Daily Writing Check-in

[domisotto]

Yeah, I usually finish or nearly finish the book before posting, so I don't worry about the writing schedule.

With the sequel to Trapped by the Mafia, however, it suddenly showed renewed reader interest, so I am trying to add maybe a chapter a week for now on top of regular updates to the Werewolf.

I am close to finishing Werewolf & it got so little love from the readers, that I have sinned. Maybe it's wrong, but I am so tired of doing the right thing, working hard and getting nowhere. Yeah, couldn't resist.

[domisotto]

Hope things get better! 87K is huge.

[WillowTree]

Thanks
and yeah, I set my personal goal to 100k. The stress from the election had me thinking I wasn't going to reach it, then I buckled in and got several REALLY good writing days done, and now I'm back to stress not making me reach it. It's still a successful nano, but I am little disappointed I didn't get to where I wanted to be

[domisotto]

It is absolutely a successful NaNo! Take care and I hope things will be better soon.

[Undertaildoof34]

my minimum for my season 2 is 80,000 words but my thing is a story is done when it's done. Once I feel it's far enough in and ends in the way I want it I go through it a couple of times to make sure everything is good and that's it. On to the next book. I want the story to be the best version I can make it mean the moral of the story here if you feel it's done. Then it's done.

[domisotto]

I prefer that approach as well and I really dislike the word count requirements by the agents and publishers by genre.

Personally, as a reader, I actually prefer concise works at 60-80K rather than huge overblown fantasy books, particularly because they end up being unfinished even when the authors get contracts & everyone begs them for the next book.

Same with videogames. Give me an awesome 40 hours story with lots of options and I am happy, not the whole OW stuff.

but it’s not a rant for this thread.

[Undertaildoof34]

Yeah, I agree you can tell when the author has a word requirement or not. Either the story starts feeling too compacted or too spaced out to make up for the word count. Personally, that's why I think indie games that didn't have restrictions do so well. Such as Undertail or the first book of Erigon. None of those had restrictions.

[blackorchid]

Word count was a method we used to tell the difference in what kind of story we were reading.

Short-Story. 20k
Novella. 50k
Novel. 75k+
etc.

80k+ is absolutely a marvel to behold, and you should be hella proud of yourself. I am proud of you!

Don't sweat the small stuff. Really. I've been working on my baby of a series for years now. I've given up counting, because I know a lot will not get used, BUT were useful in that I learned more about my characters.

I think that series is getting into 500k territory, and countless hours researching and planning. One day, I will have enough of it to get it out there properly, but until then, I'll keep leering over my cauldron stirring.

~edit~
Also, if I may, can we all agree to stop apologizing for life and beating ourselves up for not devoting all our sanity and blood to writing? You're writers. Whether you wrote today or not. You do not have to pay tax to be a writer. You are. <3 <3

[domisotto]

Word count was a method we used to tell the difference in what kind of story we were reading.

It was. Unfortunately, it turned into the ‘Under 90K? Is it even fantasy, bro?’ And ‘Over 55K is an automatic rejection on a formula romance, dude.’

It’s hard for me, because I don’t like writing for long with the same setting and characters. I like packaging together setting and characters with a tight plot, and that almost always lands me in 60-80K book length.

And i have no interest in writing series.

In turn, it means I can’t query any of my books, because everyone needs 90K as a starting point & serialization option.

Like, okay, I know I was rejected and would be rejected even if I met correct length, but still. I just want so badly to be recognized for my writing, lol.

[Undertaildoof34]

My heart needed to hear that and I didn't even know I needed to. Yeah let's all agree to try and be nicer to ourselves.

[domisotto]

I roughly finished the last fantasy scene from the past in the book! Obviously, would need to touch up and iron it out tomorrow to make sure it hits in the quick, but I am pleased with it so far.

Next is a big romantic scene 🥰

Total words is 57.9K at the moment.

Like I said, my comfortable length is 60-80K, and that’s where the book will end up, heh.

[Zaboem]

We congratulate you on crossing that 50k mark, @domisotto.

As for my own writing, it's not been nearly as proficient. I got very busy with work over the last four days. Had car problems today which sucked up my free time and probably will for the rest of the week.So, my NaNo project is sitting at just shy of 20k with a week to go -- and what a week that will be. Seriously, November was the 11th or 12th worst possible choice to be Novel Writing Month. Next year, I think I might just start my own rebel novel writing month.

I'm just letting go of the 50k goal altogether. This was never feasible for me nor most people. The necessary padding would just get cut in the editing phase anyway. 25k or 30k would be a better fit for this story anyway.

P.S. Any publisher who rejects a book for being less than 100k is not worth anybody's time. The market trend ever since the iPad became a thing decades ago has been shifting towards novellas. They can be comfortably read within a week and fit even better into an audiobook adaptation which can be listened to during a week of lunches and-or commutes.

[MoseyP]

By some miracle from above I'm getting close to 45k. I think my story might actually hit the 60k mark, or at least come close to it.

[WolfUnderTheMoon89]

sounds good! I'm glad I have buffer for posting

[domisotto]

I came to this very same conclusion when I first saw NaNo years ago. I feel that at 5K words a week for most weeks of the year, I will stay ahead with the end result that I would find more satisfying.

[domisotto]

Yay! 60K is my favourite length. I hope you will feel happy with it too.

[domisotto]

I did not expect working 10-11 hour days 6 days a week this month. Basically, this whole year, I worked 4 days work weeks because I have to use up flexes and vacations and I am not going anywhere, b/c of COVID. And now this schedule is too brutal for my old bones. But once I can take all the outstanding days off and overtime, I will catch up... and play Valhalla.

[WolfUnderTheMoon89]

sounds like a good plan!

[blackorchid]

@domisotto

Forgive me if this sounds silly, but maybe you're looking at the wrong kinds of publishers. If you're having trouble with people who want something that they can turn into an Extended Universe, then maybe smaller, indie houses, or, short-story publishers would be better. I know there are magazine that want smaller things, though I don't know them off the top of my head.

Even still, keep plugging. It's a numbers game. As disheartening as that sound, keep poking until you get a yes.

@Undertaildoof34
Always! If you're ever feeling down, pop on back, I've got cheesy inspiration quotes for days!

[domisotto]

I don’t really want indie or self-publising, because feel it is easier and more gratifying to win the free-self-upload internet.

I dunno, I am fairly happy with the Tapas atm, even though I am disappointed with the tepid reception on my Werewolf story. Maybe I should try it on Wattpad too, but at the moment, I just don’t have the time to double post.