When I wrapped up Camp NaNoWriMo, I told myself I would have 35k written by June 20th (that, coincidentally, is my birthday and it seems like as good a deadline as any). I’m going to one-up that. I want to reach 50k by then and have a finished draft by the end of July. After that, I’ll let Cassiel simmer and go back to working on the edits for my other manuscript. That’s the plan and I’m sticking to it!
Adventures in re-writing, part 3
this writer is sooo tired
I’ve been a very bad noveler. I’ve not checked in as often as I told myself I would … but the words are coming along and that’s what counts, right? Right now, I just plodded through a morning writing session and managed a little over a thousand words. The story itself is moving at a faster pace than it did in the previous draft, but my writing itself has slowed down to a snail’s pace. Them fingers are tired! Actually, I’m tired all over. Since the move, Didymus the Cat has become very demanding and has recently discovered the joys of waking me up between 3 and 4 am. And making me get up right when my alarm rings. I feel that I’m barely able to keep myself going on most days… and there’s work and workouts and life in general to contend with. I need a break sometimes and it seems I’ve been taking them more often than not. However, I am more than halfway to 50k, though I’m sure this will be a 60-70k novel. I’m trying to keep it within a reasonable word count for a historical YA, but a story is a story and sometimes it takes more to spin it than a measly 50,000 words.
Going historical was definitely the right thing to do. It’s allowed me to create a much more believable narrative (or so I tell myself), and the research gives me something to do when I’m too tired to right while still keeping me in a writing frame of mind. I do miss working on Anúna, however. These are two entirely different novels, so the one remains in the back of my mind even as I make progress with Cassiel. I told myself I would edit Anúna on the weekends, but that really hasn’t happened and I’m starting to think it will be best to continue writing and go back to editing while I let Cassiel sit (and marinade! go, terrible cooking metaphors!)
So that’s what’s happening in writing land. I need a nap. And I need to get to work. TTYL!
Cassiel, rewrite draft 1 (total word goal)
About Cassiel (an impromptu synopsis)
Her family dead and her life in shambles, sixteen-year-old Cassiel Loriett is placed in the care of Mrs. Maywoods, who loves to parade her around as the ideal charity case. But there’s more behind what happened to her family than Cassiel knows and the only way to find out is to solve the mystery herself. With the help of a few loyal sidekicks, of course.
A YA historical mystery set in late Victorian England.
A re-write in progress…
Follow my Cassiel writing updates here: http://things-she-said.org/tag/cassiel/
Camp NaNoWriMo – Endings and Beginnings
I met my Camp NaNo word goal of 20k on Saturday night! Now, the real fun begins as I move forward with the rewrite and get back to editing Anúna. At the same time. This will prove maddening (but satisfying!). I miss my other story, but I’m also really excited about the direction Cassiel is taking. Ack! So many plots!
In the meantime, I’m going to try to enjoy my mini-break week in Orlando for the Florida Library Association conference, and make the best of my kitty cat and family-free time (I miss them already!). And I’m really going to try to stick to writing while away. Promise.
a vlog! oh my! a Camp NaNo update
Can it be? Yes, an update on my Camp NaNo progress! A quick vlog on my progress and all the writerly excitement this entails. Also, a special appearance by Tiny!Khaleesi.
Filmed on my phone so pardon the quality (sheer laziness, I tell you). Enjoy 
On writing and researching… The Cassiel blogs part 1 from Gricel on Vimeo.
Holy colors, batman!
Ran my first Color Run! I’ve been so eager to join one and now I have and I feel all energized and pumped! Yeah! And it was over some pretty rocky terrain too, so my legs feel all floaty. I got splashed with plenty of yellow and some red and pink, but it was the red that was the hardest to wash off… and let’s not speak of the clothes soaking in my tub. Pity the boy though, he had a red packet and decided to dump what was left of it on himself. He’s in for a long soak.
Adventures in re-writing, part 2
CampNaNoWrimo has taught two incredibly important things about my writing.
1. Sometimes re-writing is the only way to revise a story.
2. After much whining and hand-wringing, I have to accept that Cassiel really is a historical novel. I’m doing myself a disservice as a writer by copping out with an alternate universe setting. Victorian England, be kind to me. It’s been a while since I’ve delved into your histories.
Much thanks to @alexyuschik and @JennyPerinovic for wise words and reality checks <3
in which I become the girl who surprises herself
running in the early morn. it’s what i do.
I have officially become that person. The person who gets up early and goes running in crap weather, freezing her bum off in tiny tights and a sweatshirt because the idea of not running is worse than the alternative. Yep. Five years ago, this would’ve been laughable. Me, run? No way. The most activity I was getting was trudging around campus from class to class with a massive backpack (seriously though, it was kind of a daily workout). However, now I find the idea of going further and running longer to be the best goal ever. Running a 5k last year really put me in the mood for more…. so I’ve got two lined up for this month and started training in January to improve my time. Am I the sort of person who can run the whole thing straight through? Not yet. Will I? Perhaps some day. Do I want to? You have no idea.
Stamina! That’s all I need. And some inspiration. I’m now a Runner’s World subscriber. How’s that for inspiration?
