Writing Update: December

Some of my absence has been due to me trying to continue writing my series the Calpurnia Mission.

Let me give you the counts:

1. The Calpurnia Mission: 9,298 words
2. The Rebel Lion: 13,360 words
3. Between Life and Dark: 12,480 words
4. The Stark Truth: 14,978 words
5. Of Haves and Wants: 30,516 words
6. Safe Harbor: 15,799 words
7. Rebel Valley: 26,781 words
8. Of the Best Intentions: 15,724 words
9. Eight o' Clock: 19,395 words
10. Underground: 17,944 words
11. Salon des Refues: 15,338 words
12. Into the Smoke: 12,273 words
13. The Human Twist: 18,817 words
14. The Pitch Black: 13,166 words
15. Den of Foxes: 11,272 words
16. The Sky Lure: 7,124 words
17. The Body Thief: 12,082 words
18. Unknown: 200 words. . .?

So that's 243,885 words total. I originally assumed this would be about 30 chapters, so. . yep. There is that.

General Updates

I missed finishing a story in October. I really lost it in October with writing. And even November. It just got a lot harder to come up with ideas. I think I lost a lot of where I wanted to go. I also introduced two new characters in Den of Foxes which left me sort of. .arrrrggg. .because everyone else is more well-developed and characters can take a little time to create. It's important to me characters have their own motivation and voices - and their own actions with different people.

I also ran out of short-story ideas, since each is generally a short story. Although, I also feel as if I lost some of that series fiction type stuff from before. Oh well. I mean. . .stuff.

ALSO. . .The Body Thief is mostly erotic fiction and I don't know how to feel about that for the following reasons:

• Does it make sense for the characters: Sure, I think I did a good job making it seem plausable. Did I build the situation up enough that it seems logical? Maybe.
• Porn:. . .*giggle*. . .*snort*. . .I'm not mature enough to deal with this.

Forward Thinking
I think I have some concepts and bits set up for Chapter 18. I'm just not sure. I want to return to the style of the series which I think I got away from because I had to build up characters independently and create their own story lines. Now I got to sandwich them back together and keep the hunt going.

Writing Update!

How has my writing been coming? Well, I completely a story in May - that would be "The Human Twist" while blogging everyday on Lyme. You can read those posts by going to my Lyme Files index like page thingy.

Well, I got a rejection letter. Hot dog!



I think I entered two "short-story" contests. My first story is about 10,000 words which makes it not eligible for most contests. I'll keep plugging away on the whole thing.

And this is how I do:

1. The Calpurnia Mission: 9,298 words
2. The Rebel Lion: 13,360 words
3. Between Life and Dark: 12,480 words
4. The Stark Truth 14,978 words
5. Of Haves and Wants: 30,516 words
6. Safe Harbor: 15,799 words
7. Rebel Valley: 26,781 words
8. Of the Best Intentions: 15,724 words
9. Eight o' Clock: 19,395 words
10. Underground: 17,944 words
11. Salon des Refues: 15,338 words
12. Into the Smoke: 12,273 words
13. The Human Twist: 18,817 words
14. Unknown: In progress, completion by June 30

That's a total of 186,154 words so far. I don't know what that means in the writing industry. I'm still working in isolation with it. I had a couple people who I sent up to "The Stark Truth" to, but, little communication after that.

Sometimes, it's just nice to hear someone's thoughts both good and bad. And also to have someone help me with grammar.

I guess eventually, I will be sending this to be professional edited. I think I have. . .shoot. A lot more to go. I guess there are going to be 30 to 33 of these stories. Maybe I'm half way there. Yeah. That sounds good.

Writing Update!

I found a friend who shares the writing compulsion and we have formed a writing group. We came up with a name. Then I made us a logo. 'Cause I'm crazy.

As Safe As Horses! Yeah. The email is great "assafeashorses@gmail.com."

LOLZ!

Hopefully, new group will offer that. It's also really nice to be around someone else who shares the writing stuff. He does mostly poetry - which I tend to dislike - it takes a lot to move me. He recently sent me about 6 poems and I was surprised how many I liked.

Anyhow, writing update!

I have completed up to story 10 of 32? I might end up altering the final number of stories. At this point, stuff is still going good, I believe. I just need people to give me feedback and provide me some editing. Much harder than it seems.

I really was struggling with 10, until I just started another plot and that popped out fairly quickly. So, 11 is on deck while 10 was done. I just left myself with a fairly important and no-backies plot situation and I was unsure if I wanted it to continue the way it was. Morals. You know.

Writing is often talked about as if a book or piece is a "baby" - which is horrible because babies are people and not just completely controlled and creative-perfect constructs.

To me. . .writing is like throwing up. I feel it bubbling inside of me. It hurts inside. It dwells and mixes with whatever I most recently consumed. Then, in a fit of uncontrollable reaction, I puke forth this thing.

Or I take a lot of meds and the stories stay quiet inside of me.

But, they stories are always there. At middle-age, I didn't know people didn't have stories like this inside of them. There are always people and things waltzing around in there.

Oh well. Back to writing.

Writing Update

I found maybe another person who agreed to edit my awesome works. Inspired, groundbreaking. . .yes. .

Seriously - feedback for writers is like water. We need some to keep us going and hydrated but too much and we drown.

And by "we" I. . .mm. . I just wrote that so I sounded deep.

I did make some covers up for my stories because I find if I can keep engaged in the project someway, it is less likely to fail.

Would you read these stories based on the font Birth of a Hero by Segments Design and random clip art?

(Click to enlarged because I was too lazy to actually cut these into reasonable chunks)

Writing Update

The dream continues! Not really a dream. Actually, no, it is a dream. A fake-next-to-reality series of fictional events that live only in my head.

Yes. The dream.

Producing Content: B+
I’m giving myself a B+ on producing content. Everyone is super-obsessed with word count so I tallied:

Title Word Count

• Calpurnia Mission: 9,299
• The Rebel Lion: 13,308
• Between Life and Dark: 11,778
• The Stark Truth: 12,814
• Of Haves and Wants: 24,845
• Safe Harbor: 13,466
• Rebel Valley: 24,274
• Of the Best Intentions: 13,208
• Eight o'Clock (Pending): 5,690

Total  Words: 128,682

I don’t know why word count is so important. If I can say something in three words or twenty words – is one better? I just never got the word count thing in fiction. I know teachers need to require it because. . .actually, no, I don’t know what the important of word count is ever.

I have been averaging about 2 stories a month. I feel like December will be a no-show month because I’m still figuring out what to do with the story “Eight o’Clock.”

If anything, “The Stark Truth” taught me sometimes a good twist in a story can take a while to formulate and execute properly. I hated and fought that one for like six months. And wanted to scrap it. Oh well.

I’m really just hitting outlining really hard and testing out different situations and outcomes in my head. I am not as happy with my re-working these stories. A couple I just don’t like as much. Actually, I hate them all for different reasons. Even when you do what you love, you will eventually hate stuff. I’m cool with all my feels. I just feel like I do need to work a little hard on a few of them.

I’m sort of proud of the work I put into this stuff – not always the product, but the work, yes.  Bonus points: I turned a nightmare I had into a viable story. That’s why I gave myself a plus.

Producing Support: D-
I got one person to read and give me useable feedback. My circle of friends and family is not supportive in ways that would be most valuable to me.

Against my better feelz I also joined this writing group. I sent my writing, as requested, to a batch of maybe 8 people – it was the first story. I only got back, “I’m so looking forward to reading this!” and “Great! I’ll have it back to you soon!” and we’re in December and I think they are all filthy liars.

I actually sent a copy of it out in July.

I edited work from about four people in the group within the week I got it because I know how valuable feedback is.

The main problem with writing groups is this:

• 70% of the people are head-in-the-clouds feelers who never do anything or want to improve or grow themselves or others. They want to say they are in a “writing group” and talk about their problems and about books they read.
• 10% haven’t written anything in a really long time but they have a great idea for a movie or maybe a short story or a comic or something. Maybe something like Harry Potter but with a fan fiction element maybe for like something good like based off of this other thing but like with funny stuff. Like, maybe a poem. But maybe it could be like a sit-com or just a novel it might have a witch in it or like a mystery but maybe not.
• 7% are poets who believe writing helps them through bad times and is pure and wonderful and just a touching as they broken feelings are. Just like I don’t go to physical therapy places for entertainment, most of this poetry is best kept in desk drawers. 
• 5% of people are students who are still in pain over the first time someone said something negative about their work. They are applying to get into grad school. They are unrefined because they are untested in anything besides the norm.
• 3% think they are awesome but they are just TOO BUSY, OMG LOLZ! But they are full of name-dropping authors whose books they have read and how you wrote something like one of them once did and you should read that to learn how to write like that and how they went to the book signing and once read an article online about writing and it was so good and they want to tell me about it while I die on the inside because all they are doing is vomiting un-inspired BS made frothy for the masses of failure of which I am one and the weight of their inability, ignorance and disorganization brings the whole goddam group down.  
• 3% are self-published and are there to promote that work. They are working with this guy on a new project which is still in the air. But, it’s cool. It’s going to be big. Did you read the first book? It’s on Amazon for $1.99 and here is the link. It has four stars.
• 2% actually want to learn, grow and help others. I don’t know where this 2% is.

I really miss sharing a passion with someone or a group and learning and growing through it – having that positive influence. Mostly around me right now is. . .not that.

I give myself a D- because I’m just utterly defeated with the learning, growing and branching out my stuff to any receptive area for productive feedback.

There was a group that you paid to join with a pretty good track record of support – according to reviews – and I just couldn't do it. The defeat from before I carry with me and trying again and again with the same results just seems endlessly annoying.

I give myself more than a F because I also believe if I could get all 33 stories on paper rather than invest my time in trying to produce something I am obviously incapable of doing. . .maybe I would be more capable later.

Currently
I’m in a patch of writer’s block.

Actually, that a dumb term everyone uses. It’s not a real thing. Like, you can always write or edit or re-work SOMETHING. I just have a story and I am not sure how to twist it just right. I’m still turning it over my brain. I know I will do it and it will be amazing – I just need to keep working at it. And it’s brutal.

Nothing is blocking me. There’s no blockage.

Blockage means that there is something already created beyond. There is nothing beyond because I didn’t create it yet.

Writing, Writing - Brutal Fighting

I’ve been writing and re-writing up a storm lately – which is good, because if I’m going to have to sit and drink and watch football, I can amuse myself with writing.

Some of the major problems are that I have huge chunks of “missing reality time” because I am so mentally focused in another world. Ok, that’s really the major problem. While I get such joy and fulfillment out of investing myself in these characters and stories, it is brutal work. I don't leave my place for days, it feels. Nothing gets done. But it seems to be over in a snap. 

And now that I spend all this time spinning my creative wheels, I wish I could get some honest feedback on my little series – how does one go about doing that? Most people I know are far too busy to read things. . mm. .that they don’t actually want to read. And getting honest feedback is also hard. An actual critique not based on, "Well, I don't actually like stories about ____" or "It's so great with the good stuff."

Oh, and I have no idea where or how to get something like this published. That’d be cool those. Real goal there. Finish and get UNNAMED series published. Gotta get the ideas flowing!

I also wish I could surround myself with other creative people - other writers. People to talk shop with. Sometimes it's hard because really all I want to do is avoid people. I was part of a fantastic writing group and we were all supportive and all had different styles and I just felt so alive talking and working with them. 

Then it broke apart because we secretly hated each other and had no ambition. 

Oh well. Back to corporate America to get the monies.

Stealing Other's Ideas

This is sometimes how it goes.

Loving lifted from the Oatmeal - you can view the whole pannel in all it's amazingness at Some Thoughts and Musings About Making Things for the Web

I have been writing more fiction lately - not really blogging more. And, you know what, I'm ok with that!

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestions.

Write Letters

I have stationary. I like stationary. Nothing quite feels like 100% cotton paper. I like technology, too, don't get me wrong. Living through others through pictures and stores on Facebook really got me through some bad times.

And I'm noisy. Not about celebrities really, just the run-of-the-mill people who I met and hung out with at some point in my life.

But, I digress.

I use to work for Crane & Co when I graduated from college, so, I learned more about paper and etiquette. When you work retail full-time during the slow seasons, you can read all the books in the store and learn a lot.

A Love of Stationery
First, it is "stationery." "Stationary" means you aren't moving. I am a fan of not moving, though.

Paper porn

I like to go to the the Paper Source for my cards. I like to get a different color of card and envelope depending on my ever-changing mood. I normally pace back and forth the bank of cards and notes set out in rainbow fashion, delicately touching each and comparing the colors.

Clerk: Ma'am? Ma'am! Do you need help?
Manda: NO!

A lot of times, I look like 13-year-old boy trying to buy porn. I have accepted this.

I like stationary and I like writing notes. I really got into correspondence cards  couple years ago, I like a stout paper.

Why You Need Stationery

Spray of flowers

You should invest in a good stack of stationery. Not pre-printed, CVS thank you cards, either. I mean, plunk down a little money. Chances are, you are not writing that much, so, 15-20 pieces will last you a long time.

Get something blank. You want blank. If you end up doing a fold-over note, then maybe get some stylish thing on the front or a simple motif.

Why do you want blank cards when "Thank you" are so easy to find? Because then if you need a fast birthday card or sympathy card or sorry card, you can use them for everything.

How cool is a dragon?

Now, if you ever get anything from anyone or really (and I mean REALLY) want to be endeared in someone's heart, write a note. You don't even have to be that savvy in your word choice, just getting a hand-written note will earn you points with business people who have open jobs and potential lovers - and everything in between.

The Absence of Passion
I receive very few notes, mostly cards from relatives or an occasional "thank you" note if someone feels inclined. I must say, while I always do things because of who I am rather than what I assume I will get in return, I have been slipping in my letter and note writing.

I think part of it is because I get excited when I write something but I am forgetting what it is like to see someone writing to me. It's not a bitterness, it just a laziness because it takes too much energy to remember what it is like to get some awesome stationery in the mail with a nice hand-crafted note.

The Challenge
I would like to write more notes. If you email me or send me a message that you need a hand written note (and where to send it), I will send you one.

I know this is not a revolutionary idea. I know a lot of people are all for writing notes as some type of rebellion against social media and the worst that the Internet can produce.

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.fer still stands, if you ask for a note,  I will send you one.

Image Credit
Some from Paper Source.
Some from Crane & CO

Journal

On a whim, I bought this diary. It’s pretty sweet. I got it at Home Goods so I got it for cheaper than what it is worth. Or I got it for what it is actually worth – I’m not sure.

It's like Twiter 'cause it's a tweeter

I like writing by hand because it is more personal. I also use to like to write by hand to see where the infection was in my brain and if it hit my motor control.

I was never big into keeping a diary. I never thought my life was really that interesting – and with sickness comes an intense apathy so it’s not like I was going to record anything. I did keep some notes about what I was going through because I knew I wouldn't be able to remember what had happened to me and the notes served as a way I could communicate with the medical industry.

In looking back with a brain that isn't riddled with infection, I wish I had been able to do better and use these notes to help out others. I often sent them to people about to enter treatment or who were going through whatnot as sort of what to expect – or at least everything that could go wrong.

Someone said I should write a book, but, I don’t think anyone would think the illness was “cool” enough to be relateable to make money. I think the people who need the most help are so far gone by the time they figure out something is really wrong (and it’s not in their head) that is would serve no purpose. I don’t think the medical establishment would like it much either though some doctors are getting better at working on treatments and testing for blood-borne illnesses.

Anyhow, the point is, I think often times in the moment you don’t think what you write is awesome or would ever impact anyone, but, when you look back, you see it really can.

I also thing the other side is true - no one actually cares about your life as much as you do. Your thoughts and jottings are only important if people can see themselves in it. However, for self-exploration and expanding horizons and learning discipline journaling is great.

My New Challenge

Anywho, now I have it and I have no idea what to put in it. I am soliciting ideas! I am going to do my best to write three times a week. Which will end up being two. I have a feeling.

What items, what things should be recorded? What do you write about in a journal if you do write in a journal? Hit me up at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com if you think of something. I don't be publishing these things but I think it's a good exercise. 

Here is the list I have so far (which I got from the Internet) which should keep me busy.

• What is your interpretation of one of your recent dreams?
• What does death teach us about life?
• When you look at a person's hands what do you see?
• If you died tomorrow, what would you most be remembered for?
• When was the last time you cried?
• What is the longest you've had a "borrowed" item but not been able to return it because they moved?
• What is one thing that happened today that I really want to remember years from now?
• Did I do something today that I can be proud of?
• Why is it important to be genuine?
• What do you think about ghosts?
• Describe your typical day?
• What would be your ideal birthday present, and why?
• Think of a relative that you have lost - if you could, what would you ask?
• What is the most important aspect of your life and why?
• In what ways do you sometimes wish to act to be a better friend, but don't?
• If I could change one thing about my spouse/lover, what would I change?
• If you won a million dollars but had to give it all away, who would you give it to and why?
• What did you want to be when you grew up?
• If you had to write your life story, what would the title be? Why?
• What do you think about as you are falling asleep?
• When did you first realize you would someday be old or someday die?
• When have you realized you were really wrong in your judgment about someone?
• Who has more power the government or the people?
• Which amendment to the constitution is the most important?
• Put yourself in Anne Frank's place how would you have survived?
• What would you do if you woke up one morning with a tail?
• Where would you most like to watch the sun come up? Why?
• What was your closest brush with death.
• Remember the last time you spoke to a person who later died.
• Write about the last time weather scared you.
• When were you the happiest this year?
• What are you saving up for?
• What caused me to wince today?
• What tempted me today?
• If you could tell your boss what you really want to do in your job, what would it be?
• How are you going to make tomorrow a joyful day?

Customized

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Read 20 Book: Update

It’s not going well, faithfully followers and random people who came to this page. It is not going well. If you remember, I said I was going to read 20 books in 10 months in my Read 20 Books challenge.

I have estimated I have a good chunk of free time during the week. This time is sucked up with some volunteering I do, wash, getting food, crying, hanging out with friends and cleaning out the cat box. It’s still a good chunk of time and I should be able to get some reading done.

By this point, I should have already finished a book. I have not. Ok, I did read one of these free books of Amazon. I mean, I read it. And it was horrible. I don’t want to count it. 

I am actually 50% of the way through my first book, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. You would think it would have all the elements in it to get me hooked – interesting narration, unique writing structure, Nazis. . .and yet.

I was really into in for a section or two but then I started to lose interest in it. I think it is because I am waiting for action to move more swiftly. I think Zusak does a great job of using few words to describe a lot of stuff and now I feel like I have been reading the same thing over and over and over again.

I am waiting for some event or action to move the story along.

I even like the “spoiler alerts” plastered in the book. I like the character of the narrator. But, I have no desire to continue reading it so it has been a little bit of a struggle. 

Shame, I am not sure why. 

I feel like a failure a lot these days.

My New Toy
So, where is my time going?

After months and months of debate, I did go out and buy a Galaxy Tab 2 for myself. This might be another reason I am not getting any reading done. The idea was that I would have a portable device to help me get some writing done and keep in touch. I'm never that far from wireless and the people I know who have them rave about them.

So, I am now a member of Big Fish Games Unlimited and am tearing through the Dark Parables series in hopes it soothes my heart until Mystery Case Files releases their next game. I'm a sucker for a good puzzle or hidden object type game. I even have been playing some card games to try to keep my mind sharp for when I sit down and play my boyfriend.

Anyhow, all these things are not reading.

What I Have Been Doing
While I have not been reading that much, I have been writing. Here’s sort of what I have been doing in place of reading: 

• Moved my blog to AdventuringAmanda.blogspot.com (have more to do).
• Worked on my series short stories. 
• Caught up on blog post – I don’t just write them the day before, you know. 
• Beat Dark Parables: The Frog Prince (seeking other games).
• Set up my Galaxy Nexus Tab 2. 

Right, busy.

What I Will Do
I’m going to finish this book. I really am. I am still shooting for 20 books in 10 months. I just need to either hunker down and do it or find books that better keep my interest. 

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Image Credit
Book from npr.org