2014 in Review

Well another year is coming to a close and a quick look back is in order.

The year started out with my first book, Still Falling, moving out of second draft to editing for spelling, grammar and Alpha readers. That was followed by another revision and then it was off to the editor for a final polish. It's about 124,000 words.

It should be ready for submission in a couple weeks.

I started getting more serious about Photography this year. Like this one!

I also wrote the second book in the series, The Broken Cage. That books first draft will finish up this weekend. It should be a quicker edit. It's about 90,000 words.

I am healthier than I was this time last year. My back has healed very well. I am also about 40 pounds lighter than I was this time last year.I watch less TV and spend less time on Facebook. I write almost every day. When I am not writing I am thinking about the story.

--I wonder where I will be this time next year?

Writers Group

I already mentioned that I have joined a Scifi Writers Group near me.

I took my first chapter of my second book, The Broken Cage, for review and discussion. I received a ton of really good feedback. What makes it so good is that in addition to being writers these folks are Scifi readers!

It's very interesting how not only do they help point out things that i missed, they are asking the questions that I want the readers to wonder about.

--I highly recommend finding a writers group! Maybe even start one!

The Broken Cage

As of today the word count on Book Two of Series is 70,866.

I expect it will top out again at just over 100,000 words. That is still a couple weeks at present pace.

A lot of this story takes place on a moon with low gravity. Lots of the main characters hate low gravity. I know I would if you had to suffer it day in and day out knowing your body was getting weaker and weaker...

It's challenging to write scenes that take place in weightlessness. Done well those scenes can be awesome. Enders Game comes to mind.

--I am also starting to think about the cover for book two.

Characters

I am writing book two in this Scifi series currently.

One thing I like to do is to base characters on actual people. I have photos of some of the people that make it easier for me to visualize the characters, plot and actions.

I was lucky enough to find a model that actually fit the description of one of my characters!

This character appears briefly in book one and has a much larger role in book two.

It was fun to take casual pics. Out of the 600 or so that I took, I might have 20 that are decent.

--Writing is easier than photography!