Vampyr Snyper • News and Updates

A Whole New Siiiiiiite (Reprise)

2009-12-01T14:18:00.002Z

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

2009-11-29T00:52:00.004Z

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

2009-11-26T20:00:00.004Z

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!

2009-11-22T20:30:00.004Z

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!

2009-11-15T18:24:00.002Z

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!

2009-11-14T16:57:00.004Z

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

2009-11-09T14:39:00.003Z

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

2009-11-06T15:38:00.004Z

(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!

2009-11-01T18:41:00.011Z

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.

2009-11-01T01:56:00.002Z

Eat it.

It's [Almost] Time to Rock

2009-10-31T21:55:00.004Z

With just two hours to go til this weird and wonderful experience known as NaNoWriMo begins, I'm actually getting quite excited. I've never really done anything to a deadline (well, there is of course exams, but I haven't doing those for what feels like decades), and it's nice to (attempt to) bring some organisation to the chaos.

Besides, let's face it, I have been putting doing this particular writing for a looooong time.

I'm all set to go technologically. I have Scrivener setup with all the ideas I could cram into a three-hour brainstorming session, which I am now calling my plan.

Anyhoo, enough chatter. I should be resting my fingers in preparation.

Man, I hope I don't fail this too badly at this.

Good luck to anyone else who is taking part this year. I wish us all the will to succeed and the perseverance to reach our goals!

Impending DOOOOOOOOOM

2009-10-29T11:37:00.003Z

So NaNo is looming, and I'm still floundering to get a plan ready for the big launch. I've tidied my little office, I've set everything up for efficiency, and with my new Mac Mini (http://twitpic.com/n963g) I'm at least ready technologically for the event.

Mentally? I'm not even close. First of all, I've done zero (that's ZERO) on the plan. So I have a busy 3 days ahead to get something down that's at least a skeletal structure to the story. I have my scenes, you understand, just not the ropes of other chapters to tie them all together. But ho hum, I must get on. This thing isn't going to write itself, as much as I will it to.

On another note, check out Kier's new pages of "The Genesis" he's done. It's from the prologue. See Pages. Need moar pages!

That is all.

New Goal: The Vampire's Son for NaNoWriMo

2009-10-21T20:01:00.004+01:00

Other writers who read my updates may know about that little annual event known as NaNoWriMo. Those of you who don't, I'll point you in the direction of the official web site at NaNoWriMo.org, but the basic idea is that writers across the world take part in this event, which is an attempt to write an entire novel (assessed at a word count of 50,000, minimum) in a month (that's for each participant to write a novel, as opposed to the entire world to come together and produce a single novel between them (although what an awesomely mind-blowing idea that would be!)).

That's right, one month. Just one. And it's not even one of the long months. 30 days to write the next masterpiece. The rules of the "competition" (I'm using quotes because I don't intend to actually enter NaNo, for two reasons; one, because I am attempting to finish a half-finished novel, which is greatly advised against, and two, scanning over my first drafts do usually tend to suggest that they should never see the light of day) state only that you have to write at least 50,000 words from scratch in the one month you're given to do it.

Now, I've known about NaNo for a good four or more years, after an online friend of mine mentioned she was writing a book for it. Did I do anything about it, either at the time or the years following my discovery? No. No, of course I didn't.

So I was looking back over some old posts on my own blog, when I realised that I've actually had this idea in my mental pipeline since--get this--2006! Possibly even longer, if I was writing before I brought it up in my blog. So anyway, that's three years ago. Not days, weeks or months here. Whole freaking years. I did have a sudden wave of inspiration some time last year (I didn't document myself that well, which is a pain, in hindsight), where I did manage to spew out some literary vomit of a second (or was it third by this point? Who cares?) draft, after which I changed my mind entirely on the story and hacked away a good half of the manuscript. And once I'd done back, I sat back all smug and pleased with myself, unless the realisation sank in, and I thought to myself: OK, so what now?

Aaaaaaaand then I spent about six months basically dicking around doing sod all to do with writing or anything even remotely close, convincing myself that I would get to it later, and never actually getting around to doing it (I blame World of Warcraft, but more than that, I blame myself...but also World of Warcraft.). And, well, I have to get myself out of this hole I've somehow ended up in. There doesn't seem to be a better opportunity (with the exception of new year, new beginnings, etc) to pull my finger out and get to it, than the idea that literally hundreds of thousands of people will be going through the same thing.

Of course, as I've mentioned, I won't actually be entering NaNo. Why? Because of this rule. It says you have to start from scratch, which I don't want to do. Besides, I quite like what I have written in the first half of the story. It's just that pernickety little other half that's not quite so good. You know, the bit I haven't written yet?

So that's my plan. 50,000 words (or thereabouts, it's only a second half) in 30 days, averaging 1,666 (Hail, Satan!) words a day. If I'm going to get technical, I'm going to give it as working days (weekend's my time off), so that's 20 days for 50k. 2,500 words every day. Them's a lot of words.

But before that, I have to get a good plan in place. And I mean a good plan. Not the plan I have at the minute, which is brilliant again for the bits I've already done, and for the second half, we have:

- Some guys fighting

- Some slayers attacking

- Some people dying

- Some other people dying

- Some other stuff

And seriously, that's the best I have right now. But God help me, I'm working on it.

I'm even going to be investing in a new Mac Mini for the job (which I'm getting for the Scrivener software, not for the fact that it's a Mac, since my attitude towards Macs has been soured since my piece of shit MacBook fell over on me last year and lost some very important work I had done on Divided They Fall).

I have 10 days to come up with a viable plan, which not only has to make sense and be liked by yours truly, but also has to be written well enough so I can plot and plan my time and word counts to work into the days that I will be working on it.

November is soon going to be my least favourite month.

I'm so screwed. And not in a good way.

Blast from the Past!

2009-10-20T15:04:00.002+01:00

I've put up a lovely little trip down memory lane on the site, showcasing all the monstrosities and beauties that this site has been in all its forms since its inception back in 2004.

I'd like to think my abilities in HTML and design have improved at least somewhat since then.

Check them out here: Site Archive.

It's Actually Finally Here!

2009-09-24T21:46:00.002+01:00

That's right, the brand spanking new edition of The Genesis, complete with super-sexy cover courtesy of graphic artist Kier Gill, is out now.

Buy it Now!

Paperback Edition • Digital Download

Another New Design?!

2009-09-15T20:51:00.000+01:00

Yes, another new design! What're you going to do about it?

Hmm?

Exactly.

Blogger seems to be playing hide & seek with the images at the mo, so if they're not working...it's not my fault!

It's FINALLY Here (Sort of)!

2009-08-19T17:37:00.005+01:00

So I think it was about a year ago when I said I was getting someone to make some new covers for my books to go in line with the new edition of The Genesis I was working on at the time.

It's been a long wait. Was it worth it? You bet your arse it was; and it's not even the finished deal! The case is this: I desperately needed to get a new edition of The Genesis released, the old one had far too many errors and missing chunks, which were (mostly) handled in this edition. Kier is still working on the real cover, but for the time being, it will suffice quite nicely.

You can buy it now from Lulu.com: link

Belated VAMPYR SNYPER Birthday, Updates & More

2009-04-16T10:45:00.004+01:00

Hello, all!

So, first of all there's the small matter of me having started the first draft of Vampyr Snyper NINE years ago, the anniversary of which was on the 12th March. I forgot. Oops. So Happy Birthday to VS!

Now, onto the important writing stuff. Having finally read through The Vampire's Son draft, I have decided to focus on this for the foreseeable future. This is for two reasons:

One, it is in keeping with the correct order that the books are to be written/released.

Two, the work I was doing on Divided They Fall has all but been wiped when my MacBook fell over and had to be formatted. This, words can't really describe the feeling I have thinking about this. Somewhere between rage and depression, maybe.

In addition, I'm also looking at doing some small improvements to the web site, give it back some pizzaz that I think went a bit wayward when I turned it into the simplistic version we see today. I'll do my best not to cock it up, which admittedly I do tend to do when I make changes to the site.

Big waves out to everyone still out there in the abyss! I'm still here! I hope you are, too.

Stop Falling off the Planet!

2009-03-06T13:19:00.002Z

OK, so once again here I am on my writing updates page to tell you that I have in fact no updates to tell you about!

I have now received the first proofed copy of The Vampire's Son, which I am now to start my first run of revisions on. Have I done them? No. I've made some humerous remarks on the comments that were made on the document, but apart from that, nothing.

I am rather disappointed with myself, and blame my usual absent-mindedness for not doing it. I am still very easily distracted.

I am also still waiting with painful patience on the cover for the first book. As soon as I get that, I can push forward with the release of the new edition. Til then, I am sitting on my hands and waiting.

So yeah, there's my little blah. I hope that by writing this I will see the error of my ways and finally get back to doing some work...

Merry Christmas to All!

2008-12-24T13:35:00.003Z

Here's a little update on the writing front. As I have now for the most part amalgamated the old version of Divided They Fall into the new one to work around the new plan, the word count has jumped back up. Not quite to the 30,000 it was pushing towards, but it's an improvement on last week! The word count stands at 10,440 (the upload function on the blog site isn't working right now, so I can't post pictures, but I swear it's true!).

Anyhoo, just wanted to take the opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Hope Santa brings you everything you asked for (unless you were naughty, in which case I hope he poops under your tree!).

That is all.

I think I speak for everyone when I say...

2008-12-17T11:50:00.002Z

DOH!

OK, so this year hasn't been the most productive for the series. In fact, it's been a pretty monumental failure of epic proportions. At least last year, in amongst all my whining and moaning, I somehow managed to churn out something akin to a first draft of book 2.

Book 3 has forever been the thorn in the series' side. It is a dead space, wherein old alliances fall and new ones are forged, but where nothing really happens.

I have now retreated back to the comfort that is the planning stage. Doing that, I have now managed to make what seems (and I can't emphasise the word SEEMS enough at this point) a complete storyline. Due to some of the significant changes, however, it has meant that the original work I had done this year (closing in on 30,000 words at last check), is now irrelevant and, well, just completely wrong.

So I'm starting again. I am 3,000 words in and battling on. I am crossing everything that can be crossed in the hope that this time will be the last.

My new year's resolution for 2009 is to get
a first draft of "Divided They Fall" completed.

Wish me luck!

^^

Back On Track...Sort Of

2008-09-10T22:18:00.002+01:00

Yeah, so it's not brilliant, considering the time span between the last time I updated (when was it, May?) and the amount I've written, but I still consider it to be getting back in business with this book 3 lark. I have been distracted with the likes of WoW and pretty much anything else, but I am going to really give it a violent shove back to life. I still have the plan all there; it's not perfect, but first drafts and their plans never are, so I really have no excuses.

Here are my two updates...the first one I really didn't have to post, but I was proud at having written more than my daily advisory of 2,500 words, even though it was the first to have been done in months. The second one is more like what I expect to be doing in the weeks to come.

When Will I See You...Again

2008-09-10T13:52:00.002+01:00

The food standards agency ruined the poignancy of this song for me, when they released that advert last year about undercooked food and how, basically, it'll make you puke, hence 'see you again'. But, that aside, I still think it makes the point I was trying to.

You may have noticed that the web site has been changing to and fro a little recently. I get bored very easily; and I find redesigning gives me a sense of something new. But, after just over two weeks of the neon coloured monstrosity that was the web site, I have decided to go back to something more conservative. Why, you may ask. Well, because I pretty much thought it gave the wrong impression to would-be readers. I don't want anybody thinking they'd be reading about some neo-gothic cyber punk vampires.

Didn't see what the web site looked like? Here's a picture:

Not that there's anything wrong with neo-gothic cyber punks, or their fiction. It's just not Vampyr Snyper.

So I have reverted back to the design. A look back through the ages of the VS web site is going to be available shortly through the 'Misc' section, where this and many, MANY others will be displayed.

I'm Not Dead

2008-09-01T16:18:00.002+01:00

For anyone who thought I was. I'm not. I wish I could say I've been busy with the waves of writing inspiration, but that would be a lie, as usual. No, I have been wasting my time as usual on World of Warcraft, watching films, and pretty much doing anything to take my mind off writing.

I have made a little progress since my last update (I will upload that shortly); but not much. With any luck, I will be more inspired once I have received the fully finished copy of Kier Gill's graphic novel adaptation of 'The Genesis', Chapter 1.

So anyway, just letting you know I'm still alive, and the work is coming along slowly...

Updaaaaaaaate

2008-05-18T11:18:00.002+01:00

Wooo!

2008-05-04T23:53:00.000+01:00

New Preview Chapters & Proofreaders Sought

2008-04-27T16:17:00.003+01:00

A new edition of "the Genesis" is in the works, and to reflect this, there are two things:

1) New chapter 1 - 10 of the Genesis is now available from the Members' Area (you need to be a newsletter subscriber to get access to them)

2) I'm on the lookout for any willing proofreaders who can give me some time to go through the new copy before it's approved for release. Again, you need to be a newsletter subscriber to get access, and I'm giving away the ENTIRE BOOK to those who'll help me out =)

Almost A Fifth In...

2008-04-26T21:43:00.003+01:00

And you may (or may not, if you don't like me) be happy to know that it's still going well =)

The Crap Is Revolting

2008-04-21T21:39:00.006+01:00

As in 'taking a stand' as opposed to 'being digusting'...although that's true too.

Look at what I made *beams*

I mean, come on, who isn't impressed by a VAMPYR SNYPER clock?!

You can see the fruits of my labour over at CafePress:
www.cafepress.com/vampyrsnyper

'Nuther Update

2008-04-12T21:17:00.002+01:00

New Cover Concept

2008-04-10T22:00:00.002+01:00

Huzzah!

New Design

2008-04-10T15:26:00.007+01:00

Just a quickie to show off my idea for the new book cover design (left). I don't know yet whether I'll be developing this further, but I thought it was cool enough to share with you anyway.

I was thinking to keep the silhouettes uniform against either a black or relevant-coloured background (Genesis Orange, Vampire's Son Blue, etc), or to use the characters individually for their relevant stories (e.g. Catrina, centre, for books 1, 3 & 5).

Don't know where I'm going to take this, but it's a nice design, don't you think? ^^

'Tis Fixed Now

2008-04-06T13:23:00.001+01:00

Still Broken...

2008-04-05T21:26:00.002+01:00

But here's a nice progress report:

As at 5th April 2008

Look, I beat my expected daily word count, yeay! I would continue in the same vein, but I was up til 4am this morning watching season 3 of 24, so I'm pretty pooped right now.

Here's hoping it keeps going like this! Cross your fingers for me.

I've Broken the News Page

2008-04-05T14:37:00.003+01:00

Yes, so I've somehow managed to break the news page entirely. Not quite sure what's happened, but I'm looking to fix it as soon as.

In the meantime, here's the progress on Divided They Fall:

Progress on 29th march 2008

Progress on 4th April 2008

Back on Track...

2008-03-29T22:52:00.001Z

Of course, I always say that just before everything falls flat on its face, but still, I'm feeling rather optimistic this time around.

I will post my progress once my MacBook lets me upload pictures; I have written around 6,000 words since Tuesday (I took time off work to do writing; that's right, having it cut into my day job!), and today alone I've done 2,000 words at least.

I only hope that this time I will make it to the end of a complete first draft, as I have suffered previously from drafts that have made it 20,000 words in before realising that the structure is not enough to carry it to the end.

We shall see, shan't we?

Another Year, Another...Something

2008-03-12T22:48:00.002Z

Vampyr Snyper is EIGHT YEARS OLD* today.

Wish it happy birthday, everyone ^^

* The first page of what is now Vampyr Snyper: the Genesis was written on 12th march 2000. Last year's celebration: link.

So Much for Precious Time

2008-02-21T13:04:00.000Z

I can't believe that we are almost three months into 2008 already, and the amount of work that I have accumulated with regards to writing ANY of these books equates to less than three pages.

I could put it down to any number of things: procrastination, stress, lack of inspiration, laziness, lethargy...whatever name you want to give it, and the end of the day I openly admit am struggling with writing this new stuff. I don't know whether it's something to do with that little monster in the corner (Book 3, Divided They Fall) that is stopping me from enjoying the work on the new book (of which I have ideas bouncing off the imaginary walls and scenes replaying in vivid detail over and over in my mind), but writing just isn't working.

I am very nearly out of ideas, and can honestly see only three ways of dealing with this:

Find (and possibly strangle) my muse
Leave the easy stuff (Book 5) to its own devices and go back to that monster in the corner with a chair and whip
Take a break from writing for a while

I hope it doesn't come down to the last option, but I have to consider the possibility that concentrating on this stuff all this time is only making things more difficult. What's that saying "can't see the forest for the trees"? Maybe it's that I'm looking into these problems too severely, and possibly a step back will help me see the bigger issues at hand here.

Master of Procrastination

2008-02-08T19:39:00.000Z

So...what've I been up to since my pledge to work hard in 2008 on making these books a reality?

Naff all, is probably the most accurate way of putting it.

I've gotten over my Second Life infatuation, simply because (a) the network connection failures and constant down time makes it hard to enjoy; and (b) there's only so many times you can have someone walk up to you with a conversation starter of "your hot" (note the your, not you're) before it starts to get tedious.

Catrina in-world, with new blonde hairdo

The shop's still open though, and gets a fair bit of traffic. I've been selling a fair few Second Life Editions of the book, although whether they're actually reading them is anybody's guess.

Books & Skins & Chairs, all at the VAMPYR SNYPER Store!

So yeah, I've managed to haul myself away...just long enough for my dear friend Miss Derbyshire to entice me into the World of Warcraft. That's right, I have become one of them. I have been totally and utterly hooked since joining about a month ago. I won't bore you with details, but on the off chance you WoW, e-mail me and let's fight the horde (or the alliance; I have characters on both sides) together!

Geek moment over, onto writing...

Of which there is little, to be frank. Since around Christmas/New Year time, I have started and restarted "Divided They Fall" til I was blue in the face. I have been frustrated, agitated, confused and annoyed, all at once with this story. Unlike the others, I do not have a plan in mind already. I've despised it so much, in fact, that I have now scrapped it completely, thrown it into a corner and left it there to die. While I imagine eventually I will have to approach it again, for now I am leaving it there, far in the recesses of my subconscious. I have been working on a plan to book 5, Blood of Ages, which I appreciate will not be released until all the others are finished. I hope that the very act of writing this plan will re-energise me into going back to that monster in the corner and getting back on track...

Happy New Year!

2007-12-31T15:23:00.000Z

Here's to hoping I get more done in 2008!

=D

Have a gud 'un, everybody! See you all next year!

Let's Start Over...

2007-12-20T20:52:00.002Z

Okay, so I made a slight mistake a few weekends ago which...well, it basically resulted in losing all access to my Blogger account that is used for the Vampyr Snyper updates. Oops.

I'm not going to be able to get that access back; so all I have is the archives it created at the point of publishing. Not to worry, though, they're still there, just at the bottom of this new design is Pre November 2007, where everything older than, well, than November, now sits: Old News

I wish I had some new news for you, something exciting about writing and books 2 and 3, but unfortunately I've been a lazy sod for the last few months and haven't done diddly squat.

BUT I have made a virtual shop on the grid known as Second Life, where users can read the WHOLE first book for FREE! No, it's not an excuse not to do work and I resent that thought! So anyway, if you're a Second Lifer, you can check out the store here: CLICK ME!

What do you mean you're not a user yet!?!?!?! Get signed up, that's FREE too (^^) : CLICK ME!