THE WEEKEND PROGRESS REPORT 2007

triceretops · Jan 22, 2007

This is where it all happen, my lil buds. We report over the weekend, any progress in our writing--especially words--I need words--I eat words. But sales, research, outlines, notes, freelance assignments--it all counts. Let us know what you're up to and what you've been doing. Our next earliest report day will be Friday, the 26th of this month. You can wander in Sunday, or even late Monday.

Write Away!

Tri-red-shifting

msQTpi · Jan 22, 2007

Oooh, it's all so nice and clean here.

I'll have to be real careful not to splatter any pudding on the walls.

Love the new digs! Thanks Tri

triceretops · Jan 22, 2007

I better put my money where my mouth is! I haven't been adding text to any of my stories in the past 1 1/2 weeks. That's because I have to fill out a horrendous author question package that deals with both books. I've had to write a complete bio, supply any reviews (Little early for that crud, eh?), short version synopsis for each book, long version synopsis for each book, contact list, media list, supply four-page exerpts for each book, submit the new title, mock front cover artwork (this really screws with me), and the back cover text for each book (which I guess is a tag line or ad copy blurb.

Then they'll review all of this and get back to me with suggestions and rewrites. I have to be assigned a marketing person, an editor, and a cover artist when all of this jazz is turned in. Oh, yeah, and I have to take a picture of my ugly face and send that in as well. I'm currently trying to figure this one out--my roomate has a digital camera, so we're going to try that and upload to a file so it can be sent.

They forgot to address the dedication pages, the acknowledgments and any celebrity blurbs, but I guess that's down the road from now.

So, there has been a lot of writing. Just not story writing. I'll award myself two suns and one sunspot.

Tri

SherryTex · Jan 22, 2007

Uh oh...my hands are sticky.

msQTpi · Jan 22, 2007

Tri,

Congratulations! You really have it churning and burning!

But writing is writing. Give yourself more credit. None of us can write with both hands and both feet all at the same time. What's more, no one in their right mind would expect you to

Renee'

JeanneTGC · Jan 22, 2007

Wow, we're only on Page ONE here. It feels so...so...so...new and all.

Guess I'd better get crackin' and do some work so that I have something to report...dang, there's always a catch.

Riddler · Jan 22, 2007

The good:

- I just got word that my story The Good Old Days will be appearing as a guest column in the Dallas Morning News this weekend. This will be the third story to run in the DMN. Afterwards, I'm going to pitch a regular column (SYWers, PM me if you know any must-includes in my next submission packet).
- Wrote two new stories last week, edited a couple older ones.
- I got some really positive feedback from the editor at the Star Telegram who ran my feature story last week, and she suggested future story ideas.

The bad:

- I've been slaving away with Market lists and websites for magazines and newspapers, working up a good-sized contact list for the next round of queries and submissions. It is tedious work, and I'd much rather spend this time writing (since my full-time job and second job as Nursery Builder take up so much time). I thought I had successfully talked Mrs. Riddler into helping me organize the stories and correspond with new contacts, but then she quickly lost interest and never touched it.

The ugly:

- At the gym yesterday, I dropped and smashed my Treo cell. When it fell, it got caught up in the machinery of the elliptical machine I was on, and the display shows a digital picture of distorted, shattered glass. It's a bummer because I use this to jot down story ideas throughout the day. I'll have to go back to using a mini-notepad until I can replace the phone.

chicagogal · Jan 22, 2007

my post disappeared.

wyntermoon · Jan 22, 2007

Riddler, sorry about the Treo! I knew all that exercise would come to no good. Congratulations on the good news!!

Now since I'm hit or miss, I'll add in what I did today and you probably won't hear from me for another month or so:

- Sent in a batch of greeting card submissions (my first!) and have already heard back from the editor at Andrews McMeel Pub. telling me that their deadline for Father's Day was last Friday but he'll slip mine in. I like this fella already...

- Went back to my roots and whipped up an author's website for myself. I used to pay the bills by graphic design and a loooooot of crafters' websites. Good lord, if I see one more floppy heart I'm going to beat it with a stick. Check my bad self out at here if you'd like to take a peeky-poo.

- Worked on some old ghost stories and tossed them up on the ghost blog the other day.

- Still haven't written my piece for the February Freelance contest -- help!

Sean D. Schaffer · Jan 22, 2007

Maybe this time my computer won't shut off and back on while I'm trying to post something! I hate these machines sometimes!

As I was saying before my stupid VirusScan updated and restarted my computer...

I tried to get a typewriter cartridge this morning, and it was like trying to pull my own teeth. I ended up having to buy a used Royal typewriter so I could continue working on the manuscript, because it's easier to get a twin spool ribbon for one than it is to get a cartridge for an electric Smith-Corona.

Anyway, I wrote about 3,000 words today. 1,000 words before I ran out of ink on the Smith-Corona, and 2,000 since I got the Royal. I'm almost done with Chapter 3 of my re-write, and I'm as happy as all get-out right now.

So that's what's going on with me today. I look forward to telling you all, later, what I've done for the whole of this coming week.

Kudra · Jan 22, 2007

I'm just getting started today. Haven't really done much in the last few days except travel a bit and explore some new places. I'm pretty sure they'll find their way into my writing eventually.

Today, I plan to finish an essay that's been sitting on my hard drive for the past month. And edits for another one are in order as well. I'll be back with my report on Monday.

(You guys are so productive, it makes me feel bad to be such a slacker. Thanks for the motivation!)

Nancy · Jan 23, 2007

Stacey:

Love your Web site! I'm an old timer graphic artist myself.

and fiber artist, "floppy hearts".....tee heee........

Riddler:

See what you get for too much multi-tasking!

wyntermoon · Jan 23, 2007

Thanks Nancy! I can't wait for the floppy heart and mustard yellow/barn red phase to end, I can't think of another creative way to draw the )#@*#@ things. LOL

Sean D. Schaffer · Jan 24, 2007

A mid-week report, if I may...

Hi everyone,

This is so cool. I am very happy about my writing at the moment. In the last three days--including today--I have written three chapters on my re-write and have come up with an idea for a new work, that will probably not be genre fiction.

To date this week, I have written 48 pages on the re-write, comprising 12,000 words of my work so far. This does not include the work I did on the book previous to the beginning of this week.

I had to cull the original Chapter 3 from WC, so whereas I'm on Chapter 6 tomorrow of the new manuscript, I'm actually on Chapter 7 of the old.

I wrote 1,000 words of new stuff today, also. 750 words of it were a novel timeline for the new literary piece I'm thinking of doing.

The other page of new work I did today was a vignette.

So altogether, I've done roughly 13,000 words of work in the last three days. I should be done with the first re-write of WC long before the time I originally set as the finishing deadline. The second re-write, which will be the one I submit to publishers, will be figured out at a later time.

Anyway, that's where I am right now. I hope you all have a good week, and I wish you all the best with your writing endeavors.

SherryTex · Jan 24, 2007

In awe Ian, wonderful news!

It's a bit early for this week's report but I've had my first successes in 2007 this week so....

1) Article assigned last thursday that I couldn't write until Monday --person to interview wasn't available, will run tomorrow.

2) Article Making Cake and Eating My Words will Run in the Beaumont Enterprise, most likely this weekend.

3) Wrote Every Breakfast Tells a Story --will rework. Mulling Wyntermoon's request to do a piece on Big Fat Rabbits...(Note, not actually about rabbits, big fat or otherwise).

4) Wrote Free lance article for Feb. Contest, now editing to get a cleaner voice.

Kudra · Jan 24, 2007

Well, I finally crawled out of my slump. Met up with an editor yesterday and have a brand new assignment. While I'm researching that, I'm taking more stabs at the personal essays I started last year, and pitching more stories to other editors. I've also been writing 1,500 words daily in my journal, but I don't really count that as writing. More like whining, really.

Hope everyone's having a productive week.

Kudra · Jan 24, 2007

Congrats Sherry. Seems like you've been really busy this month!

triceretops · Jan 24, 2007

Sherry, KitKat and Ian: Glad to see some sales and writing enthusiasm going on here. Great way to start the year when spirits are high. That's the way we've got to look at it.

Though I'm busy with the current publisher, I'm still blocked up about which story to continue. I need a creative enema (sp?), to get the flow going again.

Tri

chicagogal · Jan 25, 2007

FOR TRI

TRY A COLONIC INSTEAD. NEVER HAD ONE, BUT HAVE HEARD IT DOES WONDERS TO CLEAR THE BRAIN AND OTHER PARTS AS WELL. LOL

chicagogal · Jan 25, 2007

GOOD NEWS

:hooray:

SIGNED WITH A PUBLISHER TO WRITE MY HOLLYWOOD(what else) themed book. I MAY NEED A TASER TO SPUR ME ON. SO FAR, SO GOOD. LOTS OF RESEARCH , ETC. BUT IT'S A FUN TOPIC. so it's a form of vanity publishing, SO WHAT!/ it's been such a long time between books; :flag:

I just want to see my name on a book jacket.VOILA!!!

wyntermoon · Jan 25, 2007

SherryTex said:
Mulling Wyntermoon's request to do a piece on Big Fat Rabbits...(Note, not actually about rabbits, big fat or otherwise).

Phew. You had me scratching my head on that one wondering when I suggested a rabbit-themed story but I believe I know what you're referring to now. Get crackin', woman!

Congratulations on the other successes!

SherryTex · Jan 25, 2007

Bonus news, I opened the Standard today and a column I wrote and thought was DOA, Hours of Resolution, was also in the Standard --one paper, one column, one feature. WOW! Doing the happy happy dance.

For all the others going ???? over Wyntermoon's and my posts,
(Big Fat Rabbits is a liquor store of ill repute that burned down or flooded or was condemned in some fantastic manner in the early 80's in my home town). It was near Chicks, a bar of the questionable variety,(no liscence available in the State for that sort of activity) for those lonely, lost and very desperate.

wyntermoon · Jan 25, 2007

You're on a roll!! :roll:

Sean D. Schaffer · Jan 26, 2007

As I sit here listening to my 8-track tape of the Statler Brothers, I am thinking I should probably give my weekend progress report.

So, without further delay...

I have some cool news. This time last week, I started work on my Wyverinia Chronicles re-write. Up to this point, I have written 111 pages on the typewriter. Using the 250 method, that's 27,750 words so far. I am quite happy with the results, and I am becoming more and more dedicated to the work each day.

I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that I'm eating more healthy foods and I'm not drinking coffee anymore. Something about what I'm eating gives me both more energy and at the same time, seems to increase my creativity.

Even though I had to cull an entire chapter from the new manuscript, I now have more typewritten pages than I have printed pages in the original manuscript. It's very encouraging to see my work is easily going to reach the 90,000 word goal... in fact it might very well exceed it. I'm presently about one-third of the way through the manuscript chapter-wise at this time.

I also have been working on a new idea, although presently it's on hold. Further, I'm thinking I might have even more ideas coming into my mind fairly soon. I just feel like it's about to happen.

Anyway, that's my report for this week. I hope you all have a good weekend, and I'll talk to you all later.

triceretops · Jan 26, 2007

Ian,

I am so glad that you are rolling along. Especially on WC, cause I just love that title and always have--ever since you've been here, as a matter of fact. I'm definitely a cheerleader for anyone who believes that re-writing a PA book is possible. My gawd, the foundation is there; most of the work is done. Polishing is all that's required, and it's so easy to delete and replace chapters in a work that's already finished. It's fantastic that you can appreciate the love you once had for that story. :Sun:

And thanks for your comments. Yeppers, I've decided that the Gate Keeper is it. I'm blazing away. I'm not listening to any foul muses, or overly critical beta readers. I've restructured, rewritten, and I'm now proceeding forward with haste and happiness. I WILL make this work.

Tri

THE WEEKEND PROGRESS REPORT 2007

triceretops

msQTpi

triceretops

SherryTex

Working on 2nd WIP

msQTpi

JeanneTGC

I am Catwoman...and Gini Koch

Riddler

Disturbingly silly

chicagogal

wyntermoon

Sean D. Schaffer

Kudra

Back and on track

Nancy

Masquerading as normal...

wyntermoon

Sean D. Schaffer

SherryTex

Working on 2nd WIP

Kudra

Back and on track

Kudra

Back and on track

triceretops

chicagogal

chicagogal

wyntermoon

SherryTex

Working on 2nd WIP

wyntermoon

Sean D. Schaffer

triceretops

THE WEEKEND PROGRESS REPORT 2007

Working on 2nd WIP

I *am* Catwoman...and Gini Koch

Disturbingly silly

Back and on track

Masquerading as normal...

Working on 2nd WIP

Back and on track

Back and on track

Working on 2nd WIP

I am Catwoman...and Gini Koch