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Okay, another week another update. So confession time, I guess. I've made next to no progress on #2. Looking at it objectively, it's not a bad idea, it's just not fully formed in my mind. I've set that aside for now. If I pick it up again then great, if not then it wasn't meant to be. I've been using the time I've freed up to edit #1 instead. I've been pretty brutal. So far I've dropped 3 chapters (well, two and the prologue) plus great swathes of info dump. A lot of that has been replaced with character development and action so no great loss. Every time I come across something hideous I remind myself, nothing is so bad it can't be fixed with a red pen and some persepective. The bright side of all that is I'm starting to really like the story again. It was buried under superfluous information and awkward wording but now it's starting to come through again. All in all, in spite of the problems I've had with #2, I'm feeling pretty positive.

I hope everyone else's writing week has gone well.

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Glad to hear it, Marelle. I've done about 1300 words this week. So, I'm gradually improving my word count each week. I had a really tough day at work last week and ended up pouring a lot of my emotion into the novel. I wrote a really tough scene that was supposed to be full of despair and sadness - I'm not sure if I should have written it when I was in that frame of mind, but it seemed appropriate. It was a scene I was planning to do much later in the novel, so I've jumped forward a considerable way. But, it felt right at the time and I felt better after. I wonder if it will survive the editing process... Md

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Well this week... I have done about 8,000 words. But then I have hand written some it so it has to be typed up, and I admit to going over the last chapter before I start writing again. For me to do that way it works-its the only way I bring myself back on track and the story flows more.

I only have one story going, I don't know if thats good or bad, but I really love the story so I'll keep going with it.

I stopped working 6 months ago in a full time job, (I took on my next full time job, mother to a beautiful 6 month old baby girl.) Even then I used to write in my lunch break just for something to do in an exercise book. Merryd sometimes work just takes over everything, I'm happy to hear your still making time to write even under pressure. I'm glad to hear you're all having a good week with your stories. Its motivating.
Cheers Ebony.

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"I don't have your eyes...but I have your way of looking at things..."

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Hi all,

Well done Marelle for starting the editing process!  I started this week, even though I'd thought about having a longer break, but I just can't help myself!  

I've managed to write up the short version of the following ms (can't believe I have three more stories to write in this series, what was I thinking!) and chapter breakdowns with character info on any new characters I have coming up (at least the ones I know about thus far.  It never ceases to amaze me how new characters thrust themselves into my story without asking me first!).  And so I have begun the editing of ms/story number one, it's not too bad actually, I'll probably dumb down the vocab slightly as I don't want the kids who read it to constantly be reaching for a dictionary, but I do think expanding a childs vocabulary is really important, so a few toughies will stay in there, I hope.  For me it's mostly add in's.  I rewrote chapter 16 and need to add a couple of teasers in the earlier chapters to lead up to it.  Other than that, I'm really happy.  Much happier than I thought I was going to be!  So that's a bonus. Shouldn't take too long, then I'll get a good friend of mine to read it and make sure I haven't missed anything. She's very honest...brutally honest actually so I know I can trust her judgement.  Then I will attempt to find an agent/manuscript assessor, while working on the second ms.  At least that's the plan.

Merryd, I congratulate you on writing your tough scene.  For me, I find it helps to write if you're already feeling the same range of emotions as your character.  When I write about someone who's angry I can feel myself getting worked up with the character.  It can only strengthen your descriptions, I think.  And well done for improving on your word count, every word counts, and before you know it you'll reach your target and not want to stop!

Ebonyswanne, 8,000 words - you're a machine!  Excellent work, especially with a 6 months old baby!  I wish you all the very best and hope it just keeps getting better and better for you, I know it has for me.  I can quite honestly say that I not only think about my story when I'm awake, I also dream about it.  Is that an obsession or what?! 

Well done everyone, it's so wonderful to read how you're all progressing and the constant enthusiasm and happy banter makes me glad to be a part of it. 

Thanks.

Claire.

p.s - Happy writing! 

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Hi Everyone

Great to see everyone has been working so hard.

I also tend to hand write things before typing them up, it makes me go back over it then instead of 'leaving it for later'.

I've been writing a small amount most days, is hard with work and other things, but i find that my ideas are always with me, so i don't feel so bad if i miss a day because its always in the back of my mind.

I also had an old idea come back to me last weekend which i started to develop further, its more for younger readers, so at the moment I am devoting more time to that idea as it is coming more naturally than my first idea which hit a wall when i had a block trying to develop a new character.

Keep up the great work and happy writing everyone.

x

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I've been reading through all your comments about where you're up to etc, and its great see how everyone has days when the read their work and say Aghhh!! Or your more in the mood to write angsty stuff than what you really should be doing. Guilty as charged of doing that!!! I did a whole scene that is way later in my story because I had a bad day. It's likely to be changed when I finally get to it. But I felt better afterwards for geting it out of my system.

I started writing my actual 'ms' around the 28th March. So far I have done 22,500 words. (The ms is adult fantasy fiction.) I'm not sure if this is a good pace or slow. It was hard to get going at first, but once I got 5 pges in I was hooked. I went looking for advice on writing and I found this group! You're all fantastic. (My daughter is 12 months old... I became her mother 6 months ago through local adoption...what a rollercoaster ride that one was...do you know how may stories there in childrens fantsy / fiction that involve adopted kids! Heaps I have found...but thats good too. )

Anyway, I enjoy reading your tips and the way you encourage each other!

Thanks Ebony.

 

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"I don't have your eyes...but I have your way of looking at things..."

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Congratulations to all of you. There's such a positive current through this week's chat but I have to say you're a brilliantly optimistic and supportive group and I hope this will continue because whether you can see it or not, standing back here and watching all of you, it feels as though you're really motivating one another. Fantastic! Year 12 school hols that a filled with exam swotting, helping to find a happy balance between study and play, cooking up a storm to make everyone feel like they getting lots of comfort, not to mention teaching two 17 year olds how to drive, and keeping up my word count is all a bit of a juggle but I think I'm very happy. No hideously early mornings, or lunches to ready, or uniforms to wash or pick ups and drop offs. The working day is really rather calm and the weather has been spectacular in Adelaide so it's all been lovely and I'm feeling relaxed because my word count is being reached daily. This week I reached that marvellously motivating milestone where I realised the words left to write were less than the words I'd already written. I work to a crazy equation that is constantly updated every hour and I take sick pleasure in watching those numbers change from in the red to in the black. Love it! So now I'm past halfway on the crime and this week I also got the Royal Exile copy edit off my desk and into a courier bag and on its way to Sydney. Hooray. What a relief and I like the story very much after reading it for the first time in about 10 weeks. I hope you all do too. Well done all. Have a great week and Anzac Weekend. Fx