When I joined ROW80 a couple weeks ago, I thought I’d be writing with a bunch of people I didn’t know.
Silly me.
My blogger-friends Sheri Larsen and Margo Berendsen have joined me, and we’ll be linking our posts on Tuesdays as a way to stay accountable for our progress (here’s the official linky for check-in #2 for ROW80).
I’ve been plotting and researching like crazy, and finally sat down to write the rough draft of Sekrit Project yesterday. Did I mention I love first drafts?
I LOVE FIRST DRAFTS!
Ahem.
Apparently, the heady rush of drafting is even more intense when I’ve already plotted my way through the book. I’ve always been a pantser (irony, given my background), but I’m finding the up-front work on the story structure has made my appetite for telling the story even stronger, not less. Your mileage may vary on this, and I know lots of writers for whom plotting kills their creativity. Not so for me.
Now that I’ve finally opened the floodgate, we’ll see how long the momentum lasts. But for now, it’s all gleeful story creation. And I’m excited to have Sheri and Margo along for the ride.
Check out Sheri’s Progress Here
Check out Margo’s Progress Here
Goal: Finish the rough draft of my Sekrit Middle Grade Fantasy novel by June 14th.
Here’s my Word-o-Meter for Sekrit Project (increments are 5k):
google.load(‘visualization’, ‘1’, {packages: [‘gauge’]});
var gauge;
var gaugeData;
var gaugeOptions;
function drawGauge() {
gaugeData = new google.visualization.DataTable();
gaugeData.addColumn(‘number’, ‘Sekrit MS’);
gaugeData.addRows(1);
gaugeData.setCell(0, 0, 120);
gauge = new google.visualization.Gauge(document.getElementById(‘gauge’));
gaugeOptions = {
min: 0,
max: 60000,
greenFrom: 45000,
greenTo: 50000,
yellowFrom: 50000,
yellowTo: 60000,
minorTicks: 3
};
gaugeData.setValue(0, 0, 2442);
gauge.draw(gaugeData, gaugeOptions);
}
function changeTemp(dir) {
gaugeData.setValue(0, 1, gaugeData.getValue(0, 1) + dir * 20);
gauge.draw(gaugeData, gaugeOptions);
}
google.setOnLoadCallback(drawGauge);
Check back next Tuesday for our progress updates!
p.s. For those of you who can’t see through the Cloak of Invisibility that my Word-o-Meter has on, I’ve logged 2442 words toward my 50-60k goal.
teeheehee. your wordometer is invisible to me, but i'm sure you've made some progress. π HOORAY for drafting! whoo hoo!!!!
i think i might try outlining one of these novels i want to write, but i've never done that and it scares me! eeks! good to hear that you are lovin' it! type on good lady, type on!!! π
Thank you for including me, Susan! I loved doing the word-o-meter for my first draft, but now that I'm revising, I'm not sure what to do. I think I will try to divide my revision tasks up into week-long increments and do a chart based on that.
I am the same as you, I LOVE FIRST DRAFTS and esp. after outlining. In fact I'm still using my outline, just now I've plumped it up to include all sorts of character-building and plot-building notes.
Go, go, go! And good luck!
Can't wait to hear more about it.
@Aspiring Gak! Sorry you can't see the Word-o-Meter. I'm not sure what's wrong, because I can see it – but basically I've logged 2442 words toward my 50-60k goal. Thanks for the encouragement!
@Margo Charting sounds like a good way to go! Yeah, I'm sure my outline's going to get some revisions too, but it's certainly got me pumped to start!
@Becky Thanks!! π
I still don't like first drafts, but I feel the way you do about planning: the spots I planned out the best are the easiest and most fun to write.
Good luck with your project!
Yay!! Progress is so cool, and yes…first drafts rock. They free us up. I'm looking forward, after the ROW80 is completed, to work on a new project. Thanks for the linky, Susan, and for working with me!!
Good luck, Susan!!!
@Adam Thanks! It's great fun already… π
@Sheri Looking forward to seeing your stuff! π
@Lisa Thanks for stopping by, Lisa! π
I should have known you guys were in cahoots! π You're all so sweet. GOOD LUCK with the sekrit project (picture that said like Igor would say it).
I like first drafts too, especially when I can just sit and write and not worry about commitments that tear me away in the middle of writing a scene or building tension. BTW, the commitments are named Ben, Will & Abby π
Good luck!
Amazing. Writing a novel AND inventing a cloak of inivisibility? Wow. I mean, I had trouble just getting out of bed this morning.
@LisaGG Igor is awesome. π
@Kai Those are great commitments to have!!
@Bryan As with all good inventions, this one was entirely accidental.
Rock on, Sue! You can do it! I just passed 50k on my MG fantasy I started at beginning of April. That first draft flow is just unstoppable right now. Of course, who knows what kind of mess I'll have when I hit my goal of 60k. lol….
Good job!! Ever since joining ROW80, I've made a ton of progress on my WIP too. I'm blogging my weekly check-in tomorrow.
Funny that you say you love first drafts because I think I hate them! Okay, hate is a strong word. It could be that I've been working on mine for way too long but I can't wait to be done with this draft and move onto revisions. Hope to get there by the end of ROW80. π
@PK Thanks! Go, go, go til you get to the end! You're going rockin' fast! π
@Ghenet I think people are either drafters or revisers, visionists or revisionists. But, really, we all have to do both. Good luck!
Hmm, I think I finally understand the appeal of being a plotter. Now that I'm editing, it really is exciting to see bits of the story fall into place, even though I know the end now. Though I still love the heady rush of being a pantster on a first draft!
@Deniz I had to go through a few books before I understood the plotting thing too. Now, knowing the ending makes it even more cool! π
Hmmm, this sounds exciting. I've been stalling on getting back into my WIP, so I might have to check it out!
that is so cool, and how neat that you and Sheri get to work together!!! I'm looking forward to great things~ π xoxo
@Joanne You are more than welcome to join us for Tuesday check-ins! π
@LTM Straight-out best thing about blogging is meeting cool people you get to work with (like Sheri. And you!). π
Woo hoo! Sekrit project is officially born. Congrats!
Progress = Good. Keep it going.
@Leisha And coincidentally, I've been waiting for this baby about 9 months. π LOL
@Natasha Thanks!
Your word-o-meter is impressive, Susan. I'd love to join you for your Tues. check in. Have to put some pressure on myself or let the book write itself. π
@CLee Awesome! We'll have our own mini-linky going! #Ilovetheblogosphere