Here’s today’s progress on the west coast steampunk Victoriana book with zombies, air ships, toxic gas clouds, mad scientists, dead folk heroes, secret criminal societies, and Bonus! extended deleted scenes from the Civil War:
Project: The Boneshaker
New Words: 4037 (v. good)
Present Total Word Count: 117,878 words
Goal: 130,000 words by July 1st.
Observations: Behold, I waffle. Now that I look at where I am relative to where I’m going with the story, I think that 130,000 words is quite doable. My problem is that I keep distracting myself with the worldbuilding … and then suddenly I notice that I’ve gone five pages and nothing has really happened. I’m going to have to be careful with the way I handle that stuff in my revisions; I don’t want to strip the world-feel, but I need to keep the story rolling forward, too.
Things Accomplished in Real Life: More freelancery; minor grocery shopping; kitty pestering; researching. I’ve promised a certain fine independent press an air pirates novella set in my Boneshaker world, and since I’m fond of dragging historical characters through the fantasy mud, I’ve been hunting for one to play with. And … I think I’ve found somebody. No, I won’t tell you who. Not yet.
Reason for Stopping: My house is filthy, and it’s sort of a nice day outside. I think I’m going to open the windows and vacuum/dust the hell out of the premises. Maybe, if there’s time, I’ll even do a load of sheets/towels — for Maximum Springtime Freshness. Anyway, the sun is out and I don’t feel like sitting here on the couch typing anymore. I suppose it doesn’t really need to be any more complicated than that, does it?
Total Fiction Words Composed in 2008: 186,453
And I love you all, but I have most assuredly seen this news story and do not require yet another link to it. I really do appreciate all fourteen of you who thought of me and passed the article along this morning — but I have now most thoroughly read it; and future notice of this mainstream piece on steampunk aesthetics is henceforth unnecessary.
This having been said, I send my thanks to everyone who shared it — and my congratulations to Seattle locals Molly Friedrich* and Abney Park for the nod in the New York Times. Good on ya.
*
Yes, the same Molly I interviewed for Weird Tales.
No fiction writing done today, I’m afraid. I had other projects to eat my attention, but that’s just how it goes. Nonetheless, I’m pretty happy with my productivity. I’ve gotten a solid Draft Zero on one project, and finished Draft One on a second one. It took me all damn day, just about, but I’d rather get it right than rush it.
Last Night: Went to an Irish pub out in West Seattle with Aric, Ellen, and the lovely Maudelynn — who was kind enough to invite us out in the first place. Together, we were THE HELVETICA QUARTET. We successfully placed in the top three in three out of four rounds, but the MC got us on the “movie quotes” category. Last time I did the quiz (with Maudelynn alone) we ROCKED THAT MOFO. This time, strangely enough, we blew it like a birthday candle. Ah, well. There’s always next time.
Today: In addition to the freelancery, I got to go visit with Kat Richardson and serve as her personal Ferret Taxi. The divine Ms. Kat is leaving the country for a couple of weeks, and those ferrets needed some TLC from the boarding shelter at their vet’s place; so I was on the receiving end of some exceedingly cute ferret kisses before waving them goodbye. Afterwards, Kat and I did McDonald’s before calling it an afternoon. So bon voyage to you too, Kat! Take lots of pictures and collect lots of gossip and stories to share with Team Seattle upon your return!
And now, because I’ve been lax in this area lately, I give you Cat Blogging. Behold, my husband’s new desk. Behold, the feline who is strictly forbidden from going anywhere near it, for she’s been known to nibble exposed monitor and speaker cables.
Eh. Whatchagonnado?
Interstitial Arts Foundation Auctions: To celebrate the first anniversary of the release of INTERFICTIONS, the IAF has invited jewelry makers to create original pieces inspired by the stories in this ground-breaking anthology. New pieces are going up every other day, and are being auctioned off to benefit IAF beginning May 5th. Get clicking!
Apex Digest Subscription Drive: They’re serious, and they’re getting silly. Click the link to find out how the publisher is sweetening the pot for potential subscribers.
But anyway, here’s recent progress on the west coast steampunk Victoriana book with zombies, air ships, toxic gas clouds, mad scientists, dead folk heroes, secret criminal societies, and Bonus! extended deleted scenes from the Civil War:
Project: The Boneshaker
New Words: 5887 (meh, considering it’s the total over several days)
Present Total Word Count: 113,841 words
Goal: 130,000 words by July 1st.
Observations: 130,000 words might still be a low-ball guess figure. When all is said and done, dare I suggest it? 150,000 perhaps, for Draft Zero. Mind you, I can trim all this down to something more manageable. I always tend to overwrite to get my way to the meat of the story, and this is no exception. I hope I’m wrong. I hope I can keep it under control.
Things Accomplished in Real Life: Finished up freelance work from last week; went to Olympia for author playdate; did some research and did some paperwork; got sick and then more or less got better, but still feel rather run-down.
Reason for Stopping: I need to get started on another freelance project. It’s a fun one, and I’ll enjoy noodling with it, but that doesn’t change the fact that it really must get done this week. Also, I need to freshen up for tonight’s pub quiz out in West Seattle. Time to change out of jammies, make up a silly team name, and test my trivia knowledge.
Total Fiction Words Composed in 2008: 182,416