Only 979 words eliminated from these two, but it's better than that many added!
On to 24...
June 16, 2011
May 9, 2011
Chapter 20 and 21 update.
Two chapters, one stone!
1294 words dropped from chapter 20 and 403 axed from 21. Chapter 21 is the shortest of the ms at 880 words.
On to 22!
1294 words dropped from chapter 20 and 403 axed from 21. Chapter 21 is the shortest of the ms at 880 words.
On to 22!
April 26, 2011
April 24, 2011
Chapters 16, 17 and 18
Had a good week - got through three chapters and eliminated 4,430 words. On to Chapter 19!
April 12, 2011
Chapter 15 update
Done, with 1,131 words eliminated. I'm feeling better about this... on to chapter 16.
April 11, 2011
Chapter 14 update.
Finished with 1,829 words deleted! Wow - the most so far. Total word count is now down to under 112K and I don't feel I've killed any part of the story doing so. Still not sure I'll get it down low enough for YA, but at least I'll be in the ballpark to query agents who handle both... On to 15.
April 7, 2011
March 27, 2011
Chapter 12 done.
814 words edited from this one. Seems like a lot, considering the total word count is now only 2616, the 3rd shortest chapter besides the prologue. On to 13.
March 22, 2011
March 21, 2011
March 12, 2011
Wow...
...a month without a post.
Pathetic.
Having food poisoning really wipes you out... I don't recommend it.
Anyway, getting back into the swing of things: 719 words cut from Chapter 10... on to 11.
Pathetic.
Having food poisoning really wipes you out... I don't recommend it.
Anyway, getting back into the swing of things: 719 words cut from Chapter 10... on to 11.
February 10, 2011
My Seven Days of Fame ... are over!
And they were fun while they lasted!
Be sure to check out Randy's Advanced Fiction Writing blog to find out the winning title.
Be sure to check out Randy's Advanced Fiction Writing blog to find out the winning title.
February 6, 2011
Chapter 9 Finished
746 words dumped, bringing Chapter 9's count down to 3970 from 4716.
Getting closer to the goal range...
Getting closer to the goal range...
February 1, 2011
My Seven Days of Fame
For the next week, my not-yet-published-or-seen-by-the-outside-world novel is getting some attention. Not because it is a stellar work of fiction, not because it earned a six-figure advance (let's dream big here, seven figures!), not because Oprah hiked through two feet of snow from Chicago to Akron to find me, and not because Hollywood is fighting over it.
It's because it has no title.
With the query process upon me, I'm in a bit of a panic. I know my characters as well as I know myself. They live in a fictional version of my home town...many are named after people in my life and the story is picked right from my own brain, not a copycat of someone else's idea. Yet a good, catchy title still escapes me five years into the effort.
When I first seriously considered attempting to get published a few years ago, I started following a Randy Ingermanson's blog. I learned a lot from his book Writing Fiction for Dummies and his newsletter. So, after brooding over my title dilema, I decided to send him a question, asking how much effort an author should put into naming their work when a publisher will most likely change it anyway.
I did not expect a response, but I got one.
Randy posted my question on his blog and gave a very detailed response. Then he offered to post a contest on his blog and have his readers give title suggestions. What a wonderful opportunity - I almost had tears in my eyes. So please visit Randy's blog and take a shot at naming my novel. It'll be fun!
Oh, and I'll throw in a bonus to the Winner: Randy offered to critique the first 5 pages of the Winner's novel - Thank you, Randy! I'll add this: If the Winner posts here after the contest stating they won, I will, with permission, use their name or a verision of it, as a character name in the final book.
It's because it has no title.
With the query process upon me, I'm in a bit of a panic. I know my characters as well as I know myself. They live in a fictional version of my home town...many are named after people in my life and the story is picked right from my own brain, not a copycat of someone else's idea. Yet a good, catchy title still escapes me five years into the effort.
When I first seriously considered attempting to get published a few years ago, I started following a Randy Ingermanson's blog. I learned a lot from his book Writing Fiction for Dummies and his newsletter. So, after brooding over my title dilema, I decided to send him a question, asking how much effort an author should put into naming their work when a publisher will most likely change it anyway.
I did not expect a response, but I got one.
Randy posted my question on his blog and gave a very detailed response. Then he offered to post a contest on his blog and have his readers give title suggestions. What a wonderful opportunity - I almost had tears in my eyes. So please visit Randy's blog and take a shot at naming my novel. It'll be fun!
Oh, and I'll throw in a bonus to the Winner: Randy offered to critique the first 5 pages of the Winner's novel - Thank you, Randy! I'll add this: If the Winner posts here after the contest stating they won, I will, with permission, use their name or a verision of it, as a character name in the final book.
January 18, 2011
Chapter 8 Finished!
Total words eliminated - 856 bringing the Chapter 8 word count down to 3,140 from 3,996.
I'm feeling better about this, the word count is dropping. Won't be long now and I'll be in range for the YA market.
I'm feeling better about this, the word count is dropping. Won't be long now and I'll be in range for the YA market.
January 17, 2011
Chapter 7 Finally Finished!
684 total words eliminated leaving a total word count for the chapter at 3,490.
I like this chapter. It ends with a cliff-hanger practically guaranteeing the reader will continue on to the next to find out who this mysterious, drunken stranger is. Love it.
Ok, on to Chapter 8 which stands at 3,996 words. I hope to get it down to around 3,500.
I like this chapter. It ends with a cliff-hanger practically guaranteeing the reader will continue on to the next to find out who this mysterious, drunken stranger is. Love it.
Ok, on to Chapter 8 which stands at 3,996 words. I hope to get it down to around 3,500.
January 15, 2011
January 8, 2011
The Novel Road: Dan Krokos Interview
Nice to see local Clevelander Dan Krokos landing a great agent!
The Novel Road: Dan Krokos Interview: "Cleveland
Who do you root for? Anyone? Has life so inundated you that you’ve stopped wishing..."
The Novel Road: Dan Krokos Interview: "Cleveland
Who do you root for? Anyone? Has life so inundated you that you’ve stopped wishing..."
January 6, 2011
Chapter 7
Tonight's progress:
6 1/2 of 10 pages edited - 552 words eliminated.
Lots more eliminating to do...will be back at it tomorrow to finish off 7.
6 1/2 of 10 pages edited - 552 words eliminated.
Lots more eliminating to do...will be back at it tomorrow to finish off 7.
January 4, 2011
New Year, New Post
Well here it is, another year. Feels the same as the last, but here's to hoping for better times. No death, no broken bones, no injures...just happy things.
I had the most intriguing e-mail in my box today when I turned my computer. It was from my good friend Rob stating how he is “killing me” by out-blogging me. Well, such things are true. I’ve not touched this computer in almost two weeks. I actually had to look up the password! Poor HT is probably feeling rather abandoned, but I assure you he is not.
I’m not one for New Year’s resolutions. I made one about twenty years ago to never make one again and by george, I’ve not broken it. My goals are simple: get the word count down to a respectable number and query. Query query query. Now, with that said, it’s time throw some more wood on the fire and get to work.
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