What are you working on right now?

[The Big Peat]

I'm currently working on my paying job while daydreaming about potential new projects. Still feeling my way back to writing.

I have my full synopsis drafted! I know what happens in Inish Carraig: Aftermath. I am... delighted. And relieved.

Ooooh.

Have been on the internet most of the day trying to do my best with all this "publication day" tweeting and sharing and what have you, but I don't think I really have the temperament for it, and it doesn't seem to have any effect at the Amazon end anyway.

It's out there, I've done my bit and need a break from it. Maybe I'll do some kind of promotion a week or two.

For now, the football and a beer. Exhausted.

I completely missed your press release, but this post made me look for it and it sounds hella interesting. I'll try to remember to look for it tonight at home.

I'm trying to work out how to describe this book I've written. The trouble with writing exactly what you'd like to read is that you finish the story and think "Now, what the hell is this, exactly?".

But that's exciting too! Something fresh and new. You are an explorer in the great word-forest!

 

[Toby Frost]

Flailing around in the shrubbery of words!

 

[Guillermo Stitch]

I'm trying to work out how to describe this book I've written. The trouble with writing exactly what you'd like to read is that you finish the story and think "Now, what the hell is this, exactly?".

Now THIS I can relate to. I take pride in having to ask myself that question every single time. I always look forward to getting something in front of other people so THEY can tell me what it is.

Problem is, if the piece of work poses that question, it makes it all the harder, in a morbidly streamlined marketplace, to get it in front of anybody...

Still, kudos to you.

 

[Guillermo Stitch]

I'm currently working on my paying job while daydreaming about potential new projects. Still feeling my way back to writing.



Ooooh.



I completely missed your press release, but this post made me look for it and it sounds hella interesting. I'll try to remember to look for it tonight at home.



But that's exciting too! Something fresh and new. You are an explorer in the great word-forest!

Thanks! Hope you find it/are interested by it/buy several copies of it/read it/enjoy it/gift it to all your friends

 

[The Big Peat]

Thanks! Hope you find it/are interested by it/buy several copies of it/read it/enjoy it/gift it to all your friends

I completely forgot about it but have just downloaded the sample. Thank you for the reminder!

 

[ZlodeyVolk]

Flailing around in the shrubbery of words!

’ware the triffids! They've been lurking near the topiary, of late.

 

[Guillermo Stitch]

I completely forgot about it but have just downloaded the sample. Thank you for the reminder!

Just remember that at the end of the sample is where the story REALLY gets going

 

[ZlodeyVolk]

Aha! A cunning promotional ploy.

 

[Cathbad]

So, 14K words into the story, I realize it would work better in 1st Person POV.

Now to go back and make the changes before continuing. Gosh, I love making more work for myself!

 

[crystal haven]

So, 14K words into the story, I realize it would work better in 1st Person POV.

Now to go back and make the changes before continuing. Gosh, I love making more work for myself!

Ah, yes, that sounds familiar.

 

[sknox]

I hear you. I got lucky this time. In all my planning this one was going to be third person. I even had a few scenes sketched in that voice. When it came time to write seriously, somewhat though not entirely on a whim, I started out in first person. 30,000 words later and it still works, so I know it was the right choice. Got another 60k or so to go, but at least I won't have to worry about that one. *phew*

 

[Phyrebrat]

Flailing around in the shrubbery of words!

We want... a shrubbery!

So, 14K words into the story, I realize it would work better in 1st Person POV.

Now to go back and make the changes before continuing. Gosh, I love making more work for myself!

I hear you. I got lucky this time. In all my planning this one was going to be third person. I even had a few scenes sketched in that voice. When it came time to write seriously, somewhat though not entirely on a whim, I started out in first person. 30,000 words later and it still works, so I know it was the right choice. Got another 60k or so to go, but at least I won't have to worry about that one. *phew*

You two... Let me join the ranks of me too. My WIP is on its 4th First Draft if that makes sense. The first two were in first, the second was in third but with only one POV, then I joined Chrons and after much wrangling (of problems I swear would stall a Carol Vorderman), I got the help and advice I needed to re-start it fresh, completely changed, and am now relatively close to finishing draft 1 (or rather 4.1 as I've pretentiously called it in Scrivener. (Yes, @The Judge @Dan Jones I did just type that!))

I've written 12k this week and whilst I'd hoped to finish it in December, I think I might finish it far sooner. Then the brutal edits start - it's 119k so far, and I'm anticipating 150k when finished.

The thing is, today I have just reached the point I've never past before in prior attempts. It feels so refreshing and exciting to be in new territory. To be writing this bloody story (literally) as I envisioned it once and for all. Mind you, I know as soon as The Judge gets her teeth into it, my joy will turn to shame and failure.

pH

 

[thaddeus6th]

Some proofreading for someone else, which I do on a professional and very reasonably priced basis (for anyone who wants another to do the donkey work).

As an aside, it's fascinating how different writers make different types of errors. Mine tend to have homophone typos, sometimes horrendously, but I'm pretty at good at the old spelling/grammar otherwise.

 

[AlexH]

A few months ago I started a story prompted by the pale reflection of some pink, plastic roses in double glazed windows.

I'm working on the third draft of that and it's gone from 1,800 words into a 9,000 word (and counting - it will be my longest) horror/fantasy about emotional abuse. Around 5,000 words of it were three sentences of backstory in the previous draft. A year ago I never would have imagined writing about such a topic, and it's been quite tough to write in parts. I've been told there's a novel in this, but I don't really want to write a novel...

 

[thaddeus6th]

On the second chapter of the latest Sir Edric story. Took an unexpected rambly turn at the start, but think it works. Time for violence now, though.

 

[AlexH]

to a teenage girl who wants to be a wrestler.

And 8 months and 8 drafts later, it is finished! The first two drafts had a speculative element (the story no longer does), so maybe I can discount those two. Now I just need to figure out where to submit it. Coincidentally, World of Sport wrestling returned to ITV for the first time in 30+ years, and I was pretty shocked and angry to see no women's matches the first weekend. There was only one on the second programme.

I've also finished a story I only started a week ago (four drafts in a week), for this: A Punk Rock Future Anthology

 

[thaddeus6th]

Putting the finishing touches to some proofreading (available for hire, if anyone's interested), then I'll be trying to hammer a chapter of new Sir Edric stuff into a shape fit for human consumption.

One day, I might be able to get a handle on whether my own comedy is any good. But not this day.

 

[Susan Boulton]

Writing an important short story. 2500 words in, and it looks like it will be close to the 8,000 mark, as I am about maybe a quarter of a way into the story. Doing well, adding about 200 to 500 words a day, which for me is supersonic speed. Though the research has taken me a couple of months to get everything I needed nailed down. (Told you this story was important.)

One old short story to be extended and submitted.

Need to find a new home for a short story, previously published, (rights returned) which deserves a bigger audience.

Need to work on my WIP novel, but other stuff, see above more important at present.

Also;
Critiquing: one short story, done just need to type up my comments.
Critiquing: one short story started.

 

[Susan Boulton]

Weekend update.

Progress on short story : Hit 4000 words today. About half way through the story. I have the rest plotted so looking to complete it by next weekend. Taken a long time to sort out the research , and a couple of false starts, but finally getting somewhere.

One old short story to be extended and submitted. (still thinking on this.)

Need to find a new home for a short story, previously published, (rights returned) which deserves a bigger audience. (Started looking, but it was a hard one to place originally, but I love it, and want it back out there.)

Need to work on my WIP novel, but other stuff, see above more important at present. (still on the back burner, but does not hold any demons for me any more.)

Also;
Critiquing: Both short stories done. I just need to type up my comments. Quite pleased that I actually have done these. I have been finding it hard to critique other peoples' work of late. I have had so much negative feedback on my critiques in the past that I had stopped critiquing for others.

 

[SamThomas]

Considering/making the transition from historical fiction to science fiction. I have fallen in love with the endless possibilities for world-building and for using literature to write about the present.

I have a near-future, post-sea-level-rise novel in mind, but as that marinates I'm working on short stories.

• A 6000 word mystery set in the world I've imagined for my novel. (Drafted, unrevised)
• A 1000 word lark about a space probe that is finally standing up to humanity on behalf of all the other space probes that have been sent plumeting to their deaths. (Revised. Will workshop soon.)
• A 4000 word mystery with android police and human junkies. (Finished today.)

Looking forward to being a part of the community!