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4-26-15 Sunday Word Count

greyhound candy holder
Would you believe this is a candy dish? You can remove the Greyhound’s head. Freaky.

Another week at mom’s. In the home stretch though. Not as much on the writing front as I would have liked. Here’s the Sunday Word Count.

 

How to Sex Your Snake, June Nash 1:
Genre – Mystery
New this week – 751 words
Total Count – 25,282 words
Release date:  Summer 2015 

There was a lot of editing this week. I deleted about 1000 words and then wrote them back along with the new ones.

Goals from last week: finish the book.  Well. I knew that was a long shot but it was worth a try. I am on the tail end of ch 10. (I’ve got the beats down for 7 more chapters, I did that last week.) I’m really happy with the book so far and I don’t want to rush it so I’m not going to. Because I’m still on the road through @May 16, I don’t expect to finish the book until May 31. Unless I get 3 or 4 ten hours days. I don’t see that happening till after the 16th. I’ll keep updating as things happen. 

I’ve changed the release date from late spring 2015 to early summer 2015.

Goals for next weekk: Ch 10 off to Lisa, my editor. A very good 3rd or 4th draft of ch 11, which is only notes at this point. Write at least one post from the road about something non running or writing related.  

Have a good week and write on,

Melissa

P.S. the Greyhound candy dish is from the same museum as the mustache cup.  I think it was about a foot and a half long. Greyhounds are relevant because there’s one in the book and she’s based on my late Greyhound Roxanne. I thought it was cool until the museum lady said you had to take off the head to get to the candy. After that, it was kinda creepy.

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4-19-15 Sunday Word Count

chicken in key west cafe
A chicken strolls through a cafe in Key West

Most of this week was delightfully lost to chats with mom. I only get to see her twice a year, because of how far apart we live, so I’m okay with that. And the best part is that I’ve now got notes tucked away for a novel based on one of her early careers in ’48. (mom did a lot of cool stuff including working for the FBI in DC when she was 17) Thanks to all the stories I’ve heard this past month, there is potential for a regular series. I will pencil this one in to start researching this summer.

On to the Sunday Word Count.

How to Sex Your Snake, June Nash 1:
Genre – Mystery
New this week – 1814 words
Total Count – 24,531 words
Release date: Late Spring 2015 – still on track

Goals from last week: Finish 9, 10 and 11. Get the beats done for 12.  Well, I finished ch 9 and that went to my editor, Lisa. Ch 10 is about half done and I didn’t get to 11. I did however, get all the beats down for the rest of the book. That took me two days and none of it is included in the total word count. At this point in time, it all clocks out to 17 chapters. That could change as I do the actual writing. Sometimes, a chapter will morph into several. Ch 5 became chs 5-8.  I am running out of time though. I really wanted to finish by April 26th. I’m back on the road again for 3 weeks starting the 27th and I wanted to just relax. Especially after May 4th cause I’ll finally see my husband again after 2 months apart. I kinda forget what he looks like. 

For now, I will keep the release date as still on track until next Sunday. Then I will adjust, depending on how much of the book I have left to write.  I have not checked in with the cover artist recently. I need to do that at the end of the week. And that’s it. 

Goals for Next Week: finish the book. I still have a lot to write but my outline is extremely detailed so that will make things go faster.

Have a good week and write on,

Melissa

p.s.

The photo is from a cafe in Key West. Chickens are feral on the island. The tourists love them. The locals hate them. Now that I’m away from my happy place, I miss the chickens. If we move back, I’m sure I’ll hate them after a week or so.

 

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4-12-15 Sunday Word Count

mustache tea cup
a mid 1800’s cup for mustache wearing tea drinkers.

I’m still on the road and missing the family. Right now, I’m sitting in Starbucks for the free wi-fi and I’m losing feeling in my keister so let’s get right to the word count.

How to Sex Your Snake, June Nash 1:
Genre – Mystery
New this week – 1561 words
Total Count – 22,717 words
Release date: Late Spring 2015 – still on track

Goals from last week: Finish 9 and 10 and get a good draft of 11. Well, 9 is very close to done. I have less than a page that needs to be edited. I’m just kinda stuck on one little part so I’m calling it quits for the night. I wrote most of the beats for 10 and a couple for 11. I also figured out the exact ending down to the last line and wrote the beats for the first chapter of the next book. 

Goals for next week: Finish 9, 10 and 11. Get the beats done for 12. If I can’t get through these goals I will fall behind and most likely miss my deadline of April 26th.  I do not want to miss my deadline, so I will by kicking butt this week to get through these chapters. I was a bit distracted this week and lost a whole day, yesterday to the salon. 7 hrs and 45 mins to get my hair re done. I kid you not. I’m still irked but might be able to write about it in the near future.

In the meantime write on,

Melissa

 

 

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4-5-15 Sunday Word Count

standing mia and football
Fosterdog Mia and the love of her life – her football.

I’m still on the road and missing everyone.  This has been a very good writing week so let’s get right to it.

How to Sex Your Snake, June Nash 1:
Genre – Mystery
New this week – 4143 words
Total Count – 21,156 words
Release date: Late Spring 2015 – still on track

Goals from last week: Finish ch 8. I did. Yay. Get a good first draft of 9. I did. Sort of. There are bits and pieces towards the end but all in all, it’s a good first draft. Write a blog post that had nothing to do with running or writing. I wrote about music I listen to while I run. So again, I sorta hit that mark.  Chs 7 and 8 went to my editor.  I sent some more notes to my cover artist. I hope I’m not scaring him off.

Most of my work this week was new stuff. When I finished my rough of 9, I dragged out my outline and wrote up the beats for chs 10-13.  I plotted out the rest of the book, as I was falling asleep the other night and it came out to 17 chapters but we’ll see.  It could be more. It could be less. The book is done when the story is played out.

I went to see Furious 7 for a break. It was okay. There were a couple of my God are they going to do what I think they’re going to do moments, Kurt Russel was a lovely surprise and the ending was sad. If you follow the franchise, go see it. If not, you shouldn’t feel lost. I’m on the edge of my seat waiting for the Avengers film next month.

Goals for next week: finish ch 9 and 10 and get a good first draft of 11. The book is about 2/3rd done now so it’s all downhill from here.  Have a good week.

Write on,

Melissa

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Head Bangin’

me at charlie macs
This photo has nothing to do with this post, but I like the brick wall on the side.

You haven’t really lived until you’ve heard The Way We Were done as a punk cover. Thanks to my husband,  Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies  are my go to music when I’m out on a speed run. I shaved several minutes off my previous times switching from the Four Seasons to Me First. Most noteably, it’s harder to sing along to Me First, so I just run.

The link is for tour info but You tube is full of videos. Google them.

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3-29-15 Sunday Word Count

party ferris wheel vegas
A new ferris wheel in vegas with small party rooms that go round and round instead of seats. No way for either version.

Another week at Mom’s. Lots of running and writing and I managed to drag her to see Cinderella. It was very sweet and I recommend it. Thanks to the lovely boy who kicked my seat throughout the movie, I encourage people not to take children under 6. None of the wee ones I saw that day showed any interest in the film. I think I will sneak out to the new Will Ferrell movie next. Not sure if Mom will be interested but I will try to encourage her to go.

Onto the word count. Most of the week was spent on edits. I don’t think I wrote new stuff until today.

How to Sex Your Snake, June Nash 1:
Genre – Mystery
New this week – 1540 words
Total Count – 17013 words
Release date: Late Spring 2015 – still on track

Goals from last week: final draft of chs 7 and 8. Rough of 9. Well, I finished 7 and wrote an additional 600 words on 8 and still didn’t finish it. I want to shut off my computer for the day, so I’m quitting there. I didn’t do much more than add a couple of notes to ch 9. I also chatted with my cover artist, gave him some basic ideas for what I was looking for, and he’ll get back to me with some sketches.

Goals for next week: finish that blasted ch 8. Get a good first draft of 9. Write at least one blog post that has nothing to do with writing. Or running.

I did not get to my updated Finley Wade book, which is now called, Script to Screen and Inbetween. Subtitle to follow.  Since today is the day I had planned on having it finished, I need to push it back to summer 2015. I think I will set it aside until the final draft of How to Sex Your Snake goes to the editor.  (I am on track to finish Snake on April 26th)

Warm weather is finally here. Get outside.

Write on,

Melissa

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3-22-15 Sunday Word Count

running park auburn
Pretty park near my mom.

I’m on the road, visiting my mom for a bit. The lovely photo is from the park near her place. Though it looks pretty, imagine trying to navigate a mine field of Canada Goose poop and the amorous advances of a half dozen ducks on one poor female. Those boys couldn’t get enough.

I missed my count last week because I was traveling Sunday and Monday and I didn’t write much the fist few days at my mom’s house.  This week was still an editing week so my new word count continues to be low.

How to Sex Your Snake, June Nash 1:
Genre – Mystery
New this week – 884 words
Total Count – 15,473 words
Release date: Late Spring 2015 – still on track

Goals from two weeks ago: chs 4-6 went to my beta reader who loved them (she hated the first draft) and then to my editor. Hurray!  I am almost finished with ch 7 and I have a few notes for chs 8 and 9.  I also made a couple of small adjustments to the book outline.

Goals for next week: have a final draft for chs 7 and 8. Have at least a rough draft of ch 9.

I did not work on Finley Wade updates at all so those counts remain the same.  I will try to dedicate one afternoon to that book but if things are really rolling with Snake, I will stick to that.

That’s it for now,

Write on,

Melissa

 

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3-8-15 Sunday Word Count

shock-top-grapefuit
It’s best on tap but this will do in a pinch

Blast, it’s Sunday once again.  Here are the numbers:

How to Sex Your Snake, June Nash 1:
Genre – Mystery
New this week – 1078 words
Total Count – 14,589 words
Release date: Late Spring 2015 – still on track

This is an editing week, so I’m not too concerned with word count. The book is about halfway done.

Goals from Last Week:

Finish the edit from ch 5 – I’m close. Oh so close. Ch 5 is a doozy currently at 5600 words. My editor might break this into smaller chs. We’ll see.

Put 6 into first draft shape. This poor baby is still in tatters. I didn’t even open the file.

Updates to my published script, Finley Wade:
Genre – Non fiction and Script
New this Week – 302 words
Total Count 24,154 words
Re-Release: March 31, 2015 – probably will be delayed

Again, I’m working edits.  It looks like she’ll be delayed because I still haven’t mentioned this project to my editor. Woops.  Scheduling could cause a delay. The cover for Finley wasn’t a goal, but I did talk to my artist. She did the first mockup and I realized my idea was just too busy. Going to re-think what I want and get back to her.

Goals from last week:

I worked on several of the essays in section one but I’m not happy with any of them. I’m coming across as too much of a stick in the mud and that’s not my intention. There’s lots of good stuff here, I’ve done seminars on a lot of it, so I know the audience responds. I need to look up my lecture notes and try to work some of that humor back in.

I did not watch a single Marvel movie. I’m in withdrawals.

Goals for next week:

How to Sex Your Snake – send chs 4-6 to my editor for a first look.  Ch4 is the only one ready to go. I cannot take a single day off.  ( I only wrote 3 days this past week)

Finley Wade – If I get done with my work on Snake, I’ll attack the first two essays.

Check out some drawing programs for the ipad so I can play around with an idea I have for the Finley cover.

Finish the non writing blog post I started three days ago. Gracious. I need an app that yells at me when I get distracted.

I think that’s all for now.

Write on,

Melissa

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3-1-15 Sunday Word Count

northwoods diner xmas lights in march
A blurry driveby of the diner near my house on Feb 24th.

A weekly accountability post was a great idea. Much thanks to Linda Poitevin for the tip.  She writes supernatural (very good) and romance (don’t like the genre have not read hers or anyone else’s)

How to Sex Your Snake, June Nash 1:
Genre – Mystery
New this week – 468 words
Total Count – 13,511 words
Release date: Late Spring 2015 – still on track

Goals from last week:
Finish the edit of chs 4-6. 4 is done, 5 is mostly done, 6 is in tatters. I’ll have to shut off word count when I edit. For days, I kept losing 500 words then regaining them. It felt like I wasn’t getting anything done even though I was.

I have a first draft of the blurb but no logline.

Still narrowing down the artist and I need to make a decision. I want to have the cover on the website when the first chapter goes live.

 

Updates to my published script, Finley Wade:
Genre – Non fiction and Script
New this Week – 104 words
Total Count 23,852 words
Re-Release: March 31, 2015 – still on track

Goals from last week:

The new chapters are organized into five sections. I see where I need to expand and add new material.

Part of my issue this part week has come from being stuck at home. I prefer to write in a semi noisy environment but I’m homebound thanks to a stuck fuel door on my car. My bro-in-law came over yesterday and he and the hubby took off the tire trying to get to the fuel door from the back. No luck. (and yes, we pulled that stupid cord in the trunk that is supposed to release the fuel door latch) I’ll call a repair shop on Monday and see if they can fix it.

When I called the service center at the dealership they told me it was probably covered under warrenty but since they’re an hour away and my towing coverage won’t pay for the whole trip, it looks like it will be cheaper to have the local auto shop fix it.

In the meantime, I’ll have to be a big girl and focus.

Goals for the coming week:

– How to Sex Your Snake: finish the edit of ch 5. Get ch 6 into first draft shape.

– Finley Wade Scriptbook:  Edit the essays in the first section.  Did I cover everything well enough? Do I need additional essays?

– Stop watching marvel movies.

See you on March 8th.

Write on,

Melissa

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Sunday Word Count

Foster dog Mia would rather I take her for a walk
Foster dog Mia trying to distract me with a walk

I’m going to try to keep track of my accomplishments and goals with weekly posts. I’m horribly lazy and love to lose a whole day in Netflixland.  That’s not a good thing for a writer. Holding myself publicly accountable might chase away the lazies. If nothing else, I can review the previous week and kick myself for not getting more done.

I have two current projects:

How to Sex Your Snake, June Nash 1:
Genre – Mystery
New this week – Approx 800 words
Total Count – 13,043 words
Release date: Late Spring 2015 – still on track

The first three chapters have gone back to my editor for a final pass.  Ch 1 will be available on this site soon. If you like it and want to read more, simply sign up for my book update mailing list and I’ll send you Chs 2 and 3.  The links will be available once the edit is done. I’m about halfway through my outline and currently on track to publish in late Spring.

My plan for the week – Finish Ch 6 and do a final pass on Chs 4-6 before they go to my editor. Write a log line and short blurb for the website. Narrow down an artist to create the book cover.

Updates to my published script, Finley Wade:
Genre – Non fiction and Script
New this Week – 7,558 words
Total Count 23,748 words
Re-Release: March 31, 2015 – still on track

I’m no longer making films, so I’ve decided to let that website lapse.  I’m pulling posts from my screen writing blog, rewriting them, adding new topics and compiling all into the front of the script book. The new material will include essays on script-writing, pre-production, crewing up, filming, post production and more, garnered from ten years as a no budget filmmaker and five as a literary agent.

My plan for the week: organize the posts into sections and write at least one new essay.

Thanks it for the week.  Come back on Sunday March 1st to see how I did and what I’ve got planned next.

Write on,

Melissa