Nanowrimo, Days 15-21:

It's been several days since I've posted my progress, so thought I should do that today. I've written every day this month (so far) except for the 11th, 12th, 18th, and 19th. That's 16 days' worth of writing, and only one of those was under the suggested daily amount of 1,667 words. I'm not stressing over the word count. I enjoy writing, and I write as much as I can each day. That said, looking back on what I've written, it's nice to see my stats:

Tuesday, Nov. 15 -- Daily Word Count: 4,010 | Novel's Word Count: 35,150

Wednesday, Nov. 16 -- Daily Word Count: 3,935 | Novel's Word Count: 39,085

Thursday, Nov. 17 -- Daily Word Count: 1,806 | Novel's Word Count: 47,475

Sunday, Nov. 20 -- Daily Word Count: 2,898 | Novel's Word Count: 50,373

Monday, Nov. 21 -- Daily Word Count: 1,606 | Novel's Word Count: 52,044

I hope to write a little bit more. I'm about to add a new scene for Dakota. So far, the additions for his part in the storyline are going well. And now Lucky's about to meet his real dad, which really pleases me! :)

Anyway, I'm still just as excited about this story as I was when I first started planning it. I'm also looking forward to working on future stories for the series. Maybe I'll even turn them into movie scripts. Wouldn't that be something? :D

Lois

Nanowrimo, Days Four through Seven:

I've been busy, but not just with Raven's Dawn. Still, I've exceeded the minimum goal every day except one, so far. Here are my stats for the past few days:

• Friday, Day Four -- Daily Word Count: 502 | Novel's Word Count: 10,205
• Saturday, Day Five -- Daily Word Count: 3,633 | Novel's Word Count: 13,838
• Sunday, Day Six -- Daily Word count: 1,784 | Novel's Word Count: 15,622
• Monday, Day Seven (so far) -- Daily Word Count: 1,788 | Novel's Word Count (so far): 17,410

Over the past few days, Lucky has found out that his mother's lung cancer is no longer in remission, and she has only a few months to live, at the most. He is devastated, and if it weren't for one older brother and his friend, Dakota, he'd be in much worse shape than he is.

And as if that wasn't enough, he and his best friend are about to have a run-in with the school bully.

But good things are coming. Can't have all the bad without giving him some good stuff too, right? :)

Out of 71+ scenes, I've only written 17. I've combined some of them into chapters, but I doubt I'll be doing much more of that, which means I've got a long way to go. Good! I like it that way! :D

And that's how it's going, so far.

Lois

Nanowrimo, Days Two and Three:

First of all, why the heck are the subject lines in my LJ Twitter posts in Russian? I'm not Russian. I'm American! :/

My final word count for Tuesday (Day One) was 5,142. Three chapters of fairly decent length. Go me! :D

Yesterday, I added 2,355 words, three short chapters, which brought my word count to 7,497.

Today I wrote one chapter, but it's a fairly good one in which I introduce all the Ravens (that's not all there is to it...there's more). It's not a boring chapter. It just doesn't have a lot of action or angst in it. It came to 2,206 words, bringing my total to 9,703. It was really slow going at first, but once it got going, I almost didn't want to stop. But I had other things to do, so I behaved myself. :)

I'll work on the next chapter at some point tomorrow. I'll introduce Lucky's mom's ongoing battle with lung cancer (she has never smoked, but her husband's a virtual chimney, not to mention a nasty alcoholic).

I'm really looking forward to the chapter after that though, as it involves Dakota protecting Lucky and basically setting their friendship in motion, so to speak, even though he's ten years older than the young teen. :)

So, I've been busy! LOL I'm still loving my story. In fact, I love it more with every new chapter I write! I kind of want to write another one now, but I'm going to wait. I just don't have the time at the moment.

Lois

Nanowrimo, Day One (So Far)

I've written chapter one already--2,637 words!

In this chapter, I've introduced Lucky and some of the other characters. Because he's sick with the flu, you get to see how much people care for him. You also see, first hand, what a jerk his "father" is. I tried not to put too much dialog in, because my writing tends to be dialog heavy. I wanted to balance it out with other things. I hope I've done a good job of it, but I realize this is the rough draft, and I don't have to be too picky about it. I just need to get the story down.

Actually, trying to ease off the dialog is helping me think of other aspects of the story, so it's a good thing. I just hope I don't go too far in the other direction and end up with a story full of commentary and description! :P

I think I'll be alright, though. I'm too used to writing dialog not to add it. Besides, what would a story about Lucky be without his voice? And I'm only at the beginning. Nothing to worry about. :)

Now I'm getting ready to do some writing sprints and work on chapter two--about Dakota. I look forward to it!

And tonight is the write-in down at Moka Joe's. Can't wait! :D

Lois

Nanowrimo Eve

Nanowrimo is almost upon us, and I have a few last minute things to figure out before tomorrow morning. I'm one of those writers who doesn't let enough good things happen to my heroes, so I need to see if I can come up with a few more. I added some yesterday, but I still need more. Poor Lucky just has one after another bad thing happening to him. I need to break it up just a little more.

I've combined this story with the one I wrote previously--the one I didn't like. It had a couple of really good things in it. I kept them both, but the circumstances changed a bit. No worries there. I can always adapt them to another story if I ever want to. :)

I've been writing character journal entries when I can, and that's helped with getting their voices down. I hope to continue with those throughout November and beyond (I don't count on having the novel finished by the 30th, as I believe it will be longer than 50k words...quite a bit longer, I hope). I might need to write some character journal entries for the heroes' dads in my Rogue Journals blog so I can get their voices down, too. They play somewhat big parts in the story, after all, being the major villains that they are. There's also another important character I need to get a handle on. So three characters to blog as. Am I under much pressure? No, not at all! Why do you ask? LOL

So, tomorrow, I'll start work on this novel, and I'm really excited about it. It's so different from all my other stories, including my other Lucky Raven novels. It's kind of like a prequel, because he's younger, but it's not really, since I haven't published anything. But this is my chance to make some needed changes to the Raven storyverse, so I'm all over it. :)

And on that note, I'd better catch up on here, then get to work!

Lois

Lucky!

I've written a new character journal entry for Lucky Raven, and I've set up a new, mostly private journal just for him. It's taken longer than I'd hoped, but he's worth it. He's still my favorite out of all my characters, and I have a feeling he always will be. :)

Unfortunately, the story he's currently a part of isn't his story. I'll have to come up with other things for him to write about while I'm working on Buck's story. Piece of cake...I hope. ;)

And now I need to go take a quick shower, then I'd like to brainstorm for a bit later, since I haven't had a chance to do any of that yet today.

Have a good one!

Lois

Brainstorming the New Story

I've been brainstorming a new story. It takes place in the Raven story-verse, and Lucky appears in it, if only to show the villain's purpose and how far he'll go to "get even" with the hero, Buck L.

I have information on the three main "good" characters. I still need to gather information on the villain. I have his name and a tiny bit of his background. I even have a character model for him. YAY! :D

And I've been brainstorming ideas for the story. There's lots of danger and intrigue, romantic entanglements, humor, frustration, a murder / attempted murder, and complications (though I need to add more to keep the suspense going in the saggy middle).

This has been a blast, and I'm far from finished. I hope to have some friends look at my summary when it's done to give me valuable input.

Lucky has already written a character journal entry, too. :) I need to have the others write some. It helps me get into their heads better. I love that!

Anyway, that's what I've been up to lately. As always happens when I'm working on a story, other things have taken a back seat, such as my knitting. I hope to work on my cardigan later this afternoon, but we'll see. When I'm involved in a story, it's hard to drop it for something else, but I'll try. ;)

Have a good one!

Lois

I'm Working Again!

Yesterday, I wrote the first two pages of a new story. I only wrote two pages because I had to do a lot of research, too. Today, I wrote down things about the three main characters--the hero, his best friend, and another character who plays a very large role in the story. Tomorrow, I'll brainstorm with paper and pen while I babysit. I look forward to the challenge. I just wish I could get some help!

Oh, and this story takes place in the Raven universe. My two main characters know Lucky, his brothers (John and Joey), and his father (Ten). In fact, the main character's best friend is also a very close friend to Lucky. It's a small, small world, after all! :P I haven't yet decided if Lucky will make an appearance. He probably won't, since it takes place in Hawai'i, but there might be mention of him, at least.

And now, I've got to run.

Have a good one!

Lois

Character Journal Updates:

I've updated all my character journals.

Lucky Raven: Cataviña
Zane Greywolf: Mercy & Unsettling Feelings (Caution: Two Instances of Strong Language)
Fox Redman: Where We've Lived
Sawyer Redman: Taima and Dane Redman: The Rest of the Story

Check them out and let me know what you think! :D

Lois

It'll Be A Writing Day Today

I never wrote anything yesterday, so I plan to do that today. I'm going to work on the Zane Greywolf novel. If I have time, I also want to work on the Sons of the Wild Frontier novel and the other, newer one I recently outlined.

I also have ideas for an alternate reality (well, I guess it's more of an alternate history) story in mind. I need to jot down the ideas I have so I don't forget them. Jeff and I were talking a little bit about it this morning and I think it's a cool idea, so I'm going to go for it!

I'm thinking that if I get over eager and start working on the Lucky Raven rewrite early, I can write the alternate history story during Nano. ;)

Much of yesterday was spent on Family Tree research. I traced one part of my grandfather's (on my mom's side) line back to someone named Radulfus DeSandford, born 1104 A.D. in Sandford, England. He died in Parish, England, but I don't know the date. I can still go back further, too. I chose to stop because I was online for a very long time and it was past time to shower and fix dinner. :P

Anyway, today and tomorrow will be taken up by writing. I plan to do more family tree research on Thursday.

Oh! One last thing: I want to ask for prayer again. Eric and Chelsey went to the emergency room again last night. This time it was for a problem Chelsey's having. I don't want to say what it is, but it's serious...at least that's what they said when Eric talked to them before they went out. Please pray that this issue would be completely healed and that both mother and son would do well from here on out. Thank you!

Have a great day! :D

Lois

Character Journal Updates:

I've updated all my character journals.

Lucky Raven: Breathe
Zane Greywolf: The Results of My Grief...It Ain't Pretty, but It's My Life
Fox Redman: My other brother, Sam Vaughn
Sawyer Redman: Taima and Dane Redman

Check them out and let me know what you think! :D

Lois

Character Journal Updates:

I've updated all my character journals.

Lucky Raven: Grief
Zane Greywolf: Xander
Fox Redman: Margret (Warning: Strong language)
Sawyer Redman: The Day Fox's Poker Winnings Saved My Life

Note: I made the above icon of Billy Wirth from screenshots I took from American Gladiators. It's supposed to be animated. I don't know why it's not. I don't hold the copyright to any of the screenshots.

Well, I've Outlined...

Yep, that's right. I've outlined. But I've got the basics down for Sons of the Wild Frontier: Book One and now I just need to see what else I need to research. I need to add the details. I don't want to have to stop every few pages and research things for the story. If I do it beforehand, I can just write the story and have fun with it. That's the best part, after all...the writing! :D And I do enjoy outlining, as well. It's just that nothing compares to writing the actual story.

Tomorrow, I'm going to work on the character journals and maybe the Zane Greywolf story. I've been wanting to work on his story some more, so yeah. It'll be nice, like visiting an old friend. :)

I may work on a Lucky Raven short, too...sans outline. ;)

So, that's been my day, for the most part. Jeff is home and I'm going to get off here in a few minutes.

Good night, all!

Lois

I'm A Featured Writer! :D

A friend of mine, Patti Stafford, has featured me on her Writing 101 blog. It's about being a passionate writer.

To read the short feature about my blogs, check it out here. :)

And if you're interested, you can read all about Lucky Raven and Zane Greywolf in their blogs. They've changed a lot over time, but that's how writing is. It's always changing and evolving as the writer grows and gains experience.

I'll be creating a character journal for my two new characters, too, and I'll post a link to it when it's up and has an entry or two. Be watching for it! :D

Have an awesome afternoon!

Lois

One Down, At Least One To Go:

Note: The above photo of Billy Wirth is a screenshot I

took from American Gladiators. I do not hold the copy-
right to the picture in any way.

I've finished the Lucky Raven outline...for now. I've completed it, but I may make changes to it by the time November rolls around. It's nice to have it finished, though. Now if I could just have someone read it and look for holes or inconsistencies or anything else that doesn't feel right...

Now I'm getting ready to start work on the outline for Fox and Sawyer Redman's story. I want to have a good start to it so I can begin writing it on Thursday for 10K day. I want to put the whole day into their story. I'll work on the "Cottage" and Zane Greywolf novels tomorrow during Wednesday Writing Sprints day.

But first I've got to check my e-mail and post this entry to LiveJournal, as well. I've also got to see about getting a character journal started for Fox and Sawyer. :)

Have a great day! :D

Lois

Lucky Doesn't Take Change Well:

After much struggling to move Lucky's story into the past, I've decided to keep him in the present. It just began to feel all wrong having him in the 1870s. I'll take whatever research I get and add it to what I had of the outline. I might use them in a different story someday, but I'm keeping Lucky firmly planted in the here and now. :)

I'm liking where it's headed now, but I've spent so much time on it today that I feel a need to do something else. So, I'm going to work on that first scene from the epic.

Maybe I'll work on one of the other stories after that.

Note: The photo of Billy Wirth, above, is a picture I found online. I don't hold the copyright and I don't know who does.

A Day with My Fiction:

I don't have any writing exercises to do today, so I'm going to work on outlining more of Lucky Raven's story and writing more in my "Cottage" and Zane Greywolf novels. I was planning to work in an hour of drawing, but there's a chance I don't have to do it. I'm just waiting to hear back from my client. So, today will be spent on my fiction! :D

I never wrote any snippets from that opening scene to the epic, so I plan to work on that today, as well as character sketches of Fox and his brother.

I want to start a character journal for Fox and his brother, too, but I need to come up with a name for his brother, first. Anyone have any ideas? ;)

I can't wait to get started! :D

Have a great day!

Lois

Note: The picture above is an image I made using two photos I found online. I don't hold the copyright to either of these images and I don't know who does.

Sometimes the Writing Life Can Be Frustrating...

Like when I didn't think I could make the new Zane Greywolf story work. But I kept at it and I have finished the outline! Yaaaaayyyyyy!!!!! Go, me! :D

Granted, I still need to write the story, but I don't feel the weight of an unfinished outline hanging over me. I can concentrate on some other things that need to be done, such as the portrait commission and the writing exercises, then go back to it without feeling like I have to hurry up and finish it before I forget where I want the story to go. :)

The great thing is that I ended up writing 5,237 words today! My outline is 18 1/2 pages long, 9,174 words and very detailed, so I shouldn't have a problem writing the book. :D

I also worked on the portrait for about an hour or so this morning. I'm that much closer to finishing it, though it's still got a way to go.

I celebrated my accomplishment with a nice relaxing rose-scented bubble bath. Ahh, the joys of being an author! :)

My plans for tomorrow include working on an outline for the novel I'll be re-writing during this year's Nanowrimo, my Lucky Raven novel. I believe I've said here that I'll be moving him back in time...to somewhere in the 1870-1899 range, maybe even sooner. I also have writing exercises that need to be done. It'll be another long day, but a good day. :)

And on that note, I've really got to wrap it up and get off here.

Have a good evening!

Lois

Note: The photo above is an image I found online. I do not hold the copyright and i don't know who does.

Outlining, Research...And Not Much More:

This morning, I outlined and did research. That's all I did, writing-wise.

On the bright side, I've got a good start to my Zane Greywolf story.

And I've decided to change Lucky Raven's story to the late 19th or very early 20th century. Instead of a motorcycle, he'll be riding horses. ;)

Lucky's original 1952 Triumph Thunderbird:

And Xander, Zane's brother, will be driving a newer model of Lucky's original mode of transportation, the Triumph Thunderbird motorcycle! :D

Xander's newer 1981 Triumph Thunderbird:

Note: I don't own the copyright to these photos. I found them online and I don't know who they belong to.

And I researched the 21-gun salute and the three-volley salute, for Xander's funeral.

All in all, it's been a fairly productive day, but I wish I'd been able to do more. I still might do more after dinner, but we'll see.

Now, I really must go take a shower and get dinner started.

Have a good afternoon!

Lois