.”

“Aww!”

And the Muse will pout and make mean faces at me. But this is a Muse who looks like a little 6-year-old in a ballerina/princess dress with a tiara and a scepter with a bright yellow star at the tip of it. She’s really good at making the mean faces, it comes to her naturally. So does beaning me with that scepter, but we’ll let that be for now.

The point is, she’ll pout for the rest of tonight, and maybe first thing in the morning. But then she’ll forget all about it. Because she’ll have found a new shiny while playing in the sandbox.

And I know she’ll trot over, bop me on the head and say, “See this? You need to write about this!”

And I’ll write it. I’ve learned to listen.

I’m very curious to see what the next idea will be. It’s one of the great things about writing. Seeing what new thing develops, going to exotic places, meeting strange and interesting people and creatures, having adventures.

I can’t wait!

Hmm, I went from writing-muscle to deranged little-girl muses. Now, there’s a segue.

***

The challenge in question is the Forward Motion May “Story-A- Day” challenge. See my previous post about the rules. The goal is to achieve the 10 short story level.

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Plodding ahead little by little. Working a long day along with a sick family member wasn’t conducive to any big writing sessions. Good news is that I have most of the story worked out in my head now. All except one detail right at [...]]]> Day 25 Wordcount: 515 (Mop Jockies and Fighter Pilots, Short Story #9)

Plodding ahead little by little. Working a long day along with a sick family member wasn’t conducive to any big writing sessions. Good news is that I have most of the story worked out in my head now. All except one detail right at the end. Hopefully that will come to me soon.

Now, on to other things…

I have a problem.

I have a book I want to read. It’s an exchange with another author who also writes science fiction. I’m looking forward to it.

The problem?

My mother, the woman who believes every computer in the known world has a personal vendetta against her read her first book on my Kindle.

I’ve practically not seen my Kindle since!

When I hear some of the complaining about how ereaders will never take off because people like the feel of paper, and older people just won’t make the switch after all these years, or ereader advantages are so few (and on and on and on) I laugh.

And laugh hard.

Because from personal experience in my family we know a different truth. Shall we make a list?

1. Ereaders are easy on the eyes. I’ve heard story after story about the joy of reading coming back to older readers who cannot read the smaller and smaller fonts of the newer books. Mom had me adjust the font size up on my Kindle and now she can’t read enough.
2. Ereaders are easier on the body. My mother’s hands hurt. It’s a part of aging for many people. I hadn’t known it, but she’d been having problems with her thumb and fingers in keeping a book open. That is not a problem with an ereader.
3. Ereaders are light. No more lugging around several books, no more heavy tomes. One weight for everything you read.
4. Ereaders save on space. Here is a device that can hold an entire library inside. My parents (and myself) have very limited space. Now instead of vital things for life being weighed against keeping a library of books, and yes books are that important to us, we don’t have to choose.
5. Ereaders are easy on the allergies. Don’t laugh. For people like my mother and I, whom doctors have occasionally accused as being “allergic to the world,” this is a big deal. No mold spores, no dust collecting on the books and shelves, no smoking residue (if used) and so on. I’ve heard some say they will miss the musty smell of books. I won’t, and I know my allergies won’t.
6. I’m sure other perks will come to mind later. In the meantime, it doesn’t solve the problem. We are a 1-ereader family at the moment. And it can’t stay that way for long unless we want World War 3 to occur on a small scale.

And so, a new cash envelope has been made with the words on the outside reading “Kindle!” and the first ten dollars dropped in. It’s no longer a luxury. It’s a necessity!

Are ereaders only for the young? No, definitely not. They have so many advantages to those of older years. Ebooks and ereaders (of various types) are only going to continue rising, even among those not always comfortable with newer technology. Because they are a tool to be used to regain important aspects of life.

***

The challenge in question is the Forward Motion May “Story-A- Day” challenge. See my previous post about the rules. The goal is to achieve the 10 short story level.

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It took a while for an idea to come to me tonight. I think the problem was two-fold. 1. I’m still catching up on sleep and I would rather nap. 2. After 8 short stories and novelettes, the head wants to work on longer [...]]]> Day 24 Wordcount: 201 (Mop Jockies and Fighter Pilots, Short Story #9)

It took a while for an idea to come to me tonight. I think the problem was two-fold. 1. I’m still catching up on sleep and I would rather nap. 2. After 8 short stories and novelettes, the head wants to work on longer pieces.

In other news, Dean Wesley Smith has a fantastic idea concerning ebook gift cards on his latest blog post. It would be a way to make in-person impulse buys as well as help Indie Bookstores. This is a slap-on-the-head-its-so-obvious idea. It has so many perks and benefits. Sure, some of the details would need to be worked out, but wow, what an opportunity.

Go read it and then come back.

Back? Okay, here are my comments (a variation of which you will see in the Dean’s blog).

So many uses. To sell yourself, at shows, for giveaways and so on. I would always have some one me.

To expand the idea, add a QR code on the card holder. For those with smart phones they can scan, read a sample, and get other information right on the spot to help them decide to buy. As a publisher, it would require setting the QR code up and setting up a special page(s), but that isn’t that big of a deal.

This would be a good way to drive people to your website and newsletter, if one had it all set up. But that would require a shopping cart able to handle gift codes and also making sure all the big ebook formats were available (not hard for those of us already doing it). Smashwords is a great way to get going immediately without any further infrastructure, but future marketing opportunities might be lost.

And the codes in the back. They would be perfect for tracking where the sales are coming from. One code for one kind of store, another for a different one. Different codes for different covers to see which ones readers respond the most to. Different regions of the country.

Talk about market research for where your readers are coming from and what they like! For a few bucks extra in printing costs, the information that could be gleaned would be completely worth it. The information wouldn’t be as valuable later, as the codes get passed around, but right at first it would be valuable.

To go back to the marketing thing, if there is a special event print up the gift cards (or have postcards printed up) without any code on them. Then print a page of the special code off on your printer on sticker-stock to attach to the back. Special code just for the Con, and so on.

Wow, do I love this idea. Really really love it! There are so many ways to use it. I’ll be watching this very carefully.

***

The challenge in question is the Forward Motion May “Story-A- Day” challenge. See my previous post about the rules. The goal is to achieve the 10 short story level.

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But I did write yesterday! So, here is an update for both yesterday and today, as well as a full overview of where I sit for the month:

Day 22 Wordcount: 1534 [...]]]> Yes, I missed posting last night, but I have an excuse and it’s medical. No further details than that other than I’m doing fine.

But I did write yesterday! So, here is an update for both yesterday and today, as well as a full overview of where I sit for the month:

Day 22 Wordcount: 1534 (Cowboys and Robots, Short Story #8)

Day 23 Wordcount: 3307 (Cowboys and Robots, Short Story #8)

And the story is finished!

So, here is where we stand for the month of May…

#1 – Glint of a Ring – Finished at 7127 words
#2 – Dark Circus – Finished at 9474 words.
#3 – Glint of an Artifact – Finished at 9000 words.
#4 – In the Cauldron – Finished at 5794 words
#5 – The Flying Dutchman of the Spacelanes – Finished at 6118 words.
#6 – Glint of a Ruin - Finished at 9181 words.
#7 – The Ultimate Game – Finished at 3238 words.
#8 – Cowboys and Robots – Finished at 4841 words

It’s official. I’m caught up! Now to figure out what to write next.

In other news, the appearance of the blog has been bothering me. I was really tired tonight, too much to do even more writing (3307 is fantastic for a day I’ve felt like a zombie). So, I attacked the blog. Did a backup of the site and the database, and then updated the theme.

I like having a dedicated place for the covers. The only problem I’ve found is that the theme is doing something strange with the commas. In Safari there are no spaces after them. I’ll have to troubleshoot that later.

When I get a chance an update to the bibliography will be next!

***

The challenge in question is the Forward Motion May “Story-A- Day” challenge. See my previous post about the rules. The goal is to achieve the 10 short story level.

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