Holly Lisle editing course - Lesson 4 (and updates)

Monday, May 27, 2013
I finished this lesson at about nine last night, so that I would have it out of the way for starting my new job today. So that means I managed it in four days, not including a read through of the instructions on Thursday. It was a pretty straight forward lesson, even I wasn't too confused about what to do.

I'm going to use this evening and tomorrow evening to knock my short story 'Monster' into shape. Then it'll be about time for lesson five, focusing on my big project 'Seeker of Truth'. Maybe I'll even get some time in there to get on with planning the series I've got in mind for my next big project.

Monster is still on schedule for publication on the 30th of June. I'll let you know if that changes. Keep an eye on this blog for extracts and cover art as they become available.

Progress

Sunday, May 26, 2013
This morning I finished my first draft of epidemic. I started it with only a vague idea of length. I knew it wouldn't be a novel, but I did have more events to put across than my shorter works. It has ended at 16,902 words. Now that is done I'm putting it aside for a big revision once my novel 'Seeker of Truth' is edited.

Epidemic is the story of the slightly antisocial Jon:

A paranoid microbiologist returns to his hometown, suspended for scaring staff about the impact of an outbreak, unfortunately he's right and must protect his town from the disease and the diseased.

Jon is a little rougher round the edges than my usual protagonists. He speaks his mind, and has no problems if feelings are hurt in the process. I've fallen a little in love with his egotistical ways, so he is being put away until maybe October or November when I can put aside the time to make his story really shine.

Next up for shining is 'Monster', the short horror story I mentioned in my last post. This is the story of Honey, a girl struggling to keep her humanity when the government lock her up for being a newly turned vampire.

It's 3.5k words long, and does contain some blood and gore. If anyone wants to beta, feel free to contact me.

My second publication

Saturday, May 25, 2013
And our winner is:

Monster. This short sits at around 3.5k words and I'm going to try and polish it up and get it ready to publish by the end of June. This will be my second short published. It contains vampires, werewolves and really more nasty creatures than I've ever put in a short story before.

So far feedback says I'm off to a good start, but it still needs major editing to make it shine. So as soon as my first draft of my novella epidemic is done I'll make a start on those edits.

Next deadline for this: 2nd of June. By this time I want to have an edited version to get feedback on. This is going to be a push since I start a new job next week, and I have like a million other things to do, but I'm going to try my darndest.

Starting editing lesson four of Holly Lisle's course

Friday, May 24, 2013
When I finish this lesson I'll be 19.05 percent through editing this novel. Yes, I'm working out percentages now. That happens when you edit things - or at least when I edit things. It's just nice to see the progress.

I've also decided that this poor novel needs a name. It's had some nicknames: 'Apate' (greek god of deception), and 'Forced Smile'. I think for now I'll call it 'Seeker of Truth'. That may end up having too much of a fantasy ring to it though, and this is a crime /sci fi novel, but I'll deal with that bridge when I come to it.

So for now Seeker of Truth is being torn apart nicely, keeping the bits that I love, because there are a lot of parts that I love about this book. I'll be able to tell you more about it as I edit it, because then I'll have a better idea of which parts I'll be taking out and which parts I'll be keeping in.

My novella 'Epidemic' is still being built. It's coming up for 16 thousand words now, but I sense it'll stop growing soon. I'm on the last scene. This is always an incredibly sad and happy moment for me. I know how it's going to end, but getting it out on paper (computer screen) with the same amount of vividness as it holds in my head is always a challenge - but a good challenge.

I'm going to try and get another short story published on amazon by the end of June, but I'm not letting it go until I'm happy with it. So that idea is more like a goal than a set in stone plan. I'll keep this blog updated.

Finished editing lesson three in Holly Lisle's course

Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Wow, this one was a doozy. Saying that, I did manage to get through it in record time: five days. Not bad, but it does mean that I won't get the next lesson for three more days.

I went through the whole manuscript again, and learned a lot. I still need to copy some of my scenes from paper to index cards, seeing as I ran out of index cards part way through, but the scenes are done.

This editing session hurt my brain a little bit, but the more I did the easier it got. I ended up with a whole load of scenes, but at least that means I got a whole load of practice.

And what am I going to do with those free days? Easy, I'm going to catch up on outling my series which I am woefully behind on, get hand cramp writing on index cards, and hopefully have time to outline and start writing a short story or two.

There is also my 'epidemic' zombish short story that I thought was going to be short, but is currently at fourteen thousand words and still going. Thankfully it's heading toward wrapping up, maybe another few thousand at the very most.

What You Wish For (Short horror story)

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Genre: Horror / supernatural (short story)

After his wife dies Willard Adikos is determined to sacrifice anything to get her back, including his daughter, but when the time comes the price may be more than he is willing to pay.

This is a short story I've been editing for a while, and I finally decided after much thought to put it out into the wide world. It contains demons, slightly demented fathers, and maybe a twist or two. Click on the amazon link below to get a preview.

Publisher: Sam Austin

Price: $0.99

Amazon link: Click here

Starting lesson three of how to revise your novel

Friday, May 17, 2013
As of minutes ago I have finished lesson two of Holly Lisle's how to revise your novel course. The second go through the draft was interesting.

After I went through it in lesson one I wanted to tear the whole thing apart and start again (looking for problems does that). This time I ended feeling more positive. There are still loads of things I want to change, but I feel this is doable.

So today I am going to read through lesson three and start that. Only twenty more lessons to complete in this course. Though I anticipate my pace will slow a little when I start my new full time job in a couple of weeks.

As for the how to write a series course I am taking alongside my revision course, last night I finished the first lesson. I'm looking forward to starting lesson two tonight. These seem to have become my treat lessons to settle down with at the end of the day. I find myself glancing up at the clock suprised to find I have spent hours on it.

So here is my progress so far: (all these titles are tentative)

Novels:

Seeker of Truth: revising session 2/22 (Due to finish 4th October 2013)
False prophet series: Planning session 1/4 (Due to finish overall planning 6th June 2013)

Shorts:

Finished:

What You Wish For (3.4k)

Editing:

Two shorts, one flash

Writing:

Epidemic (13/?k)



Lesson Two

Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Well, I have gone through my entire manuscript once. It took a while, and there were a couple days when I couldn't do any because I ran out of ink, but its over. I have finished the first lesson of Holly Lisle's editing course. Only twenty one more lessons to go.

In lesson two I get to go through the entire manuscript again. Should be fun. I am getting some ideas of how I can really polish this thing. I want to make it shine.

In other news, I'm also taking Holly Lisle's how to write a series course where I am planning out a series (pretty obvious). I've almost finished the first of four lessons, but I'm making sure I do this right. I want to do a good job.

It's difficult but fun. I'm keeping at it.

Greetings those who stumble upon this blog

Sunday, May 5, 2013
Hello everyone, I am Sam... and I am a writing addict.

I guess it all dates back to when I was a child. Books are such wonderful things and took up much of my day. As a teenager my school librarian would let me break the limit of the number of books I was alowed to take home because I would read them so fast. I much prefer books to humans.

I've started this blog because I am about to take a wonderful journey. I am about to edit a book. Not just try and edit it, but roll my sleeves up and really tear this thing apart and put it back together again.

I'm using Holly Lisle's how to revise your novel course. This consists of twenty two lessons. I hope by the end I will have learnt a lot.

I am currently on lesson one which requires me to go through my entire manuscript with a fine tooth comb. I started today and got through 70 pages. Only 408 more to go...

OK, sleeves rolled up, pens at the ready. Lets tackle this thing.