Two Dans

editing away

2010-03-11T16:53:00.000-08:00

The last few days I've had a look at this, the first round of edits, and I ended up adding a few words. I knew that was coming, because I'd forgotten a few pieces of info, so slipping those in bolstered the word count over 82K.

It's a nice story, in that it's fairly settled. Some chick-lit with a twist, and I'd forgotten how much I like Holly and Miles, the Dans too.

Anyways, who knows what will happen with it, but at least all big bugs have been worked out, and now it can sit for a time.

done

2010-02-09T13:41:00.001-08:00

Sometimes the way I write feels rote, in how it happens, a chapter or two a day, from the start to the end. This book was a little different.

Two chapters were written out of sequence, unplanned, but just how it ended up. And now today, it's done. And while I think the end for Miles and Holly might need some expansion, otherwise I think it's pretty nice.

Now I'm listening to the playlist accompanying this story, only having listened to a song here and there, one song for each chapter, and I feel light, finished, complete. Such a lovely feeling!

Not sure what will happen with this tale, but it was fun to write soemthing a little different than usual, in an unusual manner. Just shows you never know what's going to happen!

Today's word count- 6,651 (split between two chapters)
Final word count- 81,974

one more day

2010-02-08T15:14:00.001-08:00

With my parents taking off this morning, I managed some work, getting in a very short chapter before they were over (they slept in their camper, joining us when they were up). Then after they left I wrote one more (not so short) and will write the last chapter tomorrow.

Not to sound overly obsessive, but that's just how this book has worked out. Far more neat and tidy than I anticipated.

Mostly because I've written it one day at a time, not big plan, and how I thought it might proceed has been different than the actual draft. But that's fine, I'm not bothered.

Looking forward to wrapping it up tomorrow, then...

Then I don't know. Maybe some editing, as goodness knows I have enough of that in the works. No more writing this month, probably not until march. But seeing it's already the 8th, that's only days away...

Today's word count- 4,704 (split between two chapters)

so close!

2010-02-07T05:58:00.000-08:00

I'm about 10K away from finishing, but my folks did arrive yesterday, and there's no writing today. That's for the best, needing a day off, but oh, I can taste the end!

Three more chapters, and of course now that it's this far in, ideas fill my head, how this will go, how that will go. Not sure if I'll complete it tomorrow or some on Tuesday, but it's right there, within my grasp.

This has been a different book to write, in that the genre of chick lit is one not before attempted, and then just how it came about, sort of from the air, but many aspects have been as usual, so it's not like I wrote this book standing on my head.

Maybe leaning heavily to one side, maybe. Somewhat oddly positioned, but not altogether incorrect.

Yesterday's word count- 4,327

bad blogger

2010-02-05T21:18:00.000-08:00

It's late, at least it's late for me. I was sitting reading a small book that I look ever every night then remembered I hadn't blogged about today's work!

Nor had I blogged about YESTERDAY'S work yesterday... So, in short, here's the skinny.

It's coming along really well. Today I wrote two and a third chapters, one of which, the second, was VERY SHORT. Only a thousand words, then the third started with 2,442 just one-third in!

Tomorrow I'll complete that chapter, then probably write another. And then...

I'm nearly done! My parents are visiting this weekend, so if they arrive tomorrow, I'll finish on Monday. If they arrive Sunday, maybe I'll wrap it up that morning.

We will see...

Yesterday's word count- 7,241 (split between two chapters)
Today's word count- 6,715 (split between two and a half chapters)

work work work

2010-02-03T15:19:00.000-08:00

The last two days my teenage daughter hasn't had to be at school until noon. Some sophomore-wide testing, and since she's a senior, school didn't begin until 12.05 PM. What that meant for me was that I didn't need to leave the house until a quarter to twelve, so I had all morning solid to write.

And write I did! Over 14K in the last two days, 6 chapters. I LOVE being able to spin that sort of thing out, just reams of plot, scenes, bits and pieces and hints and nuances.

Makes me feel really good, and as this story is coming one day at a time, no real outline except a few ideas for scenes, that it seems to be continuing without a slowdown is refreshing.

At least that's what I think today. We'll see what tomorrow brings...

(And once again I didn't post yesterday!! Naughty naughty...)

Yesterday's word count- 7,557 (split between three chapters)
Today's word count- 7,164 (split between three chapters)

sometimes this is how it goes

2010-02-01T12:29:00.000-08:00

Early this morning I went through one of my favorite books, marking chapters on a piece of paper. I was ascertaining in the book Asta's Book (known as Anna's Book in the US) which chapters were from the viewpoint of Ann, Asta's granddaughter, or from Asta herself in the form of her diaries.

I did that because in my story the action shifts from present day to 1981, and I wanted to see how much of Asta's Book was in Ann's voice, how much in her grandmother's.

Most of it's in Ann's, twenty-two out of thirty chapters. Three chapters are the retelling of a trial, but most of them concern what's happening in Ann's life in present time. Which means around 1993, when this novel by Barbara Vine was published.

In my story it's 2009, then back to 1981. I'd written six chapters before going back in time, but Vine's novel starts off in the past, with parts of Asta's diary. I'm not sure how my novel will sit, how much of Lane, Danny and Daniel's story will take compared to Holly and Miles and Danny. Not all, probably about as much as Asta's words come into that novel.

Anyways, I did that early, before six AM, then I had breakfast, started the rest of my day. Just some research, like looking up information on the web. Something to set parameters, boundaries, facts.

All part and parcel of being a novelist.

Today's word count- 5,111 (split between two chapters)

forgetful

2010-01-31T14:51:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I forgot to blog about the work! I only remembered early this morning, but figured I could write about it with today's work, of which there were two chapters, one of Lane's story, then back to Holly and Miles.

(Then after looking at this blog I realized I'd forgotten to blog on Friday!! Not keeping up very well...)

So that's what's going on with the work. I'm not sure how I'm going to incorporate these chapters that are from the past. At what rate? Will they continue to be short? (I hope so!) Anyways, that's how a book is written, happening in spurts and pieces of inspiration, and forgetting to blog about it the day before.

Friday's word count- 4,748
Yesterday's word count- 4,481
Today's word count- 5,034 (split between two chapter)

why I'm a writer

2010-01-28T16:44:00.000-08:00

Is because of days like this.

Just when the words roll off my fingertips, and I feel like it's blessed.

I wrote one long chapter today, then read it, and was so pleased!

I'll excerpt a bit, just because I can. They're my words, as much as anything's mine.

And just give thanks for being gifted with this treasure!!

Today's word count- 5,702

If life did change on a dime, in only innocuous moments, Holly had the fortune to be handed three such occasions. The first had occurred last Friday when Miles asked her to dance. The second had been when he jumped into his Mustang and followed her home. The third was there in the parking lot. While she fumbled with her keys to unlock her car, she dropped them, her trembling body loose and uncooperative.

That allowed Miles the time to leave a pile of cash on the table, then to scramble outside. If she’d been able to get right in her car, or if he’d had to use a credit card, their lives would have crossed in that week, then moved onto other paths. As it was, due to her shaking fingers and his speed of movements, one more moment brought them together.

“Holly, HOLLY! Wait, god please wait!”

His voice crossed through the parking lot, scaring her worse than his hand on her arm Monday morning. She bent down, reaching her hands along the cement, only seeking her keys.

He joined her and it was there that bodies once again met, hands touching the ground, his crouched thighs along hers. His large upper torso pressed into her back, and Holly tried to stand.

“I, no, this’s, I,” she stuttered, making no sense.

“Holly, what, what’d I do?”

As she got on her feet, Miles did too, inches apart from the other. Her keys were in his hand, and she only stared at them. Her keys, her life, and back to her it would return.

“Miles, it’s no good. You’re too young and I want, oh shit.” She kicked a tire with her shoe, then began to cry. “Miles, I’m in a different place in my life. You’ve got this new career and school if you want and you’re young and we just want different things.”

“What things, Holly, I love you!”

“Oh god,” she sighed, wiping her face with her hand. “Miles, I want to get married, have kids, have a life with someone who wants all those things too. I’ll be thirty in a few years, god, that sounds so fucking old!” She laughed, then cried some more. “Miles, you’re twenty-two for god’s sake. You’re just getting your feet wet, you know, in life, in work, in everything. It’s just not what I want, I mean...”

“Holly, you have no idea what I want!”

Other sounds were heard, that of cars, conversations, the night in Los Angeles. One of a cool breeze similar to what floated around them this time a week ago, when he wanted to see her out of the club, wanted her number. Ended up following her home, but how in the world did he expect her to change her mind.

“Okay Miles, you tell me. You tell me what you want. But I know it, because you guys are all the same. Someone to sleep with, someone to shack up with for a little while, while you figure out the next job, the next scam. The next chick lined up for when this relationship gets too close to the bone. When I get too needy or whiny or start talking about kids or marriage or settling down. Then it all goes to shit because you’re only a kid and I’m looking at the backside of thirty and…”

He kissed her then, not what she’d expected at all. What Holly assumed was he’d sheepishly agree, hand her back those damn keys, and she’d drive home cursing ever going to The Waterhole with Sigourney last week. It had been great for Siggy and Graham, but was only turning out to be a fiasco for Holly and Miles.

Except that his kiss was on her mouth, warm, tender, only his lips, soft and so intimate that Holly could barely stand. Only his arms kept her upright, for they were now around her, and as he ended the kiss, his voice found her ear.

“Holly, you’re talking to someone who does want all the same as you. Believe it or not, the last thing I’m looking for is a one night stand.”

She felt dizzy, a little ill. Not enough to bring up her lasagna, and she only reached for his scar. “How do they hide it?”

“Who?” he asked, still with his arms around her.

“The makeup guys. Or gals,” and she giggled. “How, how do they do it?”

“They don’t. It’s written into my character.”

“It is?”

“Yeah, just like you are.”

“I am?” she breathed.

He nodded, pulling her close. “Oh yeah Holly. My god, I can’t imagine living without you!”

Standing against him, Holly wanted to cry, but didn’t. He was, Miles was trembling, clutching to her, his tears not quiet. Only his voice was muted, repeating that sentence, whispering it in her ear.

not quite as sluggish

2010-01-27T17:27:00.000-08:00

A good bunch of work today, and I felt more alert, which was lovely!

Tomorrow I think I know what I'm going to write, and what has been surprising is how Holly and Siggy's cat has come into the story.

One never knows how things will evolve...

Today's word count- 4,045

tired of 3.45 AM

2010-01-26T16:48:00.000-08:00

Or 4 AM or 4.30 AM. Tonight I'd like to sleep a long, long time...

For the last two to three weeks I've been waking early. Really early. Today was probably the earliest in a while. I didn't think it was quite that early, I thought it was 4.45 AM. Instead it was an hour before that. All morning I was sluggish, blah. The writing came, but man it felt like pulling some teeth.

I did get my walk this morning, then it rained once I was working, which was fine, but I didn't have to walk in the precipitation!

This is one of those January stories that sort of falls out of my head, in no real cohesive manner. This one might be longer than the previous two January efforts, but then maybe not. I won't know until it's over.

Right now it's chugging along, and hopefully more sleep tonight will see me in a better frame of mind tomorrow. Hope, hope, hope!

Today's word count- 4,385

and I'm off...

2010-01-25T13:52:00.000-08:00

So first day in, and I had one paragraph down when the pest control people called. Only one small paragraph, but those even tinier ants need to be stopped in their tracks. I sorted a time for tomorrow, hopefully Bob will be home by then. If nothing else they're not coming until the afternoon, leaving my morning free for writing.

Today went well, especially after I spent half an hour going over what in the world was going to happen and when. This story's been set aside by a contest entry that needed my attention, but as the writing began today, I didn't need to worry. Bits and bobs were flying about, plenty to hold my attention. I realized this morning that the first few chapters, maybe even as many as eight or nine, come one day at a time, only because I'm getting a grip on the story. Then as I know the way, I write more, two, even three chapters in a day. It's been like that for a while now, the longer I write, the more is written.

So only one chapter today was fine. Just getting this story underway, no rush. And once the ants are gone, I'll be ever so much happier!

Today's word count- 4,244

more is coming!

2010-01-16T20:54:00.001-08:00

This morning, driving back from the Fremont BART station, I was talking out some of the characters, and I came up with one cool bit, then a few more...

I've written them down, so they're not lost, but it only makes me more excited to write, aware of pieces falling into place!

I only have to remember to note that one of the Dan's and Miles both are aware of what's happening, even though they have no concrete proof in their hands.

Only on faith do they take these things. And maybe I have written it down, right here!

what one Dan looks like

2010-01-14T13:10:00.001-08:00

There are two Dan's in this story, really. Today I saw a photo which encompasses what one of them looks like, sort of similar to the other one, but just different enough that if you saw them together, you'd not think they were twins.

One Dan is a red head, so in the book that will help distinguish them, but in the photos both are brunettes. That's fine, as I slap a red shock of hair over the one, and call it good.

here we go!

2010-01-04T08:54:00.000-08:00

This idea has been around since the end of last year, but I was still puzzling over it, as well as two others, of which do NOT have blogs yet. But this one does.

It began as Lane's story, hers and the two Dans. Then more followed, Miles and Holland and with a few necessary tunes, things began to jell. I'm feeling like this might be the next book, commencing at the end of the month, but that's still to be decided. If nothing else, I wanted to go ahead and plop this here, yet one more idea. How many have come and gone over the last year, eighteen months, heck, over the last fifteen years?

Too many! But suffice to say, I feel like this story will be written, only a matter of time...