While I was away I managed to finish No Weak Sister. I have to research a few things because of no internet, but once that’s in, the book is out.
Total word count: 93,163
Second longest book I’ve ever written, and it feels like one of the shortest, because I did it in, what, three months?
Crazy.
I think my new tradition is to go to Cold Stone and have Ice Cream, so as soon as I mail it off, that’s what I’m gonna do. I’m playing catchup (and that last entry did not help, but it had to be typed out), but I should be working on Sex in Trade by the end of the week, and maybe I’ll even throw a chapter of Blue Collar out there. We’ll see
The work goes well. I am editing much faster now. There’s more structural stuff than I figured there would be, but it’s usually brief and easily fixed.
I figure I’ll goof with the graphic to make the illusion of anticipation, just for kicks. Ergo I’ll set a new goal of 95K, because it seems to be slowly working that way. I’m at 85K as of today.
At the current pace I’ll be done by the end of November, and I will then spend December on the graphic novel. Heeya!
In other news, if you want to get the collected trade of Female Force, the book is now OUT. I didn’t write the Palin epilogue, and the order of the books were for some reason rearranged (they should go Hillary/Sarah/Michelle/Caroline, and there is a continuity between the four), but all of the issues are there, at least, and it’s a good way to get them together!
But if that doesn’t float your boat, or if you’re looking for any one on their own, let me know, I have a few lying around, and would much prefer to send you a personalized copy, given that it’s more fun and personal.
The graphic is done being used for this book, mwu ha ha. I have reached my minimum goal.
I will continue to pop on and update the draft progress, but the circle is, uh, complete! Wootah!
Total count right now is 81,025 and rising, and I still haven’t extended the ending as I plan to with three or so scenes. Hell yeah. LIGHT AND GOOD, HOT AND SPICY, SWEET AND MEATY!, as Jeff Altman used to say.
Line of the day:
Fucking dollar store hoods think they own this damned town.
(Not followed by “NOW GET OFF MY LAWN!”, because trailers in parks lack lawns, silly.
So, I’m actually way ahead on the word count, now that I’ve looked at the last book. BCS draft 2 ended at 73,000 words, draft 3 ended at 82,000, so if things progress, then I very well could end up with a 90-95 thousand word book. Which is awesome. It’s right about at that sweet spot I wanted to be at without going too long.
I think I can do it, man. I think I’m ready. I’m gonna nail it! I’m gonna pull it off!
I hand him a beer. “Just don’t get more stupid on me. The world’s got enough stupid to fill all the barcaloungers in the mid-west, okay?”
He holds the beer and admires it, looking at the sun reflecting on the green glass. “Thanks! I’ll try.”
“That’s all we any one of us can do, kid.”
“all we any of us.” I don’t know where I got that, but I know I’ve heard it before. It’s hicktastic. And it has no comma, too. I know, because I debated it for ten solid minutes.
The slog of the last week has been shaken off. I think going over the plot with a few people and realizing that it doesn’t suck (which is harder to see when you’re this close to it) helped me get a better attitude, along with waking up a little earlier, given that I’d been waking up later (which I’m trying to avoid doing more and more, not out of a desire to conform, but mostly so my schedule lines up with the people I love).
I am now about 2/3 done with the novel’s second draft, and I anticipate at this rate I may finish this mostly grammar/expansion draft by the end of next week, not factoring in the odd scenes which may push it over. We shall see.
Not sure if it was the weekend, turning the corner on the halfway point, or what, but today was a good writing day. I added a whole scene and a bunch of words, crisped up some dialogue, and even managed to take a break in there and get my teeth cleaned and go out for coffee. Can’t complain. 3,000 words beats almost two days’ work last week.
