One literature students attempt to master the art and craft of writing fiction.
Would have liked a little more, but I finished one scene and got snagged on the begining of the next scene. Spent a lot of time staring at the screen. Seems you actually have to hit the keys to make the words show up. Aw well. Better luck next time.
Only 1088 words today because I had to do some minor reworking of my plot. I added a small scene to plant the seed for a later, major development. There was a scene I had in the planning stages I wasn't sure how I was going to pull off, but this sets it up nicely now. Also switched some things around. And in the coming scenes there's going to be some serious wreckage to my main character's life. Options closed off, stakes raised, and a friendship damaged that might not get repaired before that friend dies. I've finally reached the half-way mark, page 250, today. So this mid-point chaos I have planned is right on time. And according to a glance at the calendar, it looks like I still might finish before I leave for the Holidays. If not, I'll take it with me and have it finished before Christmas morning for sure. Well...not "for sure." You never know with these things. But it's possible. Fingers crossed.
With 1920 words today, which is a lot more than I figured I'd get. Not that I'm complaining. Very frustrating that I had to stop too. But I ran out of time. Now I'm running a little late. It was worth it though.
Only 1053 words today on my first day back to the book since getting sick. I was a little rusty, but words were done. Now that I've started again, it'll be easier to keep going. Starting is always the hard part. Still haven't made up my word deficit from that big cut I did on the 6th. Soon though. And then I'll hit the half-way mark. Very cool. Let's hope for smooth sailing from then on. And maybe I can still finish this draft before I head home for the Holidays.
Reading News: Managed to get some reading done since I was laid up all weekend. Read S.L. Viehl's Shockball. Enjoyed it very much. Strangely, parts of it reminded me of Clan of the Cave Bear. (Don't laugh, Sheila.) After this installment of the Stardoc series, I was able to forgive some of Duncan Reever's seriously evil behavior in Endurance. He's lucky he's just a character in a novel, though. Sometimes I just want to deck the guy.
Also started (almost done) Jan Burke's Bones. This is a book in her Irene Kelly series, the one which happened to win her an Edgar award. Damn, this book is good. The first half of the book is so intense, you'll be gasping before you even reach the middle. And she's really good at creating characters you like so much you hate to see them get hurt. If you haven't read any of the other books in the series, don't worry, this one stands very well on its own. I've read a couple of the other Irene Kelly books, but now I'm going to have to go back and read them all. As if my TBR pile could stand getting much taller.
If you've noticed that all the books I tend to talk about here are books I like, it isn't because I like everything I read. I just see no point in wasting time bashing a book. I'm not a critic, I'm a book lover. Only critics and failed writers (often the same thing) have time to whine about books they didn't like. Here's a hint: If you don't like a book...stop reading it and pick up another one. The only person to blame for your reading a book you didn't like is you, not the author. So get a life already.
'Nuf said.
