Book 3: Without a Storm

I finished the first draft of my second novel:

    The Broken Cage

I am going to take a month or so off before I go back for the second draft. I already know a lot of changes I want to make. I will also run it through my writers group for feedback. I have already reviewed my first two chapters with them for really good feedback.

Book One: Still Falling is with my editor for a final polish.

I started Book Three: Without a Storm. I am a couple chapters in already.

I also started another project that I am excited about. It contains characters and plot that was cut from book one and two. I would like for it to end up as a podcast. Extra material. A classic style Noir-Scifi-Radio-Theater!

The sections were cut out because they are all first person. Kind of first person? It would be about 45,000 words printed but I plan on it being a weekly podcast and blog. Should be big fun. I have already started rounding up the cast for it. More on this later.

--Feeling very creative.

Dinner with Writers

I had dinner tonight with 27 other writes in Washington DC. I Blame Donna Lewis.

I am hooked up with these people via meetup.com.

I am also going to another writers group on Sunday morning and then a photography group on Tuesday.

-Good stuff.

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!

Finding an Agent

When my editor has the final polish done on my novel I have decided that will will send out a few queries to agents is see if I get any interest.

Writer's Digest is a good resource for finding agents that are accepting queries from new authors.

What the hell. Why not. I can always self publish like I had been planning.

The thing is, I am getting really good feedback about the story. I have been cursed at for, enticing friends stay up late on work nights, reading my story.

Demands for the next in the series are already coming in.

I will probably finish book two in a few weeks at present pace!

--I am already at 62,000 words and counting!