Coming to a close...

I'm almost there. Tomorrow I will be starting on the last four scenes of the book. I am so excited. Although I can see so many places for this story to be improved, and I can there is going to be a lot of work done in the second draft, I really love this story. I don't think with any of the other novels I have written I have ever had this satisfaction when I came close to finishing. With all the rest I was relieved to have it finished, just because I hated it so much (But I am too stubborn not to finish :P) but this novel is so different. I love it, well not all of it, but there are a lot of aspects that I am very happy with!

The same goes with Poison, though I'm not yet close enough to the end to see if it is as fulfilling. That can wait until next week ^.^

So close!

1.5 Chapters left

I wrote another 7,000 words today, which was pretty cool. I got Chapter 35 complete and part of Chapter 36. That just leaves me to finish chapter 36 tomorrow and Chapter 37 Sunday and I will be finished!

Gosh it's been a long time in the coming but it is so close. My word count is way larger than I thought it would be. Though I'm sure it won't reach 200,000 words. Maybe 190,000 there isn't all that much left to write.

Then I can do some short stories and take a breather until I begin doing another novel. ^^ Hopefully by then I will have another job as well.

Three Chapters to go!

I finished Chapter 33 and Chapter 34 today. Wrote 8,154 words, which was again another big day. Tomorrow is going to be a big day as well. So far I have 180,000 words and so I'm guessing, judging by how many Chapters I have left, I'm going to have about 195,000 words of story when I finally finish. Which is quite a bit more than I planned for.

The finish however is looming near, which makes me more hopeful. I applied for three jobs today, and resubmitted my profile in the businesses here in little port. It amazed me that there were actually vacancies. Hopefully I will be able to get a new job then. My current one isn't giving me enough work, but if I can balance two, then I will be able to save some for Uni ^^So that will be good.

I'm just so excited! Soon (Next Thursday) I will have a clean plate so I can begin on some new works and a couple of short stories. I like writing short stories here and there. ^^ It'll also give me some time to concentrate on How to think Sideways and begin coming up with some ideas for that I've already got a few in mind. They're still fantasy, but a little different from my usual style. Though I also want to try for an entirely different genre during this course. Maybe a full on romance? That could be fun, I can already feel the possibilities.

Getting so close!

Wrote another 2,232 words today on Pirates of Hcallaec. That brought me to the end of Chapter 32, which means only five more left to go. Which works out to be roughly 25,000 more words, give or take. I'm pleased to say that I have stuck to my schedule perfectly so far, and so I'm confident that I will have this done by Sunday, February 1st.

That means I can go onto Poison, and I'm sure that I can get that done by next Thursday, February 5th. That will give me the rest of the time to get some more done with Irvine's story, which is really starting to make my fingers itch. It will also give me plenty of time to let Poison sit before NaNoEdMo starts in March.

Another good day of Progress

I wrote 4,156 words today and was able to finish Chapter 31 and get halfway through Chapter 32. Which means only 5 and a half chapters left until I'm finished. So excited.

So far I have stuck pretty well to my schedule. I've hit my goal everyday. Let's just hope it stays that way, especially since Thursday and Sunday are going to be big days. Tomorrow's not too bad. I have only planned to do 2 scenes, so that's pretty easy. One in the morning, one in the afternoon.

7 Chapters to go...

The countdown is on now. I spent most of today writing, and I have to say it was a pretty productive day. I wrote 11,500 words and got two whole chapters finished. Now I only have seven more to go. The end is getting ever closer, which is making me really excited ^^

The Middle comes to an End

Finally I have finished the middle of Pirates of Hcallaec, and am on to the End. Now I just have to let things escalate in the final battle, resolve everything, and tie up all the lose ends. This is the fun bit, where all the tension is coming in!

Once this novel is complete, I can finish my NaNo novel, which will hopefully by finished in time for NaNoEdMo. Though it's no big deal if it isn't, I've still got Beneath Ice that I could work on if I have nothing else this march. (Shudders at the thought of going through the pile of slush that is Beneath Ice)

Tomorrow I plan on getting hooked into the next two chapters, Chapter 29 and 30. I will leave Thursday and Sunday open to do more than just a few scenes, and that means that hopefully, if every thing goes according to plan, I will be finished this novel by the end of next week. Which will be good because that gives me time for everything else! ^^

The Middle is almost finished!

Today was a good day for writing. I got everything I needed to get done around the house, plus I still had time to get down a few scenes. I ended up getting 8,945 words which got me to the end of Chapter 27 in the book. Which means that I have one more chapter before the middle is completely finished and I can move onto the end of the book. Which will be good.

I only have ten more chapters left, and over the next few weeks I plan on really beginning to pump out the words. Tomorrow I want to get Chapter 28 finished. And on Sunday I plan on getting 29 and 30 finished. So it shouldn't be much longer before I finish the first draft of Pirates of Hcallaec. I'm aiming for the end of February, which means I'll be a whole month in front of the original deadline I gave myself, and then I can finish NaNo before I begin to write the novel I'm planning to write during Holly Lisle's How to think Sideways course. ^^

So far so good...

So I had a bit of a block. I thought I got rid of it before, but the writing progress has only just come back to me. I adjusted my goals so that I now aim for 2 scenes a day instead of 5000 words, which even I can see was a little steep.

I'm not even going to bother about focusing on Poison until I have finished writing Pirates of Hcallaec, it drains my mind jumping from one to the other, but I am determined to finish it as soon as I have written the last word for Pirates.

I've also done a bit more on the planning of Irvine's story. Since I finally bought Holly Lisle's How to think Sideways course, which may I say is awesome, I have been working on that story. It will give me something to write whilst editing Poison and Pirates.

Anyways, for today I aim to get to 135,000 words on Pirates of Hcallaec. Which means I have to write 2,550. So... off to write, and then to read, and then to bed. ^^

Edit
Reached my goal, ended up writing 2663 words tonight, which also means that Chapter 25 is now complete. Now tomorrow I get to write in Elicia's POV again. ^^

A Darkness Forged in Fire - Chris Evans

I just finished the first book on my TBR list this morning, and I have to say it was absolutely awesome. I really recommend this book. The characters are charming and witty, making me laugh on many an occasion. I fell in love with the story line, and in the more intense moments of the book found myself holding my breath in anticipation. I also had many sleepless nights in a row. Not so good for my beauty sleep. ^.^

Now that I've finished the first book on my TBR list, it's time to move onto the next one. Hopefully there will be another small review up within the next few weeks. On to My Sisters Keeper ~ Jodi Picoult!

My New Years Resolution

I know it's late, but I thought I would post it anyway. I hope to achieve everything on my list this year. ^_^

1. Finish the 2Yn course and find an agent for Pirates of Hcallaec.
   
   
2. Finish First Draft, second draft, and final edits for Poison
   
   
3. Plan out Irvine's story.
   
   
4. Plan and write novel for NaNo `09
   
   
5. Get 500,000 words for WriYe `09
   
   
6. Complete TBR List
   
   • A Darkness Forged in Fire ~ Chris Evans
   • My Sister's Keeper ~ Jodi Picoult
   • Harshini ~ Jennifer Fallon
   • Curse of the Mistwraithe ~ Janny Wurts
   • First King of Shannara ~ Terry Brooks
   • Tower of Ravens ~ Kate Forsythe
   • Odalisque ~ Fiona McIntosh
   • Fool's Errand ~ Robin Hobb
   • Shapeshifter's Song ~ Jennifer Roberson
   • Ring of the Slave Prince ~ Bjarne Reuter
   • Eclipse ~ Stephanie Meyer
     
     
7. Lose 5Kg throughout the year.
   
   
8. Sell at least one piece of writing; either short story or novel.
   
   
9. Change to more healthy eating patterns
   
   
10. Exercise at least 4 times a week (Preferably horse riding in order to both improve myself and the performance of my horse Ozzie.)
    
    
11. Begin Planning Book Two (The Dead Isles) of the War of Meadeit Trilogy.
    
    
12. Get ready and be prepared for Uni in 2010.
    

Word count Marathon

I signed up for this to encourage me to get off my butt and work a bit more on 'Poison'. I don't think that I am going to be able to get much further with 'Pirates of Hcallaec' if I don't hurry up and finish this. Besides that will give me something to practice editing on as well. ^.^

I'm aiming for 10k with this Marathon, which should get me through a good two chapters.

Edit ::

Aim -- 10k
Progress -- 5,018
Words left -- 4,982

Unknown Snippet

I was going through one of my folders earlier, and I found a single paragraph, something I wrote so long ago that I can't remember what it was for. Curiosity has begun to plague me, there is so many possibilities for it.

Anstice stared into the depths of his eyes. He seemed so pure with every word that he spoke. She felt herself drawn to his silken words. She knew that it was wrong to trust him, he was, after all, a government official charged with hunting her down to kill her.

TBR 2009

I was going through my bookshelves yesterday, after I added, yet another addition to my already full collection of books, and I decided I have to get off my butt and begin reading again. I mean over the year I've read things, but only small parts, and have been jumping from book to book. I haven't really finished any of the books in there.

So this morning I went through my selves and made note of all the books with bookmarks in them. So that I can finish a little bit of reading over the next year. I have 11 that I started on, and never actually finished. It's rather sad actually, seeing as they are all books that I have been enjoying reading, I just find another one and begin to read it instead. Jumping between them depending on what mood I'm in. Next year I'm going to get out of that bad habit I got myself into. Now I have a bit more time on my hands (Though I am applying for a new job. Hopefully I will be able to get the 5am to 10am shift everyday, which will free up my day for sure).

My New Years Resolution (So it's a bit early, but I want to get started now, :P) To finish my TBR

TBR

- A Darkness Forged in Fire by Chris Evans
- My Sister's keeper by Jodi Picoult
- Harshini by Jennifer Fallon
- Curse of the Mistwraithe by Janny Wurts
- Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer
- First King of Shannara by Terry Brooks
- Tower of Ravens by Kate Forsyth
- Odaisque by Fiona McIntosh
- Fool's Errand by Robin Hobb
- Shapechangers Song by Jennifer Roberson
- The ring of the slave Prince by Bjarne Reuter

Selected by the Gods -- Story of Adela and Luken

I finished this story some time ago now, and I have tried twice now to edit it with no huge success. Tonight, I begin again. This time will be different. This time I will sit down, and attack this story.

I've never been real good with edits. Never actually been able to sit down and seriously begin on changes. I can see where they are now. Since doing 2yn my whole view on writing has changed. I am going to have to edit 'Pirates of Hcallaec' in fact I already now can see bits and pieces that I really need to change and rework in the next section.

Working on 'Selected by the Gods' should give me a little experience with the labors of second draft and editing. I am going to really work at it this time. Not go half arsed at it as I usually do!

Uni

Last month I got a letter telling me I had been accepted into UNE, through early entry.

Today I got a letter telling me I have been given an offer through UAC for UNE, and a form to send back for my acceptance.

Now I am eagerly awaiting my enrollment forms which will come in soon. I'm so excited. I got into the exact course that I wanted through early entry, and my HSC results aren't even out yet. It is such a relief to know that I will be going to Uni, and the one that I really wanted to go to as well!

I'm absolutely esstatic!

WriYe

Just found this, WriYe it looks interesting. It is a year long NaNo, only you chose your word count and it isn't just for one novel, it's for as many as you like during the year. Sounds like a whole lot of fun, will really keep one motivated.

Though it is a lot like the one on forward motion, so I'm not sure if I will actually join this year, think I'll sus it out first ^^

Edit :: What the heck, I signed up anyways, ^.^ I aim for 500,000 words over 2009. This is the same length for the one on FM, so I guess it would still count. Anyways, with all the novels I have planned to do next year, I'll definitely get enough. After all I only have to write 1370 per day, 9590 per week and 41667 per month. Easy! (Well at least it's looking easy at the moment.) At least it will keep me going!

Australia

Last time I went to the movies was to see The dark knight. I didn't think I would ever see another movie that rivaled it, nor 10,000 BC. Tonight I went to see Australia, and my breath was taken away!

Hugh Jackman was the perfect pick for the real Auzzie man! *drools* and Nicole Kidman was a very good choice as well! But my favorite character was the little boy who played Nullah, the very soul of the movie.

Seeing that movie just made my night. It was so good, and is definitely up there in my top fave movies!

2yn

I was looking at what assignment we are up to in 2yn, and I realised that we are almost finished the course, only 4 lessons left for this year. It makes me really excited. The year just went soo fast!

Seeing the link for sign ups for next year, and all the people that are joining gives me a lot of nostalgia and really brings me back. I can still remember waiting for weeks until the course started. >.< Reminds me of just how far we've come. :P

Progress

Wrote a whole chapter on Pirates of Hcallaec today. Also reached 100,310 words. Which means the hard yard is done. Not much longer to go only 69,690 words to be exact, which really doesn't seem to be that much, Not hard to reach at all!

Also finished Chapter 18 of Pirates of Hcallaec. That means, provided I don't add anymore chapters which is bound to happen at least once, I only have 18 more chapters to go!