Works in Progress

This is a list of the seven (7!) novels that I have in some stage of progress. They are listed in order of word count:

* Identity (formerly Wanted) -- 100K words, manuscript complete. Needs a re-write to update the technology used. I also need to revisit Wayne's spiritual life, and make sure his character arc makes sense and that there is appropriate change for him. Target is the CBA marketplace.

* Nowhere Man -- 62K words. I really dig this story and the characters, but have been stuck for years on one plot point. I just need to write through this point, finish it up, and then fix it in the re-write. But I just can't do it.

* A Hero Over His Head -- Down to 47K words, after the first batch of edits on what I did for NaNo. I like this story, the idea of a futuristic superhero story for the CBA marketplace. I have only the barest-bones of plot outlines for what ahppens next, but I don't have the specific worked out -- it's a thriller/mystery, so the specifics of the plot (how they capture the bad guy) is actually pretty important.

* NorthCross -- 35K words. The very first novel I ever started, another superhero thing. I include it here just because I would like to eventually pick it up again. But it is last in the priority list.

* Country Church -- 31K words. I like the theme of this one, and I have the basic plot outline, and most of the characters introduced. I am not passionate about it, but it may have the best CBA market appeal.

* CUL8R -- 22K words. Again, I dig the theme, and the few main charactes I have come up with work. But it is a long way from being ready to got much further.

* Power in the Blood -- 19K words. A Christian vampire story set around 2040, what else can be said? I have the general plot outline for the major characters, and like the thematic elements.

Working on Writing Summary

I am gathering all my works in progress, just to get a feel of where I am in each one, for purposes of analyzing each one in context of the others.

Which to continue? Which to trash? Which to shelve for a while?

2009 in Review

I started the revision process for Identity, but did not get that far. I even had a crit partner, but was woefully poor in sending him stuff. I just odn't know if that story is the one that's going to work. I do have some changes to it in mind, so perhaps it could work.

I was more successful with NaNo, knocking out 50K of that novel, about halfway done. That is the story I am more excited about writing, but it is definitely less marketable.

But I did get back on the horse for writing, if you will, so that is a good thing. If nothing else, I am writing again. And that is good.

NaNo update, one-third report

I have managed to live up to the name of this blog this Novemeber, getting in every day at least 1,000 words. Of course for NaNo you need to average 1,667 per day, and I have struggled to get that far each day.

But after ten days, when the cumulative quota is 16,667 words, I have knocked out 16,902. Not too far ahead, but a little ahead.

My concern is that I have just about run out of my outline -- maybe 4 or 5 more scenes. I have the greater character arc in my head, but I need to figure out how to get us from here to there.

NaNo log-line

A Hero Over His Head

In 2065, Gus Fuller is barely making a living as a low-level government-employed superhero. But when disaster decimates the ranks of superheroes worldwide, Gus finds himself thrown into responsibilities and situations well beyond his abiliites and experience.

Another year, another novel

I am dong NaNo again, National Novel Writing Month. I did it first in 2002, and a few times since then. I am hoping for a kickstart to get myself back in writing mode, where writing is higher on the priority list than it has been the last few eyars.

New Crit Partner

I have found a new reader, a crit partner who has a fantasy novel very far along.

This is good news, and gives me more motivation for the re-write. Gabe is anxious to read, and I did have to send him the first 4 chapters of the old version ... but now I have good reason to re-write the rest, so he has the "best version" to work on.

Thinking about revision

Maybe it's just rationalization, maybe it's not.

But I'm thinking that Identity needs another revision, that maybe Leila needs as much POV-time as Wayne, that maybe it's her story as much as his.

But that would necessitate putting off conference and agent hunt till 2010. Of course, maybe by then the economy will have turned around enough that it will have a better chance ........

Don't know.

writer's block?

It's more like reviser's block, and it is definitely a psychological thing on my part.

In the ____ number of months since I last posted about Identity, I have accomplised a few things, most notably going through Sally Stuart's Market Guide and finding a dozen or so potential agents and publishers for the novel.

But I have not finished the stupid outline yet ... I cruised through chapter 39 (of 40), but it has sat there ever since. I am paralyzed, unable to do the last chapter.

Identity Update

I am stuck in the synopsis process. The last few weeks have gotten busy, as the end of the quarter has snuck up on me, as it always does this time of year.

The synopsis currently covers 32 of the 40 chapters. My goal is get to 36 by next Thursday (Final Exam day), and then all 40 by Thanksgiving. Then ..... all of December is for editing the synopsis.

I am shooting for 2 writing conferences next year -- the big one is in Colorado in September, and I will try to hit one more before that. But early in '09, I'll start the agent search.