The Hunter's Journal

So, last night, while I was trying to pass out asleep, and failing horribly, my brain started rewriting Knights of Orion. Meaning, there's another rewrite in the works. My brain is working on it as I sit here and try to write this journal entry.

I cannot believe this, but there's another rewrite, because I cannot let it go. Then, maybe a sub.

I have begun the next draft of KoO. I have something to go back and remove that just didn't work. I thought it would, but on further reflection, it just doesn't. Meaning that it has to go.

So, this blog is about to become all about drafting this damned thing.

Then, hopefully, come November, it'll become all about the NaNo. For now, I'm going to go start on KoO again:

Ever have those moments, while writing, where just go "FUCK ME WHAT?"

This is one of those moments.



The edit of Knights of Orion with my editing notes added to it is completely done.

Completely. Done.

The rewrite is in August. But for now, I'm going to go open a beer. I think I've earned it.

I didn't post last night, but I did edit yesterday. Once I have handled responsibilities for the morning, I will head up to my spot and edit again. But, to keep everyone up to date, I'm posting a graphic this morning.



I was going to hope to have it done next week. Unfortunately, I don't think that'll happen. Especially since I have to take at least tomorrow off and possibly Sunday as well. Today, however, seeing as I am taking the weekend off, I will work extra hard. Probably no Dragon Age at all, until tonight. The day will be spent with the editing.

Yesterday, I had plans with a friend. We went out to this awesome little coffee shop/bistro thing. There was geekery and talking and all that stuff.

Unfortunately, that meant no editing yesterday. (And no Dragon Age as a consequence)

However! That really set me in gear for today. Today, I jumped right back into the computer chair and began editing again.

I've done three scenes so far today, and will probably do a fourth before bed tonight. So, things are chugging along rather nicely.

The break - which used to just kill my drive - has done wonders for me.

So, to keep an update:



43 pages left. Tonight, that'll change. For now, I've earned a couple hours of Dragon Age.

Edit: 4:01pm

So, I'm still on a roll. I got three more scenes done today. Three on a Sunday.

Tonight is all about the Dragon Age.

To keep everyone up to date:



Almost 60%! Another scene and life might be golden. Tonight, though, I'm just playing my game. Now, to fix dinner.

Lately, I've been very bad about editing. Not only have I barley been home - seriously, last weekend was a wash, as was Monday, Tuesday and yesterday - but when I've been home, I've been exhausted and wanting nothing more than sleep and relaxation.

However, with a small rearrangement of my bedroom - hence giving me an actual computer desk - I managed to sit down and do some editing today. Not a lot, but it did finish off one scene, and that's progress. Which is the important thing.

So, right now, I'm on page 69 of 153. That - for those playing along at home - means 84 pages left. I'm hoping to get a bit more done today as well.

Also, I've begun reading again. I gave up on a book because sometimes you just can't get into it. I'm sure it's a lovely book, but it's just not what I want to read right now.

I'm going back to editing. Maybe, I'll get a few more pages done. I'm hoping anyway.



... I need a new graph where I can substitute "words" for "pages".

Edit: I did end up going back to the editing. Real life, of course, intruded in the middle, but I did get it done. And now I'm going to play Dragon Age: Origins, because I deserve it!

Perhaps one of the most memorable parts of writing a story is the names. It's certainly what's usually the most memorable thing to the reader. Say the name Draco and what pops to mind? What about the name Edward? How about Anita? Or even the name Logan?

They are memorable names. Plain in the real world, throwing them into fiction has given them a new layer and made them into something more.

Choosing these names is often an agonising process. A name that fits the personality of the character but also fits into the world that you're attempting to create among the pages that you're writing. Obviously, if you use the real world, you have some leeway with what names you use. We've all heard unusual names. Some of us may even have them. Depending on the country you use as your setting, you can even have a little girl named Faith living next to a little boy named Achmed-Akeem.

If you use a world of your creation, however, you need to be slightly more careful. Why? Because unless you establish a diversity among your populace, then, you cannot have Thom the blacksmith in one house and Frenkilinskowich the butcher. It just doesn't work, and takes the suspension of belief just a little too far.

As a writer, unless a name sits up and says "HERE I AM" to me, oftentimes I use something we call 'placeholder names'. Meaning names that can be used for the character, until a "real" name sits up and smacks us in the nose with a rolled up newspaper. (Hey, sometimes writers can be a little dense when it comes to our stories. Especially our characters. And any writer who tells you any different - with a straight face - should be read immediately, because obviously they have storytelling skills.)

These names can be anything from a number, to something that describes them. It's rather amusing to reread the names and try to figure out what to really call them. Sometimes, the characters even grow into the "temporary name" that was given them.

Right now, I'm editing a work that I've been working on for far too long. And one of the things that has come up is that a lot - if not all - of the names need to be changed. As I'm slowly going through it (and it's so damned SLOW trust me) little pieces of names keep popping up here and there. I'm not sure if I'll use any of them, but perhaps, when I take a break later, I'll work on changing the names, just so I can have something ever so different, and it'll be one more thing crossed off the to do list for this story.

Now, back to editing.

I read a lot of author's blogs. GRRM, Gaiman, KVTaylor, and Jim Hines to name a few.

The one thing I've noticed is that always seemed to have a lot to say about their writing. Me? I don't. If you're looking for some in depth talking about process, or something that acts like a "Guide to Writing" it isn't going to be found here.

I was conditioned at a very early age to not talk about my writing and although I am over thirty, I still retain that. Word counts are safer as are websites, and the little tricks I find out to get me writing/submitting.

So that's a lot of what you will find here, and why my posts will, on average be rather short. I don't want to bore you, or tell you that X is happening in my life unless it pertains to my writing, and that, only if I feel comfortable enough to relate it.

My posts may be short, but never deny that I struggle every day with pouring out what is going on with my writing.

(Though, lately, with the vertigo, I have to admit that the writing is getting curtailed in favour of lying around like a lump. Heh.)

Today, however, my writing did pick up again. Sometimes, lying around and reading random books can be a good thing.

Yesterday, I attempted to rejoin the word wars, and regain my momentum with getting KoO done.

It just wasn't happening. So, instead of forcing it, I backed off. Last night and this morning I pulled out an old book of mine, and began reading. It's a collection of short, erotic, stories.

This morning, while lying down, I was suddenly struck by inspiration. I suddenly knew what had to be done and how to do it.

And in 90 minutes I wrote 3k+ words, finally. They just flowed, and finally appeared on the screen where they were supposed to be. I never would have thought of erotica to be an inspiration for dragon sci-fi/fantasy.

However, I will not argue. The words getting down is the most important part.

Right now, the vertigo's gotten bad again, but I know I did those words and for the most part, they are good.

I'm very happy with them. So, I will give you a small sample:

Grey wetness cloaked him in cold. He stood still, golden scales dulled by the lack of light. Looking off to the southeast, he didn't move. A part of his mind and heart moved down there, exploring a supply depot that they'd found.

Two days ago, men and women stood in his spot, soldiers doing their duty, and prepared to fight if necessary. They'd probably never thought it would be necessary.

The wind swirled through the greyness, and rustled his wings. Sapphire blue eyes remained trained on the southeast. He didn't want to divert his attention, for fear that he'd miss something. Behind him a rock shifted and he turned his head, snake-fast and silent. Nothing stirred the winter chill above the cavern he'd collapsed, after killing the soldiers.

Cold rain and sleet drifted down from the sky, creating an ice-layer over his scales. Still, he didn't move.

This is what inspiration does. I am not going to argue with it.

I need to get lunch and maybe poke it again, see what happens.

Not tonight for the word wars again. I think I'm coming down with something.

But, I did get over 2k done this morning in the word wars when I participated. They seem to really be helping in the area of actually getting the work done.

However, I ended up cutting out a scene that, previously, I had thought to keep. Unfortunately, I looked at it today and just couldn't see the reason for keeping it any longer.

So, it got cut, and the plot is now moving along a little bit better pace than it had been before. I'm kinda glad I cut it, actually.

So, tonight's update is a bit sparse, but I'm really not feeling well. I'm not even going to add a counter.

Time for bed, and anime.