writer – Page 46 – Meilo Zaborowski: Author

Goal Update 10/12

I will be the first to admit, this week got away from me a little. So much to do and not enough time. I finished reading Chuck Palahniuk’s Lullaby (which I INHALED, oh my god, so good), so that’s something, I guess. But I am gonna have to find some time this weekend between our local Pride event (which was AWESOME) and other obligations to finish up my homework for the week. Don’t worry, it’s not due any time soon; I’m just trying to keep on top of my online classes.

Goal 1) HTWAN story

My Goal: 505 wpd, 1515 wpw
Where I planned to be: 35350 total words
Where I am: 35708 total words
On Target or Behind: On Target

How’s It Going:
Now I’m definitely slogging. It’s like, I know stuff needs to happen, but I don’t know what or how to get me to the end I’m thinking of. (Hey, at least I sorta have an idea of an ending now, thank you Lesson 28.) I just have to keep plunking words down until either things fall in place or I can force it, and just fix it later.

Goal 2) Some Kind of Savior

My Goal: 1 lesson per month; 5 scenes per day for Lesson 18
Where I planned to be: 30 scenes finished
Where I am: 23 scenes finished
On Target or Behind: Behind, but I’m not gonna stress about it. I still have another week.

How’s It Going:
I think this could be working. As I read through what I’ve cobbled together so far, it’s… not the worst thing I’ve ever read.

And now for something completely different

NOTE: The following material is a copyrighted excerpt from raw, unedited first draft, which may contain typos and spelling or grammar errors. Please do not point out corrections or make suggestions as I will not see them during revision. Please do not quote this material, as it may not survive to final draft.

“So you’re not at home?” Magdalene’s voice had begun to shake. The operator started to say something, but at only a glance from hwer, he bit off the words.

Judith sighed over the commlink. “What did I just say, chikld?”

Magdalene tapped her commlink, ending the conversation, and looked back up at the operator. “What could toyu possibly have to say for yourself?”

“I just-” He pointed vaguely at her. “You’re bloeeding. Your hand.”

Magdalene looked down at her hands, spreading her fingers. Her nails had dug four crescent makrs into her right palm, blood trickling slowly from them. There was a bloody fingerprint on the face of her commlink.

Goal Update 10/5

How is it October already. And why is it still hotter than the surface of the sun?

Goal 1) HTWAN story

My Goal: 505 wpd, 1515 wpw
Where I planned to be: 33835 total words
Where I am: 34395 total words
On Target or Behind: On Target

How’s It Going:
Well, apparently. I felt like I was slogging, but I somehow managed to get way ahead on words? The whole process continues to confuse and astound me. Because I still have no idea how this ends. Half the time I have no idea what’s happening in the scene I’m writing. But by damn, I’m gonna write it.

Goal 2) Some Kind of Savior

My Goal: (originally) 1 lesson per month; now planning to finish Lesson 18 by 10/19
Where I planned to be: working on Lesson 18
Where I am: 10 scenes or 40 “pages” in
On Target or Behind: On Target

How’s It Going:
~~The scenes are made up and the pages don’t matter.~~ Been able to work through 5 scenes a day (though I skipped Tuesday because homework and headache… not a good mix.) Should be able to get this one in on time at this pace, though.

Goal Update 9/28

Goal 1) HTWAN story

My Goal: 505 wpd, 1515 wpw
Where I planned to be: 32320 total words
Where I am: 32566 total words
On Target or Behind: On Target

How’s It Going:
I’m getting my words, but they’re not coming easy. May have something to do with… literally everything else I have going on. Plus the daily work I’ve been doing on SKoS. Ugh.

Goal 2) Some Kind of Savior

My Goal: Step 3: Cut scenes as needed; Rework story limitations by 10/5; 1 lesson per month
Where I planned to be: Finished with Step 3
Where I am: Finished with Step 3 AND reworking limitations (9/25); starting Lesson 18 (1 of 4)
On Target or Behind: On Target

How’s It Going:
Scenes are still a bit of a trainwreck, a couple of them so bad that, short of actually cutting the paper, can’t be easily fixed on paper and I’ll have to work them out on screen. All I can do is leave myself a lot of notes, but I think I at least have a plan for them now. (I will never print double-sided ever again, I will never print double-sided ever again, I will never print double-sided ever again…)

Turns out I didn’t have to do as much reworking on my limitations as I thought; I had an old file on my computer (from November of 2013! Yes, I’ve been working on this for a long time. Man, time flies…) that had some rules I’d made already, I just had to fix the one I broke. Then quickly run through my story to make sure I followed them all.

The lesson looks easy, but it will definitely take at least a few days. Now that I’m well ahead of my plan, I’ll be taking it easier on this. No more working every day. I need some time to breathe after all this homework I’m doing for class.

Now, a reward for getting through that wall of text.

NOTE: The following material is a copyrighted excerpt from raw, unedited first draft, which may contain typos and spelling or grammar errors. Please do not point out corrections or make suggestions as I will not see them during revision. Please do not quote this material, as it may not survive to final draft.

“What in the hell?” The driver turned on the glowlight from his commlink, which provided just enough ambient light to see about a meter away. The driver saw Jordan before he could do anything and started toward him. “What have y’all done with my truck?”

“Listen, man, we’re not gonna do anything with your truck. We’re just… borrowing it for a little bit.”

The truck went over another bump, and the driver looked around him. “Y’all never unloaded.”

“Yeah, about that.”

The driver pulled something from his back pocket, something that glinted briefly in the low light. “You better start explaining real quick, buddy, or we’re gonna have problems. This truck was supposed to be unloaded completely before leaving. If anything comes up missing, I’ll be in some deep shit. You don’t wanna know what kind of trouble you’d be in.”

Goal Update 9/21

Man, classes are kicking my ass right now. Why is there so much reading?? Give me videos (that I can speed up XD) and practical labs any day. Getting it done tho, and still working on my books.

Goal 1) HTWAN story

My Goal: 505 wpd, 1515 wpw
Where I planned to be: 30805 total words
Where I am: 30980 total words
On Target or Behind: On Target

How’s It Going:
Finally got my MC out of trouble. \o/ Over the last couple weeks I’ve been working on these scenes, I realized I needed a couple in-between scenes, so I’ve started on those. It doesn’t seem like it, but I’m nearing the end here, and fast. It’s weird to think about, especially since I have… no idea how this ends yet.

Goal 2) Some Kind of Savior

My Goal: Step 2: Rewrite scene sentences; Step 3: Cut scenes as needed
Where I planned to be: Done with Step 2
Where I am: Finished Step 2 (9/18); starting Step 3
On Target or Behind: On Target

How’s It Going:
Definitely glad I gave myself more time to work on my sentences. I was really able to think through them, and I think I was able to really tighten them up, moving a few things around where they work a little better. I now have 35 distinct scene concepts that should make cutting my manuscript properly a little easier. (I just wish I had the knowledge and skill to do this the first time!)

…And after looking through a few scenes in my manuscript, yeah, this whole detour was worth it.

Goal Update 9/14

Goal 1) HTWAN story

My Goal: 505 wpd, 1515 wpw
Where I planned to be: 29290 total words
Where I am: 29367 total words
On Target or Behind: On Target

How’s It Going:
AMAZING. I had a long discussion over the weekend with a good friend of mine who works for our county sheriff’s department, which gave me some great ideas for this scene (that I discovered was more than one scene) I’ve been working on. Still not quite done with this section, but I know the direction I’m going, and it’s gonna be fun getting my MC out of trouble. Finally.

Goal 2) Some Kind of Savior

My Goal: Step 2: Rewrite scene sentences; Step 3: Cut scenes as needed
Where I planned to be: Finished with Step 2 and Step 3
Where I am: Still working on Step 2
On Target or Behind: Behind

How’s It Going:
So-so. With the pile of homework I’ve been doing, rewriting my sentences is taking me a lot longer than I anticipated (don’t judge; this is actually the hard part). So long, in fact, that I’m actually going to wiggle my goal around here.

Step 2: Rewrite scene sentences by 9/21.
Step 3: Cut scenes as needed by 9/28.
Rework story limitations by 10/5.

Where does this leave me with my lessons? The first two I need to do are quick and easy. I’m hoping by giving myself until 10/19 to do the first and 11/2 to do the second, I can get them done and still be on target to finish the last two on time. (In fact, I’m hoping I can get the first three done as quickly as possible, which will give me more time to do the last lesson, which is the final type-in.)

So, because I absolutely love these last couple of scenes, here’s a snippet.

NOTE: The following material is a copyrighted excerpt from raw, unedited first draft, which may contain typos and spelling or grammar errors. Please do not point out corrections or make suggestions as I will not see them during revision. Please do not quote this material, as it may not survive to final draft.

Jordan started walking, Lyudomila at his side. He desperately wished there was a way he could discuss plans with her without Vince catching on. “How have you been?” he asked instead.

“Getting on. My blood pressure has been up since they cancelled our exercise time. I glad to get it back.”

Jordan nodded. He wondered if it was purely the lack of exercise or if she had been cheeking more pills, to prepare for another attempt. “Me too. Hopefully it’ll go back to normal now.”

Lyudomila grinned over at him, winking where Vince couldn’t see her. “Oh, I sure it will.”

Jordan had to temper his own grin, since Vince could see his face as they turned a corner on their lap.

“What about you?” Lyudomila asked then.

“My stomach’s been a little messed up, so I hope I’m not getting sick.” Jordan’s stomach gurgled right on cue. “I’m hoping I’ll feel better tomorrow.”

There was a certain shine in Lyudomila’s eyes when she glanced up at Jordan. “Better enough to go for a run?”

“No running,” Vince announced flatly.

“It joke,” she answered with a little laugh, but Jordan had caught on.

“Probably, if I could. But Vince here is gonna be a spoilsport about it.” Jordan grinned at Vince as they passed him.