Last Word Count:
4k-ish.
Current Word Count:
7,810 (54k altogether).
WIP Issues this week:
I have had to set up my Y-File for this project. The document where I catalogue all the issues I have noticed cropping up as I write. There are many bullet points there already which is a bit demotivating but I am trying not to worry about it too much as this stage. Also, the fact that I am over 50k and not even halfway yet is a little disconcerting…
What I learnt this week in writing:
Word wars are the best. I wouldn’t have hit anywhere near the amount of words I have this week if it weren’t for all the great WIPMarathon-ers on Twitter who have been leaping at the chance of word wars.
What distracted me this week while writing:
Same as last week: work, Lego City Undercover and arranging the Book Sale.
Last 200 words:
Remember, still a first draft! I’m very much pantsing this novel and so from one moment to the next I’m not really sure where it’s going. It’s part of the fun!
She didn’t even greet us with any pleasantries, her fingers already on the falcon, moving the wing as gently as she could and wincing sympathetically as he made a distraught chirrup. Her expression changed from concern to anger as her eyes immediately found Marlaya’s, stalking across to her and pointing a finger directly in her face. “Was this your fault?”
Marlaya stared back at her with wide eyes, brain trying to catch up with the situation before she returned with her own scowl, leaning over Jenna with the few inches of height she had to her advantage. “Not that it hasn’t crossed my mind,” she hissed, “but no, it weren’t.” Jenna’s eyes were still narrowed, like she didn’t quite believe her and Marlaya just had to go and push her luck by adding, “Not really got enough meat on it to be good eatin’.” She only grinned further when Jenna looked ready to punch her in the face.
“It was rioters, Jenna,” I said, trying to break up the tension.
Her head turned to face me, her expression confused as if she wasn’t sure why I was there before clearing into a friendly smile. “Emily, hey!” I didn’t know why she seemed so surprised, I was the one that had involved her in all this, after all. She quickly turned back to Marlaya, frown once again in place as she said, “To be continued…” and then strode away to stand next to Paige and I, eyes back to scanning over Brian’s injuries.
How is everyone else getting on?
Tales of The Procrastinator 
Love the tension your creating with your characters! How long is this epic going to be??
Thanks! I have no idea how long it’s going to be at this rate. The first drafts is probably going to be over 100k but I want it to be below that if I can. I know there will be plenty to cut as I ramble quite a lot.
I agree with what you said about Word Wars. The sprints really motivated me this past week.
Also, you had some nice turn of phrases in your excerpt like, “leaning over Jenna with the few inches of height she had to her advantage” and the last sentence. I can’t wait to see how it all goes!
Happy writing!
Yep, the word wars have been great!
Thank you 😀 I also can’t wait, it’s all unfolding as I go, always throwing up new surprises.
I love the animosity on Jenna’s side. 🙂
I keep a list of revision notes, too. Though I’m weird. I actually like to see it getting longer. Lol! Don’t worry about word count. Revision fixes everything. I would love to have that problem though. I’m good at hacking stuff.
Haha, thanks. Marlaya and Jenna butt heads on every occasion they meet, it seems.
Part of me likes knowing that there are things that need fleshing out, switching around and filling in because then it means I actually have something to work with in edits but it’s going to be A LOT of work. But I am hoping that cutting stuff will be easier than if I had to add a lot.
Yes! Word wars do wonders for drafting, especially during those nasty mid-novel lulls that tend to happen! Good luck! Keep it going!
I admire your confidence in pantsing. I seriously wish I had the nerve (and the ability) to do that, but it drives me too crazy not to plan every little detail (or as many as I can anyway). Your excerpt has me all kinds of curious as to what is going on! Best of luck next week.
I planned so much of my other novel that, when I actually came to writing it, I knew where I was going all the time but it took the discovery out of it and I ended up growing bored of the process. This way, I panic all the time about what’s coming next but I like it being a surprise and having the characters lead the way rather than tell them what they should be doing.
Word wars can be a great motivator! Best of luck 🙂
Pantsing is my method of choice too! Definitely is a big part of the fun for me. It’s like going on adventure into a new world. I love discovering the characters and the world rather than creating it. Enjoy! 🙂
I love to pants and then outline. It might longer, but it’s a good way to spend time on environment and character. Congrats on hitting the 50k mark!
I developed a rough chapter breakdown so I at least had some idea of where I was heading but it basically just consists of “They meet so-and-so” and then what that actually comes down to and how I go about it is left to pantsing. It’s probably going to pose more of a probably later in the story and definitely when it comes to edits but that’s not now, so I don’t care!