A Whole New Siiiiiiite (Reprise)

So I'm working on a new site design. If it all goes well, I'll have a shiny new site soon. And, if that's the case, this blog will fall into obscurity. The new site will be at www.klkerr.com

Go have a look, if you want. Not much there at the mo. Just a copy of this blog and some random, screwed up pages.

Enjoy!

Gasp, Gasp, Pant

I'm very tired right now and just want to go sleepy bye bye, but as it's kind of a big deal for me, let's just mentioned this small thing, which is, oh yes, IGOTTOFIFTYTHOUSANDWORDSTONIGHT.

That is all.

I will post more after I've slept.

The Home Stretch

So NaNoWriMo is drawing to a close. As of today I am within the closing 9,000 words (What?! Over 9000! ...OK, I promised myself I wouldn't go there, but how many chances am I going to get that opportunity in the future?). As far as the story has gone, it's not finished. Not even close. But that's not the point. I see the end of the tunnel, and the light is bright, and warm, and welcoming, and the light for a winner. Which I will be. In 9,000 words.

I have almost 30,000 words waiting from the old draft to eventually be merged into the work I have done this month, which will be my first job once I've verified my word count. Since many of the scenes in that draft were re-written as part of Nano, I imagine the end result will most likely be a 20-25k addition, if that. There was a lot of crap in there. There's a lot of crap in this new draft, too, but I'll work on that next month.

Taking part in this has taught me a lot. Mostly, it's taught me that I don't like deadlines. I have been this way for a long time, which is probably why I will never succeed at traditional publishing. The more I get pressured into doing something, the less I want to do it. The expectation is too much. I aim low, then anything extra is a bonus. But let's not put too much of a negative slant on that.

The main thing I'm going to take away from this experience is that it is okay to produce a terrible first draft. It's more than acceptable, in fact. All that has mattered is that you have your ideas, stuck them in a pot, and thrown something out there. If it's crap, it's crap. That's what editing is there for! The important stuff can come next month, when you can trawl back through the mess and pick out the good bits, the really good bits, and throw away the other 40,000 words. And hey, you have a really superawesome mini novella. What are we calling it? NaNoEdMo? Can't wait!

It was also a great experience to be able to share with thousands of other people via that technological behemoth that is Twitter. Listening to hundreds of people talk about the same things I am is like having an entire support group at your back:

"Hello, my name is Kat, and I want to write books."
"Hi Kat."

It has also reminded me to sort through my iTunes catalogue some time. The amount of times I was stopped from some incredible prose (including right now, where I'm bring interrupted by the Power Rangers theme, which is only made of pure awesome so we can excuse that) because the music went from some fierce techno rap metal to Ludovico Einaudi (both of which I love, but it doesn't help when you're trying to write a bloody, stabby, fangy action scene and Le Onde fills your senses with nothing but sheer serenity). Kind of ruins your flow for a minute while you skip back to some Spineshank or Skinny Puppy.

And lastly, it has reminded me that I do get a lot of support for this thing I call a hobby (but let's face it: it is a bit more like an obsession). I have a better half who makes me cups of tea and doesn't complain that I won't come and sit with him for a while because I'm still a few hundred words behind count for the day. My family show me the best support they're able to, which is great for a group of people who don't even like vampires. My real life friends, for what ones there are out there, are interested when I chat on about vampires and the end of the world and whatnot. Or at least they pretend to be. I don't care if they're being genuine, only that they humour me. Same goes for my "online" friends, the Facebook and MySpace and more recently Twitter folks, and let's not forget the World of Warcraft people (I'll be back with you soon, guise, I promise!).

And so, with 4 days and 8,713 words to go: I thank you all, power to the people and all that, and I'll see you all at the finish line!

Farewell, Newsletter!

So I'm removing any connection to the newsletter on this site. Why?

Laziness.

Well, a few reasons. Laziness, funnily enough, isn't one of them.

Mostly, it's because I've realised I don't like it. I've never been a good salesperson, especially when it comes to something I actually have a personal stake in (teehee, stake). Some people can do that, bang on and on about their products, but people are smart. Soon enough they'll either buy whatever Joe Bloggs is selling because he keeps hammering on about it (and I expect they'll be in the minority there), or alternatively they'll mark Joe Blogg's e-mails as spam, and hey ho, they'll never hear from him again.

I have other avenues to update people on the work I'm doing. Or lack thereof. I shouldn't be shoving it down their throats. And I know I talk about buying this and that on here, too, but that's different.

A blog is like a virtual "drop by", whereby you sit down and catch up with me before shooting off again. The emphasis being on you there.

You're coming to me, I'm not coming to you.

You're thinking "I wonder what Kat's been up to since I last looked". I'm not banging down your door shouting "remember me, huh, huh?!".

I'm also taking off the newsletter because I'm sick of the random signup spam (I get about 10 a day signing up with jibberish names).

Another very valid reason is that it's been a good 12 - 18 months since I actually sent out a newsletter, and there hasn't really been that much more to talk about since.

So that's it. If you've found yourself on this page after trying to signup to the newsletter, I'd recommend if you're interested in keeping tabs (stalker!) on what I'm up to, to either check out this very blog, or else my Twitter page.

And yes, I am doing this because I'm trying to avoid NaNo. But hey, at least I'm avoiding writing by doing some more writing!

Ohhhhh, We're Half Way There!

Woaaaaah, Livin' on a Prayer!

(Posted this on the wrong Blog first, ahahahaha)

What was I saying? Oh, yeah, NaNo. So here we are at the halfway point. I've not done half bad (get it, half?), and am relatively sure I will have written 50,000 words by the end of the month. How good those words will be is another matter entirely, but let's concentrate on the fact that it's being done.

After a couple of shaky days mid-week leaving me behind on the count, I went into a mammoth type-fest this weekend to catch up. I'm now on par for the month, with a whole 2 words over the recommended word count.

I'm still using Write or Die to keep me moving. I've even used it in work this week, setting my 1667 word requirement in with 8 hours on the timer. I only did this once, though; it kept popping up that I wasn't writing at inappropriate times, like when I was taking support calls.

The month continues...

"The Genesis" has reached Web Stores!

And I didn't even have to do anything. I'm still not sure how the whole "International Distribution Service" from Lulu.com work, but it came included when I bought the ISBN numbers for the books. Looks like it works, as well. And in under two months. If you look at this post, back in September I was cheering because I'd had the new cover put on.

And now look at it here:

Now is that awesome or what? It's also up on Play.com, and on Amazon.com as well as Amazon.co.uk. I'm very impressed from the Distribution Service, especially when it's included in the price of getting ISBN's, which you pretty much need in order to sell a book anywhere anyway.

And check out the sales rank. 57,735. Ha! So there's only 57,734 books on Amazon that sell better than mine! I'm going up in the world!

Anyhoo, enough fawning. In NaNoWriMo news, I have fallen behind. I missed 3 days, and it's scary how quickly it adds up to big numbers to have to catch up on. I'm now on 18k, with the hope of getting to 25k before the end of the weekend.

Cross your fingers and toes for me.

Apologising to my Characters

This made me giggle when I was reading it over the NaNoWriMo forums, a post where you apologise to your MC for all the things you're inflicting on him/her this month. Link.

So I decided to do one for Michael and for Amy. And then I figured I'd carry on. It kept me entertained for a while.

(This is from the point I am at now in the story, around 13k)

Michael, I'm sorry for making you watch your mother die. I'm sorry for leaving you with Vincent. I know he can be a dick. I'm sorry I made you fight all those times, even though you weren't any good at it. You'll get better, if it helps any. And I'm sorry for killing Amy. I know it's not happened yet, but she doesn't deserve to die. I'd stop it if I could, but this is a prequel story and she's definitely dead in the future. So, yeah, sorry about that. Enjoy her while you can.

Amy. Whoo. Well, what can I say? I'm sorry for the gambling brother who ran up thousands in debt, who you supported and continued to help throughout, only for him to turn around and use you as a tradeoff with a vampire. Sorry for your job as a familiar. I know you don't like it. If it makes you feel any better, I'm thinking about killing off your brother in a really horrible and gruesome way. And I'm really, really sorry for introducing you to Michael. I know you're going to have some great times together, but really, it'll be his fault that you die.

Sonny, sorry I haven't given you more to do. It's just that other people are popping up all over the place, and - well - they've got a bit more to say than you. Hang in there. I'll find you something soon.

Chino. I guess I'm sorry that I had Vincent bring Michael to your bar, since essentially that's what kills you. But you're really the one to blame for that. You shouldn't get so hot-headed all the time.

Vincent, sorry about Michael. He's trying his best.

Sorry about your girlfriend, Richard. If it's any comfort, she was actually doing OK as a vampire. Before you killed her, anyway.

McKenzie, I'm sorry Richard's a bit of a freak.

Kyene, sorry I had vampires kill your wife.

Nathaniel, I'm sorry Kyene is your Dad.

Scout, I'm not really sorry about anything with you. Maybe that Michael and/or Vincent roughs you up a bit at some point, but you'll get over it.

Obsidian, sorry I haven't found out how to get you into the story yet.

Attilla, see what I put for Obsidian.

Catrina, sorry you're not old enough to be written into this story. Miss you!

The Fake Sound of Progress

(That's a Lost Prophets song, for anyone who thinks that sounds familiar. Link.)

So, here we are. The first week of NaNo is almost over, and I'm in the position that I pretty much figured I'd be in after a week's worth of concentrating on this.

Basically, I want to stab something. Hard. In the face.

Yes, I'm getting my daily quota done. Yes, I've done more in the last five days than I have the entire year (and possible a large chunk of last year, too). Yes, I'm finally get something done. Yes, I'm taking action.

But...

But...

It doesn't feel like I'm getting anywhere. The sound of the keys on the computer tapping out random prose of utter, utter literary vomit, is my fake sound of progress. It's a good sound, sounds productive, like something's getting done. But I still don't feel like I'm actually getting anywhere with it. The story is confusing, and one I'm not overly fond of (Vampire's Son is my least favourite of the books I have playing in my head, closely followed by Servant...most likely because neither feature Catrina in them. And I love Catrina, for as much as a Mary Sue character that she is (she scored 84...yes, 84, in the Mary Sue Litmus Test), she's still my favourite).

Well anyway, enough of the ranting. On the upside, I am still getting the thing done, even if it doesn't seem like it's going anywhere yet. I'm getting words down and forcing out scenes like angry little babies (That's to say forcing out scenes as if they were angry little babies, not forcing out scenes about angry little babies...and do I need to emphasise that they're little? Babies aren't big, are they? Well, except maybe for this fella. What was I saying? Anyway...)

I'm trying out a piece of software to help in this write forward mentality I'm trying to keep to, called Write or Die. The name, as well as the way it works, generally reminds me of Steph. Considering my 5am start idea fell through pretty much the way I thought it would (2 alarms and hungry cats weren't enough to get me out of bed), I was left with about an hour to fiddle about with getting something written. This little application made doing that a bit more apparent. Twitter Feed of WriteorDie.

It's a fun and yet panic-inducing program. The concept is simple. You set yourself a word count goal and time frame, and you click on "Write!". Aaaaaaand, you're off!

If you leave the window untouched for a little while, it turns red. If you continue to leave it, the program actually starts screaming at you. Actual screaming. Well, not screaming, more loud bleeping. Same thing. Basically, if I'm trying to multi-task and write while say watching a film, it doesn't last very long before it starts getting quite pissy, bleeping and flashing all over the place. But Hell, it doesn't half get me to keep moving. And yes, what has resulted from these writing sprint session isn't the best work I've ever done. That's what December and the editing month is for, woo!

So that's about it from this week. Maybe the story will sprout out from some more of these scenes. All I need to figure out now is how to plop Obsidian into the story without having her simply be the Deus Ex Machina.

Good times!

Get Back in Your Cage! Don't Make Me Get BlockWriter!

I am referring to my internal editor, who has already made herself very outspoken about the drivel I've churned out my attempt for NaNoWriMo so far. This early in the month, I shouldn't be having these kind of feelings. But alas, she's here already, tutting and pointing, mumbling the likes of: 'You could move that sentence over there, delete that bit there, who cares about that bit?'.

I've done well so far, well-set in the mentality that I have to just write forward. I shouldn't be re-reading really anything that I've written already; all I'll want to do is reword, replace or remove it. And I know that. It's only a draft. Even if it's shabbier than a tramps underpants, once I've it written down, at least I have something to work on. And besides, 9/10 times I come back to what I've done a few days/weeks later and think 'actually, it's not that bad'.

So anyway, I've been looking for something that will help keep me in this forward mindset, and there's a few things that have...well, without sounding too much like a cheesy advert...have enhanced my entire writing experience.

First off, there's good ol' Scrivener for the Mac, which I can't praise enough, and have done regularly. It's an amazing piece of software, which does pretty much everything I need to keep whatever I'm working on. It's like doing it the old fashioned way; you put your scraps, your hand-written (scanned in, obviously; it's not that clever), photos, videos, clippings and every other random bit of whatever that I've come across, and it stores it in a single file, which--suitably enough--is called a the Binder. It uses index cards to sort out each of your scenes, making it stupidly easy to rearrange bits that are fitted elsewhere.

The index cards are not locked to anything--you can move them around within the binder as suits your story.

There's so much more to it, as well (without going into too much of I "I Heart Scrivener" campaign or anything). It's all just so...jazzy. It was enough to make me buy TWO Macs just for this software.

So, yes, Scrivener is amazing. I worship KB (the creator) and the ground he walks on. But there is still something missing. For all its bells and whistles, I still get that nagging little voice in the back of my head telling me to go back and change something. It helps that everything is cut into scenes, as I can only see what I've literally just written, but I do still fall prey of the paragraph-by-paragraph edit.

That's where these tiiiiiiiiiny little free applications comes into play. BlockWriter was actually a piece of concept software dreamt up in the mind of Khoi Vinh, whereby your machine literally becomes like a typewriter. So you have a document, like in any text editors, but here's the thing. You can only type forward. Attempting to go back in the document just messes up the rest of your work.

What I'm doing for now is writing in BlockWriter, and when I'm done, copy/pasting it into Scrivener. That way, I'm getting the best of both worlds. There are a few drawbacks to the software, such as how it won't save in simple TXT format and instead chooses to save them in RTF and only allows it with some silly shadow effect on it, but whatever. Minor niggles that don't compare the ability to shove internal editor back in her cage and start poking her with a stick.

It works for me, at least.

Now, I have had BlockWriter for quite a while. I had it back before I started having all my problems on the MacBook, which is a good 12 months ago now. Thing is, I can't exactly remember where I got it from. I suspect KB or someone else on LiteratureandLatte might have given mocking the software up a go. Either way, the long and short of it is that I can't find a link to it. But, since it's ridiculously tiny, I've put it up on my own site: Download BlockWriter (ZIP Format) So if anyone wants it...there you go. (This one will ONLY WORK ON A MAC. Read on if you're using Windows.)

Also, there is now a version for Windows. Funnily enough, the guy who's made BlockWriter for Windows was also tempted into buying a Mac for the fact that it had this software, only later to discover that it was indeed only concept software. So what did he do? Made it himself, of course!

Since I hadn't seen this version up to this point, so I thought I'd give it a try. Basically, what you have in this version is WriteRoom for the Mac, but without the backspace button. See what I've tried to write up here:

As frustrating as it can be, it still propels you forward in the writing front, which has got to be worth something. More than that, the software is actually available for free, which you can find here: Download (.exe file) More Info

So anyway, that's what I'm trying to beat my inner editor down with. Has it worked so far? Well I'm pushing over the 2k mark for Vampire's Son on day 1, so here's hoping! It's early days yet, and only time will tell.

Oh Yeah.

Eat it.