I’m talking Wife Novel out with Long Suffering Husband:

Me: I’m just not sure if that motivation makes sense anymore.

LSH: It does, because of [describes a scene].

Me: No, that scene isn’t in the book anymore.

LSH: OK, but there’s still [describes another scene].

Me: I cut that one too.

LSH: Yeah but [character] still…

Me: I actually combined her with [another character] when I changed everyone’s ages.

LSH (in great distress): Is anything familiar still in this book?!?!

Me: No! Don’t you see? This is tough love editing. We’re burning the whole house down to the ground and rebuilding from the ashes!

LSH: This writing stuff is too stressful for me.

Continue Reading »

Last year, I took an in depth look into my writing habits (see Looking back on past writing goals and tweaking them for the future) and, without repeating myself, I think my tweaks were good. I passed 400,000 words for the year late on 12/30 which was later than I’d hoped to but still pretty good. Though I struggled to meet it this year, I’m going to keep the 500,000 word goal for next year for two reasons:

1. I really was only 100k off from meeting it this year which is close enough to make me want to shoot for it again
2. Adding 100k to what I actually wrote this year seems a good amount to keep pushing myself
3. Even if I don’t hit it, it will push me to write more while trying to reach it like it did this year
4. There’s a random extra bonus day this year because of the leap year! Continue Reading »

It’s been almost a month since my last works in progress update! I can’t believe September is almost over, you guys. This is insanity.

I thought to schedule posts for while I was away in FL for eBay On Location but then while I was back home but really busy catching up? Nothing. Sorry about that!

I’m almost embarrassed to give you this word count update. This month has flew by and I haven’t had a lot of time to write. Let’s do the potato right up front to get it over with. Continue Reading »