Manuscript Reset

As mentioned in a previous post, I'm working on a sequel to "Old Ways and New Days." 

I've written about 20,000 words, so that's a good start. But then I hit a snag. I haven't written any words for a couple weeks as I've contemplated the direction I want the story to take. 

While I haven't been writing, I've been researching some subject matter for the story. I've been one who advocates a stream-of-consciousness approach to writing the first draft, then going back and fixing the problems in the rewrites. 

This time I prefer to get any obstacles out of the way before hitting the keyboard in the storytelling. And I'm ready now.

I'm getting back to the manuscript after completing this post, and will write every day -- unless there are some unforeseen circumstances -- until I'm finished with the first draft. 

Not to make any excuses (does a writer ever make excuses?), but I've also be occupied with other things as well in this new year. Those distractions have been minimized as I'm about to move on.

And I still plan to work on a few more short stories in the coming months as well. 

So that's where I'm at on Jan. 26th. Now to get back to the manuscript.

Until the next time...

NaNoWriMo -- One Week Later

It’s been a week since I completed the 30-day writing marathon – also known as National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo.

Since I closed the file on Nov. 30 -- at 50, 171 words -- I haven’t looked at it. I probably won’t for a few more weeks. I experienced the hodge-podge of words I produced during those weeks of “literay abandon” and I simply don't want to revisit them now.

In the meantime, I have spent time doing research on bullying. I have 45 graduate hours in special education (four shy from receiving my master’s degree) so I have some knowledge of the subject.

I’ve also been working on another collection of short stories. I think it’s important for writers to write.

Another thing is I've been reading because I believe it’s important for writers to read as well.

Until the next time…

The Dark Ages (Before the Web)

I remember my first computer – a Commodore 64 back in the 1980s – that I used to write my second book. There wasn’t an Internet back then. I purchased the computer simply to use as a word processor because it was somewhat more efficient than the Smith-Corona portable electric typewriter I used in college and for writing my first book.

I will say that that I never lost copy while using the typewriter (something that happened with regularity with the Commodore 64) and I was much more careful while writing because I didn’t want to spend a lot of time in rewrites. Back then, of course, I used copyediting marks during the rewrite process.

I kept a thesaurus, Webster’s dictionary, and Associated Press Stylebook on my desk as my primary reference tools. I also had a set of the World Book Encyclopedia that I used for research. And I spent a lot of time in libraries, using their vast resources on the shelves and microfilm.

My, how times have changed. Everything is practically at our fingertips while writing. Of course there is a downside to that as well. It's awfully easy to get distracted from writing when you find yourself checking and sending e-mails and going beyond research into aimless surfing.

And I know a few folks who decide to take a break from the writing and play an online game -- just one or two times -- and end up playing countless times.

Sometimes the pre-Internet days sound pretty good.

Until the next time...