Archive for February, 2014

Million Word Challenge: Week Eight

Posted: February 26, 2014 in writing, writing update
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The last week I didn’t get as much done as I should have.  Occasionally these things happen, which is why I went hard at the beginning to bank extra words, so to speak, to cover such periods.  But I picked up in the last couple of days, finishing off one rewrite (the thirteenth) and a new rough draft of over 16,000 words.  By the time the rewrite is done it will probably be closer to 20,000.

Block 1: Target: 3500 words. Output: 3745.  Overall total: 30175 (Target: 28000).

Block 2: Target: 7000 words.  Output: 5489. Overall total: 56523 (Target: 56000).

Block 3: Target: 10500 words. Output: 11084.  Overall total: 108758 (Target: 84000).

2014 total to date: 195456 (Target: 168000).  Daily average: 3429 words.

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Diving Into An Ancient City

Posted: February 21, 2014 in History
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Have you every wanted to dive to ancient city lost beneath the waves?  No, I’m not talking about Atlantis here.  I’m talking about a city sunk beneath the waters deliberately by man.  I’m not talking about the Aswan Dam in Egypt either, but a place in China.

In 1959, a hydroelectric scheme in China created the Qiandao Lake (literally the Thousand Island Lake).  In the process of doing so, it sunk an ancient city, called Shi Cheng (Lion City), which was founded somewhere between 25 to 200 AD, to a depth of between 25 and 40 metres.

Now enterprising types are offering tourist dives to see the city.  If I ever go to China, it is certainly a place I’d like to visit.

Australia, despite its young age as a nation, is not without its abandoned settlements.  Many of this are from the Gold Rush era, quickly springing into existence, and just as quickly fading away.  As the population has become more urbanised, it has continued on.  I’ve walked in a few of these places, and there is a melancholy air to them.  These were places people lived, worked and loved, and now only the memories remain.  I can only imagine diving in such a place would be even more so.

And as a writer, sunken cities are filled with all sorts of possibilities…

Million Word Challenge: Week Seven

Posted: February 19, 2014 in writing, writing update
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It is not long now and we will be two months into the year.  I’ve fallen beside on some things I would have liked to accomplish, but the word count continues to churn along.  This week saw the minimum done to hit my targets, but hopefully that can pick up again soon.  Another rewrite was finished, meaning there are now eleven stories that need a final proof read then covers etc.  There are two more rough drafts getting close to completion as well, one drifting towards novella territory.

Block 1: Target: 3500 words. Output: 3725.  Overall total: 26430 (Target: 24500).

Block 2: Target: 7000 words.  Output: 7139. Overall total: 51034 (Target: 49000).

Block 3: Target: 10500 words. Output: 10846.  Overall total: 97674 (Target: 73500).

2014 total to date: 175138(Target: 147000).  Daily average: 3574 words.

The Illustrated Ainulindale

Posted: February 18, 2014 in Art, fantasy, Reading
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As I may have mentioned before, one of my favourite books is JRR Tolkien’s The Silmarillion.  It is in fact a collection of stories, telling the history of Middle Earth, the first one being the Ainulindale – The Music of the Ainur –  being an account of the creation of Arda.

An artist by the name of Evan Palmer has produced a 54 page watercolour comic of the Ainulindale, and it is rather stunning.  Well worth a look for those fans of The Silmarillion like me.

Million Word Challenge: Week Six

Posted: February 12, 2014 in writing, writing update
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I had a mix of good days and poor days writing wise this week, but in the end it all managed to even out and I remain ahead of track to complete the 1,000,000 word goal this year.  Finished off another rewrite and another rough draft.

Block 1: Target: 3500 words. Output: 3677.  Overall total: 22705(Target: 21000).

Block 2: Target: 7000 words.  Output: 7023. Overall total: 43895(Target: 42000).

Block 3: Target: 10500 words. Output: 10522.  Overall total: 86828(Target: 63000).

2014 total to date: 153428 (Target: 126000).  Daily average: 3653 words.

Million Word Challenge: Week Five

Posted: February 5, 2014 in writing, writing update
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This week didn’t go as well as it could have.  Still got writing done, but a couple of days of work ate up some of the time.  I fell short on the rewrite quota for the week, but the words in the bank have kept me ahead.

 

Block 1: Target: 3500 words. Output: 3702.  Overall total: 19028 (Target: 17500).

Block 2: Target: 7000 words.  Output: 7139. Overall total: 36872 (Target: 35000).

Block 3: Target: 10500 words. Output: 9078.  Overall total: 76306 (Target: 52500).

2014 total to date: 132735 (Target: 105000).  Daily average: 3792 words.

 

January Report

Posted: February 1, 2014 in Peregrine and Blade, writing, writing update
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January is now over and it is time to take stock of the last month.

In terms of writing, I have never done more.  The grand total was 120203 words written.  Those were split the following way.

16878 words were written on the background notes for the epic fantasy series I’ve started working on.  That covers the history leading up to around the time the books will be starting.  From now the notes will be a little more detailed and will start to sketch the outlines of the stories.

32769 words were on rough drafts and outlines.  I wrote up short outlines for 14 stories, as well as finishing off 2 previously started rough drafts and completing 2 new rough drafts of short fiction.

70556 words were of rewrites of old rough drafts.  I now have 1 novella, 6 novelettes and 2 short stories finished, with another 2 novelettes in the process of being rewritten.  Those are split between three of my short fiction series – The Chronicles of the White Bull, The Deeds of Peregrine and Blade and The Adventures of Sir Richard Hammerman.

During this month I hope to proofread/edit them, get them covers and publish them.