Sorry for the delay in updates. I actually took a whole day off from writing yesterday. I don't recommend this. Any delay in the narrative flow is hard to recover from. I got chapters 51 and 52 done today. They have underage ex-convicts, old ladies with name-brand Japanese assault rifles, pumpkin pie, various campsites, doing the laundry, uninvited helicopters and vast acres of hemp. Put that in your pipe and don't get caught smoking it without a prescription. I am listening to Ween, drinking espresso, eating leftover casserole burritos and being damn glad I don't have to go to town today. Want to see the latest word count?
new grand total word count - 128,837
Thanks to everyone that has been reading these blogs and following my progress on this novel. I am in the early planning stages of a preview, short story, bonus, freebie, teaser, type of thing. A few thousand words of free writing to thank all my watchers, followers, commenters, and various people who have taken notice of my work in progress. Keep an eye out here for updates on this freebie. Also, if anyone with graphic art talents wants to donate some concept art or even a cover for the ebook, let me know. You can contact me at amcarpwriter -at- gmail -dot- com. Thanks again for being a reader.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Progress Report 38
Part Two is finished now! Rejoice and celebrate, invent a new folk dance and teach it to a stranger! Think I am all out of inconsequential milestones? Think again, buster. I just finished writing chapter 50. The big half C. That's one chapter done of Part Three and twenty something to go. Normal Heroes will be hitting the electronic shelves before you know it. So, grab a sharpie and make a note on the wall next to your computer. It is okay, you can take down the Cheryl Teigs poster, your mom never liked it hanging there in her basement anyway. Go ahead and buy one of those fancy new book reading gizmos from everyone's favorite evil corporation named after a river and save some room for me on your memory card. Normal Heroes is coming to get you!
Check out these word count stats while I translate this into Klingon so even your friends can read it.
new grand total word count - 124,705
Some of them are even spelled correctly.
Until my next progress report, live long and prosper, may the force be with you, to infinity and beyond, and, er, here I come to save the day!
Oooh, Mighty Mouse, nice. I am the only one that ever dreamed of a Mighty Mouse -slash- Danger Mouse international crossover blockbuster rodent-palooza?
Check out these word count stats while I translate this into Klingon so even your friends can read it.
new grand total word count - 124,705
Some of them are even spelled correctly.
Until my next progress report, live long and prosper, may the force be with you, to infinity and beyond, and, er, here I come to save the day!
Oooh, Mighty Mouse, nice. I am the only one that ever dreamed of a Mighty Mouse -slash- Danger Mouse international crossover blockbuster rodent-palooza?
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Progress Report 37
Greetings, fans of unfinished speculative fiction everywhere! I know you are all chomping at the bit to read Normal Heroes, if, for some reason, you are wearing a bit that is. What you do in the privacy of your own home is none of my business. I have another two chapters slapped on to the old manuscript. It is like a living, breathing monster, now. I woke up from a dream about two characters that aren't even in the story. I think the fact that I am dreaming in the universe of my novel is a good sign. I wonder if other writers do that. I should read their blogs. If I were younger and hipper and more machine savvy, I would have inserted some cute little smiley face made of punctuation marks back there. You will just have to imagine what that would have looked like. My punctuation marks are reserved for misuse in prose.
The latest chapter has a fake alien bartender, young octogenarians, a golf cart escape, and more international roller derby fun. Also a malfunctioning robot. If anyone thinks I am not having fun, well, they are wrong. Insert Mos Eisley Cantina song here.
new grand total word count - 117,832
Gee, Martha, that there sure is a whole heap of words, boy howdy. Keep in mind that I come from a culture where most people won't read a whole book, much less write one. The local bestseller is a photocopied guide on how to cook meth, published by the US government back in the eighties. Insert Imperial March (Darth Vader's theme) here. Let's just pretend I didn't say that last part.
The latest chapter has a fake alien bartender, young octogenarians, a golf cart escape, and more international roller derby fun. Also a malfunctioning robot. If anyone thinks I am not having fun, well, they are wrong. Insert Mos Eisley Cantina song here.
new grand total word count - 117,832
Gee, Martha, that there sure is a whole heap of words, boy howdy. Keep in mind that I come from a culture where most people won't read a whole book, much less write one. The local bestseller is a photocopied guide on how to cook meth, published by the US government back in the eighties. Insert Imperial March (Darth Vader's theme) here. Let's just pretend I didn't say that last part.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Progress Report 36
Chapters 45 and 46 are finished now. Just three more chapters and Part Two is finished. Chapter 46 has alleged cannibalism, community youth roller derby try outs, amateur medical advice, virtual dentistry, and a compound fracture. Take that, traditional speculative fiction! Tell your friends about my upcoming novel, Normal Heroes. They will thank you someday.
new grand total word count - 112,559
Think of all the paper you will save by reading my ebook only novel. It will be like paying a tree to survive. Well, the universe is trying to get my attention, so I will stop my feeble attempts at self promotional propaganda. For now...
new grand total word count - 112,559
Think of all the paper you will save by reading my ebook only novel. It will be like paying a tree to survive. Well, the universe is trying to get my attention, so I will stop my feeble attempts at self promotional propaganda. For now...
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Project Report 35
Chapter 44 is complete. Five more chapters until the end of part two and the beginning of part three. Chapter 44 has robots, cheap special effects, a luxury resort and sarcasm recognition algorithms. That last one is something today's science should really get to work on. See? You can't tell if I was being sarcastic or not, just then.
chapter 44 word count - 2416
new grand total - 107,810
Want to know what my day is like? Of course, you do! I am watching Gentlemen Broncos and eating homemade peanut butter cookies. I am drinking super strong red-eye coffee. The weather is warm and mild, I think autumn is late to the party. How is your day?
chapter 44 word count - 2416
new grand total - 107,810
Want to know what my day is like? Of course, you do! I am watching Gentlemen Broncos and eating homemade peanut butter cookies. I am drinking super strong red-eye coffee. The weather is warm and mild, I think autumn is late to the party. How is your day?
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Progress Report 34
I have been slacking off on my progress reports. Forgive me, I have been somewhat ill. Since my last report I have written two more chapters. I am also happy to announce that I finally learned how to put in page breaks. Now my manuscript looks a lot more like an actual manuscript and a grocery list of my own madness. The latest chapter has futuristic super cacti, a fishing trip, North America's oldest apartment complex and talking animals. Do these little teasers make you want to read my novel? Of course they do!
Act 2 is nearing completion. That leaves us with just one more act to get through. Then some editing and polishing. Then some paperwork. Then I will send out some free copies that hopefully someone will review. Then more paperwork. Then I publish, yay! Then I can get paid, hopefully. Or not. I will keep writing either way.
I am better at writing fiction than I am at writing blog entries. Really. Watch.
Harold was a confused boy. His mother told him to put down the dog and come to dinner. He shot the dog in the face with his dad's .45 and said, "Okay, Mom, what's for supper?"
See? A whole short story with a plot twist and everything. I could do that all day.
Act 2 is nearing completion. That leaves us with just one more act to get through. Then some editing and polishing. Then some paperwork. Then I will send out some free copies that hopefully someone will review. Then more paperwork. Then I publish, yay! Then I can get paid, hopefully. Or not. I will keep writing either way.
I am better at writing fiction than I am at writing blog entries. Really. Watch.
Harold was a confused boy. His mother told him to put down the dog and come to dinner. He shot the dog in the face with his dad's .45 and said, "Okay, Mom, what's for supper?"
See? A whole short story with a plot twist and everything. I could do that all day.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Progress Report 33
Chapter 41 is done. It is a lot of fun. There is violence, sabotage, a hostage situation, a few bowls of lukewarm gruel and some action movie style tough talk.
chapter 41 word count - 2172
new grand total - 100,705
Yet another milestone, the big 100k words. I would like to thank you all for your kind support and/or indifference. I may or may not have been able to get this far without you. Actually I would probably get more writing done if I spent a little less time trying to promote the project.
Anyway, back to work.
chapter 41 word count - 2172
new grand total - 100,705
Yet another milestone, the big 100k words. I would like to thank you all for your kind support and/or indifference. I may or may not have been able to get this far without you. Actually I would probably get more writing done if I spent a little less time trying to promote the project.
Anyway, back to work.
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