Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Weekly Progress Report - Little Writing, Mostly Editing

Once I reached 50K on my WIP, I stalled some. I've only written about 4K since. Some of the problem stems from not knowing how to end the story. The main action of the story has already ended and I'm not sure how long I should continue the story after that. Basically all that remains is the romance aspect of the story, but I'm worried that it's too mellow after the adventure parts of the story that compromise the vast majority of what's already written. It's a little frustrating. Normally endings are the easiest part for me to write but I'm not sure how exactly to get to the end.

I've been doing a lot of editing for various editing jobs. I've edited slightly over 1,000 pages this month so far and still have more to go before the month is over. I also just received entries to judge for a contest. I really enjoy being a judge, it's a fun way to give back to the writing community but I can't believe I actually signed up to be a judge when the deadline to return the entries is after my due date. O.o My goal is to finish the entries and submit them the first week of February, well before they're due.

How goes your writing? Your reading? Seen any good movies lately? What have you been up to?


Check out some other great progress reports this week:

http://www.writersally.blogspot.com/
http://jc-martin.com/fighterwriter/
http://waibelworld.blogspot.com
http://susanfieldswriter.blogspot.com
http://skmayhew.blogspot.com/p/tuesday-wip-status.html
http://margoberendsen.blogspot.com
http://www.sherryauger.blogspot.com
http://www.susanoloier.blogspot.com
http://carrieannebrownian.wordpress.com/
http://lynneawest.blogspot.com

11 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

You know I saw Underworld: Awakening! And Attack the Block.
In both of my books, there is a whole wrap-up/ending chapter after the main action ends. So I guess you just need to figure out how to wrap it up at the end, but not stress that the action ends sooner.

S.A. Larsenッ said...

Great progress! Maybe you should end the story a little abruptly, adding some mystery to the romance. Just an idea. Sometimes that can get readers thinking about the story long after they've closed the book.

Anonymous said...

I've been stalled out, myself. I hit 67K and I know where I want to go, and I wanted to have it to at least 80K by the end of January, but time is scarce right now. I've committed myself to too much, and something had to give. I've pushed my deadline to the end of February. This was more to do with making sure I was fully committed to the story instead of just half-assing it the rest of the way.

Susan Fields said...

Good luck getting those entries judged before your due date! I just watched The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest and loved them both.

Julie said...

I say, just write it and quit thinking so much. You can always trim it down if your betas think it's too much. Personally, I like closure and time to say, awwww when the romance is in bloom and to breathe after the climax of the story.

Have a happy Tuesday!

writing and living by Richard P Hughes said...

Many books have epilogues. A philosophical ending, an ending that brings together the various issues in the book (themes, whatever) can work nicely.

Angela Brown said...

Sounds like you've probably reached a good place in your WiP for a nice, tidy wrap up. I'm sure there are other options for bringing the story to a it's best close.

Hope things go well with the judging. You are so wonderful for doing it :-)

Sarah Ahiers said...

Writing in general is going pretty good. I'm in revisions and just finished a quick line edit. Now i've got to dig into the meat a bit more before i do my second or third line edits

Tonja said...

I think it would be good to figure out the ending before you end it. :) Good luck!

Cherie Reich said...

Good luck with the writing! It's so easy to stall when you are near the end, I think. You've been an editing machine lately! Good luck getting the entries judged in time.

I've been trying to get a novel ready for ABNA (hope to enter today or tomorrow).

ali cross said...

Oh, this is a cool meme! Didn't know about this support group!

I'm sorry you're struggling with the story. I hate it when that happens. It's times like that that I really have to check my thinking brain at the door and just let the story pour from my fingertips. It might not be pretty, but it gets the job done--and I can always clean it up in revisions!

My writing's going pretty good right now. I'm on track to finish my MG fantasy by the end of the month. In the back of my mind I'm gearing myself up to return to book 2 in my published series so I can that baby out there.

So, so far so good for me!