The Inconsiderate Virus is still holding on by a thread, but my muse and I decided to ignore its efforts to knock me down for another week. Work on Novel #2 continues at a steady pace even as I work through some scenes that need a lot of work both in terms of story flow and grammar gremlins.
Word Count Progress:
Draft #1 Word Count:
- Start Word Count: 39,221
- End Word Count: 41,548
- Total: 2,327
Draft #2 Revised Word Count:
- Start Word Count: 40,378
- End Word Count: 42,761
- Total: 2,383
Writing Process Notes:
- This week I completed the next chunk of five chapters for which my beta reader is anxious to receive. I can’t even begin to explain how motivating it is to have someone excited to read the next segment of the story. Perhaps, this is the key to staying on track with editing. I don’t want to make her wait too long and I love getting feedback while in the midst of the revision process. It’s a lot easier to make changes when I haven’t wandered too far away from a section that might need to be fixed.
- Call me overly optimistic, but I started researching possible agents to query. I found a few that could be a perfect fit, so I’m eager to yank out that query letter draft and polish it further.
Novel Tidbit:
Term usage and invention:
- Part of the fun of writing urban fantasy/re-imagined mythology is the freedom that comes with redefining common words and inventing new terms to describe elements in the story that do not exist in the real world. Because Ian isn’t quite human, I had to reach back into history to discover the origins his kind. My research took me into some well-tread areas of myth, but then I stumbled across one sentence in an ancient text that offered a golden opportunity to create an entirely new world.
- Without giving too much away, I can share some of the words I’ve changed (i.e. turning common nouns into proper nouns) or invented as a means to describe Ian’s realm:
- Wake
- Block
- Call or Calling (depending on how it’s used)
- Unseen
- Oathmark
- Lineage Mark
- Summoner Mark
- – -
c.b.w. 2013
Intriguing! I’m so envious of your beta reader. Good luck with the revisions and the query letter! It sounds like you’re well on your way to great things
Ooo, I love hearing the word “intriguing.”
I’m intrigued too. I’d love to see That One Sentence.
That One Sentence will remain under lock and key. It serves as the core of Ian’s identity as well as the inspiration for the central plot of the novel.
You did a good job!
Thanks!
Okay, that little novel tidbit really piqued my interest! Have fun with your world building.
I hope I get to read it some day!
Yay!
With so much positive feedback from my beta reader I’m a little more confident to shop this one around. I hope you get to read it, too!
OOOh how I admire your will to fight through sickness and keep working. I just want to curl up into a ball when I’m sick. I love how passionately creative you are!!
I curled up into a ball plenty! But I can’t do it for very long . . . I get bored and feel like I’m wasting a day if I don’t do something constructive.
My friend and I often have fun making up new words to give new meaning to certain activities. It looks like you’re really having fun with this WIP!
I am having a blast! I literally can’t wait to work on every day.
Glad that you are feeling better. This virus is nasty business. Good luck on the agent search and query letter!
Definitely feeling better and my muse is plenty chatty again!