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Who is done with the first draft of part one? Who?

Yes, this is a rhetorical question. It’s me.

So, now the really hard work. What I call “the deep writing.” I’m not living a lie. The first draft for me is often what an outline is for y’all. Now I sort of sort things out in their order, really get down to some serious description, and join things together. And then there’s a reread with some slashing and revising, and then I shoot it off to all the generous people who have volunteered to beta it for me while I work on part 2.

Anyway, that’s where I’m at. Ta da!

***

In other news, I have 3 interviews out there with folks, and I’m hoping to get them back eventually. I may be nagging some of you soon, as I would like to post an interview, and none of them have come home to roost.

Should I post more about cheesy swashbucklers? I could do write ups on Zorro and Musketeer incarnations. You wouldn’t even have to twist my arm.

Catherine

Thanks to the auspices of some good friends and a well placed birthday present, I have recently been reintroduced to the pleasures of the 1982 Scarlet Pimpernel with Anthony Andrews, Jane Seymour, and a frighteningly young Ian McKellan.

I loved this version of the Pimpernel as a junior in high school. My younger brother and I wandered around the house reciting the Pimpernel poem and exclaiming “Sink me!” every chance we could get.

A little poking around the Internet led me to The Scarlet Pimpernel: A Man of Mystery, which looks to be as thorough a Pimpernel site as you could want.

This would ultimately lead to a reading of the book. While the Scarlet Pimpernel’s filmic history is illustrious, save yourself some trouble and skip the book.

Continue reading “Favorites: The Scarlet Pimpernel”

The rough draft of the Widow storyline is done. It’s brutal. It needs tempering.

Next up: the milk folklore storyline. Or the hulder versus the cattle managing nisse. These two story lines are short, but necessary.

There are a total of eight rough draft scenes to write in part 1. I had no idea I was so close until I took a look.

The next step is scrambling the story lines, and engaging in the expansion of the story. The second draft is a real deep draft. That is followed by some serious editing.

Signing off for tonight. Tomorrow I will only write in the evening, as I actually have to put in a day of work tomorrow, instead of class.

31112 / 45000 words. 69% done!

This morning, I wrote two of the Widow scenes for the troll book. Sketchy right now, but this could be pretty scary stuff. Well, trolls should be scary. Jensinna is shaping up, as is Sigurda.

I also started the first scene of a story I was inspired to work on after Wiscon. I’m reluctant to say I’m writing a werewolf story, but I am. I’m trying hard to make it a different critter. Not different than a werewolf, but you know, different.

Part 1 Word Count

30484 / 45000 words. 68% done!

Catherine

It’s a little late this week, given the Mahabharata class. (Go ahead, ask me about the Pandavas!) Here’s this week’s Blood is Thicker than Water installment, with cocaine in a starring role.

Catherine

There were two agents who had Substance. And now, there is only one. I received a rejection from the agent who was kind enough to send me the edit letter from before. The directions I took the rewrites in didn’t work for him, and that’s all she wrote. Another really big soap bubble, full of shiny colors, pops. Glycerin everywhere!

Yes, that did smart. Thanks for asking. It smarted from about 4 o’clock until 7 o’clock. It still makes me feel sad.

But

My “family” is sending me acceptances for my “family reunion.” My real life is a positive thing, even if my biological family is full of fail.

The agent from above has expressed interest in the next project. I hope he’s willing to wait a bit, but it was good to be asked.

While it stings, I haven’t lost any ground. I’m still exactly where I was this morning, yesterday, all that.

Another agent still has a full. Tor has 75 pages. It’s not over yet. I’m not holding my breath, but it’s not over yet.

Even if it is over, it’s the first book I’ve sent around. Not getting the first one published is a common thing. Even the second, third, fourth…and the responses I get show promise.

Many people have said good things about it, even if it’s not going to the next step.

Some of my work has been published, even though there’s been a lot of no. Even though there will be a lot more no, there will also be more acceptances.

It’s not enough to be a good writer. So true. Finding that synergy with two and ultimately three people is hard. So true. Anything hard is worth doing.

If I give up, nothing’s going to happen. And I was going to write stories and novels anyway. No gets old, but I’m tougher than no.

I’m not ready to walk away yet. Could I be any more Pollyanna?

Would it undercut this post to say I need a drink?

Catherine

This morning, before the workshop, I thought I would put in some time on the troll story. It was hard going. The clouds are covering the sky in full force, and I believe now that it affects my whole upbeat/downbeat mojo. We had a morning of mishaps on the way to the gym: a train that took 10 minutes, a delivery van that cruised up our main road at 45 mph, and finally Bryon getting an eyelash in his eye, to the extent that we pulled over, and I drove him the rest of the way to the gym so he could wash it out.

Life in Iowa. One big adventure.

***

First of all, the troll count. I’ve halved my initial word count in the meter, because right now I’m concentrating on part one. I may have less words than this. Based on current projections, it could be 35K-40K, but we’ll give ourselves the extra room. I’ll get this first part in good shape, and start on the college section. I’d guess that I’m about 2/3 done with the first draft of the first part, and then I’ll go through and really dig in.

Today I finished the Nick scenes. They are really rough, but we have that arc pretty well mapped out now.

Starting tomorrow, I write the Widow scenes. Lots of the threat of eating children in the Widow scenes, and we get to know Sigurda and Manuel better.

29750 / 45000 words. 66% done!

I hope you’re all doing well today. It’s ironic after how up I was about writing last week, but today, I’m kind of tired. I’ll keep at it, writing and sending. Every once in a while, though, we all get tired of no and maybe. Writing. Not for wusses.

*shakes head to clear it* That’s all the wallowing you get, woman! Get to work!

Catherine

Still testing. Ignore.

Catherine

Am I posting to both Dreamwidth and Livejournal?

Let’s see!

Catherine

There isn’t too much more to add at this point. Up early again, but of course, six hours of sleep feels so much better than 3! I went to Tech Tools for Writers, which already has its own entry. After that, it was the sign out which was fun, because you get to talk to authors about their books.

Some of my friends wondered why I wasn’t signing. Needles and Bones is electronic. Um…yeah. Next year, with Hulk Hercules, I’ll be signing. With a little luck, I’ll be giving away Morty Moose tokens as well.

***

Today, and for most of the next two weeks, I’ll be in a seminar on the Mahabharata. We’ll see if I learn something.

I’ve finished Frankie’s project, and now, we’re back to trolls.

Catherine