Posted 18 Apr 2017 editing science fiction
So I haven't made a big deal about it, but I am participating in CampNaNoWriMo.org's April month of writing. I don't tend to stress too much about the Camp installments of NaNoWriMo. I think it's a much quieter, low-key, generally underappreciated event. Most years I start it and don't even reach the goals I set. Of course, most years I haven't been a stalwart morning writer. Most years, I don't have publication goals. 2017 has been different for me in so many ways. I almost feel as if I am way behind on Salvage, though there's plenty of time, and it's way ahead of Flotsam in terms of where I was six months into that book's existence! Salvage's revision is my project for this month, with my goal being to reach the end of the first full revision pass of the draft (it got one quick pass after the draft was done, before I sent it to my editor). The word count was 88,300 or thereabouts, and I'm grafting in about 25,000 words with a goal of reaching 115,000 words for the manuscript when I'm done. I should mention, if you haven't already gathered from the graph or haven't been following along closely with my updates or YouTube journal, that I did not begin this revision pass on April 1, so I went into the Camp with a boosted starting number. I don't care if you consider that 'cheating' – I just have no interest in trying to do the math each time. Since I'm revising, not drafting, the word count doesn't necessarily represent new words, anyhow. Just how many words are in my project to the point where I've left off revising each day. Anyway, so according to NaNoWriMo's word churning stat calculations, Salvage is in good shape. I must admit I'm looking forward to being through it in two weeks. I really want to read it again and see if I've fixed the giant pile of MEH that the previous draft offered. I also want my husband to read it and give me his feedback. He's totally unaware of what's happening in the story past the last page of Flotsam. It's crazy exciting to me to reveal it to him and see what he thinks (even if he hates it!). In Flotsam news, I have decided 100% that I will reword my foul language in the book to imply, rather than present, the sailors' irreverence that my characters follow. I am confident no one on Amazon's reviews will complain that there is not enough cursing in my book. Additionally, I've identified a couple of spots where it could use some refinement. I know, I know, at some point it has to be done, but based on some feedback I've gotten recently, I am confident it's in the novel's best interest to make these changes, plus it sets up some of the business that I get down to in Salvage, and foreshadowing is always good. I've also started to think of back story novellas that I can write for my mailing list subscribers. I want to outline some ideas, and then when my VIP subscribers have had a chance to read Flotsam's ARC, I'll run a poll to see which of these ideas generate the most interest (or if they clamor for other stories). Then I'll write whichever ones seem to be in demand. The third book in the series exists as a list of notes, some of which I've written into obsoletion as part of my journey through Salvage. I have been thinking over the past five or so days that I need to set that thought on a warm hob and make sure part of my subconscious is going over it all while I'm busy working on other things. As if the Universe agreed, I received an email yesterday from Tim Grahl's mailing list announcing that Shawn Coyne would be offering a free course on Outlining (in 263 easy steps! that made me laugh). When the sign-up for that appears, you can bet I'll hop on it. The Universe put it out there for me to seize upon. I've been having a bit of trouble lately sticking to my sleep schedule, but I find I am almost incapable of oversleeping anymore. Only after a very late night and two nights' poor sleep in a row was I able to even 'sleep in' until 6 AM. That's astounding to me, and I'm so grateful that I've put the health advice I received into play. It solidifies my resolve to do better about getting to bed. Last night I was in bed (chipping away at Easy Go by John Lange) almost exactly at 10 PM, and this morning I was at the computer by 5:48. I've already done a What It Is exercise (which you'll read here on Thursday), and now I've written my status update blog post, and it's 6:31 AM and I still have about 45 minutes to work on Salvage. Good stuff. Oh, and a quick note to say: I can't really recommend Easy Go, I'm just being stubborn. However, if you haven't watched Hunt for the Wilderpeople, seriously. Go, watch it now. It's on Hulu. Now. Go. You're welcome. (Trigger warning: sad moments, including dog stuff, but please don't let that stop you from watching it.)Next Snippet: The Goblet of Lost Chicago