Tag Archives: writing

Writing Progress Update

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Andrea Brame | Writing Progress Update | Inching closer to finishing the First Draft of Doom!

Mini celebration over here! While First Draft of Doom is still not complete, I wrote nearly a thousand words today and when I completed the scene I was in, I realized I had successfully bridged the rising conflict to the climax of the plot and now I just need to fill in pieces of scenes that I missed along the way. While I’ve written specific scenes out of order for this draft, I have, in general, been writing toward the ending for the past few months.

And then will it be done? Oh, goodness, no. This first draft? Consider it my very VERY detailed outline. As Shannon Hale says, I’m just shoveling sand into my sandbox right now. Next comes building the sandcastle (aka editing). For the past four years, I’ve just been telling myself the story. Next it will be time to rewrite it so that I am telling readers the story.

But. For the first time, I feel like I’m closing in on the finish line. The end of this draft is in sight, and THAT is a glorious thing.

WIP Progress, Social Media, and an Announcement

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Hi guys! Just checking in very briefly (after watching Star Wars: The Force Awakens tonight. *fangirl flail*) to say I’ll be disconnecting from my online and social media life a bit to focus on my family during the next couple of weeks, but before I do, I wanted to check in for a little update.

Okay, first, I’m excited that the past few weeks have been good for my writing. I tend to over-write and trim later in edits, but I’ve written some new scenes that are tying the story together at last. I have to admit, writing out of sequence was fun early on when I could skip around and write the juicy stuff, but now I have to really up my plot game and fill in all the blanks I left behind and that’s … tricky. I’ve still enjoyed writing this way. I just made it hard on myself.

So, anyway! Bottom line: I’m happy. And hopeful I’ll finally get this first draft completed in the near future. Insert some celebratory emojis here. Maybe a happy dance. And chocolate. Chocolate is always appropriate.

In the meantime, check out my Pinterest inspiration board for this project:

Follow Andrea Brame | Writer’s board Write | Sci-Fi Inspiration on Pinterest.

Next up, I wanted to say I had SUCH a good time experimenting with taking pictures of my son’s picture books to post on Instagram that I dove right in and have discovered the amazing bookstagram community. I’m making new bookish friends all over the world, and I am thrilled. If you are one of those friends and have clicked through my profile link to see this post, welcome! I’m so glad we’ve met over our shared love of reading and maybe a cup of virtual coffee. If you know me from elsewhere and haven’t followed me on Instagram yet, hop on over and do that here.

Finally … my announcement … drum roll please … My website is getting a facelift! If you follow me on Twitter, you know I recently tweeted that I had chosen and purchased a new responsive blog theme.

My blog theme has needed an overhaul for a long time now, but I waited until I could take advantage of the incredible Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales of the theme community. I chose a theme designed by BluChic and I’m excited to begin the updating process sometime early next year. Stay tuned!

Until then, Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.

 

 

Mindscapes 5 | Playlist

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playlist for reading and writing

Calm instrumental playlist for reading and writing.

Since Thanksgiving is tomorrow here in the United States, and with NaNoWriMo coming to a close, I thought I’d celebrate a little by compiling a new playlist for reading and writing. This one is calm, contemplative, and unobtrusive, so you can focus on getting lost in a good book or a world of your creation. I hope you enjoy!

Mindscapes 5: Music for Reading and Writing from andreabrame on 8tracks Radio.

Through a plot dimly

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mist

This is my plot. Fuzzy, uncertain, shrouded in mist.

I’m working on that.

Right now, I’m brainstorming as my antagonist. Setting her up for success, so that my protagonist has something to truly fight against.

But her motives are unclear. Her actions hazy.

It is a challenge. But that’s okay. I’m up for a challenge. Not to mention, my leading lady is kinda kick-butt, in a nerdy, matter-of-fact kind of way. She can handle it.

 

Image credit: Alice Popkorn, via Flickr

Ready. Set. WRITE! {Week 11 Update}

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 Hey, y’all! ThRSWCoffeeis is a post about my progress towards goals I am making in a summer writing initiative hosted by lovely writers Alison, Erin, Jaime, and Katy. We’re posting our goals publicly, cheering each other on, and reporting back via link party to let everyone know how we’re doing. Why not join us?

 

1.  How I did on last week’s goals

Work on my plot, my pitch, and my first pages.

Unfortunately, the only work I did on my book was to think about the work I needed to do on my book.

 2.  My goal(s) for this week

To rest. I still need to polish things up for WriteOnCon, and I will. I will! I can do it! (I need a little self-affirmation, here, after this week!)

But that isn’t my goal.

My goal is to be a good mom and give the little man the extra love and comfort he needs right now. And then to take care of me whenever I can so I can keep on keeping on. I’ll explain in a few …

3.  A favorite line from my story OR one word/phrase that sums up what I wrote/revised

I didn’t write anything that would go in my novel, but I did participate in one  of Kidlit Summer School’s thirty minute dares (#30mdare). I had to make my main character be mean to her best friend. That uncovered a bit of a dynamic that really made their friendship interesting to me, so I will use it to develop both of their characters more.

4.  The biggest challenge I faced this week

Sleep issues. Our son is going through some developmental changes that have affected his sleeping. One, two, even three hour chunks at a time he’s been awake in the middle of the night. Sometimes happy, but wide, wide awake. Other times screaming and unable to calm himself down. So we’ve been burning the midnight (or the 2am) oil to help him settle and learn to self-soothe a bit. As a result, during the day after, I don’t have much brain power.

I’m dissapointed I didn’t meet my goal for this week, especially with WriteOnCon coming up, but I don’t regret taking care of myself and trying to sleep when he took his naps instead of writing. It was the best choice for my sanity.

5.  Something I love about my WIP

There are some pretty awesome friendships  between the characters.

Ready. Set. WRITE! {Week 9 Update}

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Hey, there! ThRSWCoffeeis is a post about my progress towards goals I am making in a summer writing initiative hosted by lovely writers Alison, Erin, Jaime, and Katy. We’re posting our goals publicly, cheering each other on, and reporting back via link party to let everyone know how we’re doing. Why not join us?

 

1.  How I did on last week’s goals

Let’s do this again: Mon-Thurs … write, write, WRITE!

Done and DONE! I even broke 500 words one night, which, while not huge in and of itself, was huge for me. Also … BONUS … I wrote on Friday, too.

 2.  My goal(s) for this week

Why change a good thing? Once again, set aside some time to write on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Even if it is just a paragraph or two.

But this week I’ll also add: do some plot brainstorming again.

3.  A favorite line from my story OR one word/phrase that sums up what I wrote/revised

First draft standard disclaimer, here. But I did like this exchange between my main character and the boy who keeps crashing her solitude.

For a moment—just a moment—his eyes held hers, and she caught a glimpse of warmth, a flash of vulnerability, or, perhaps, just a trick to pull her in.

She wasn’t sure which. But it worked.

4.  The biggest challenge I faced this week

It’s been a busy week, so whenever I do get a chance to sit down, I have to be pretty intentional about putting pen to paper or fingers to keyboard. You know, as opposed mindlessly binge watching Face Off reruns. Which I also did.

5.  Something I love about my WIP

That annoying boy who keeps showing up every time my main character finally gets a little peace and quiet on her own? He’s a parkour enthusiast. So, you know, watching American Ninja Warrior with my husband actually counts as research. And so does this:

Expert(s) Needed

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I am in the middle of my sci-fi WIP and am getting to a point where the story can’t move forward without the actual SCIENCE being mentioned. I’m not looking to be one-hundred percent realistic (this IS the future, after all. Things could change by then), but I’d at least like it to be believable. I know it is a long shot, but I will need to ask some questions soon about what details to add for added oomph, and I was hoping that someone out there is into (or knows someone who is into) microbiology, or genetics, or neuroscience, or botany, or virolgy. Or any combination of the above. I’d love to pick a brain or two. It won’t hurt. Promise.

So this is little ol’ me, asking amazing you if you would be my expert?

Ready. Set. WRITE! {Week 6 Update}

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Hello! ThRSWCoffeeis is a post about my progress towards goals I am making in a summer writing initiative hosted by lovely writers Alison, Erin, Jaime, and Katy. We’re posting our goals publicly, cheering each other on, and reporting back via link party to let everyone know how we’re doing. Why not join us?

 

1.  How I did on last week’s goals

  • Write for at least 3 days this week. Nailed it. Didn’t write a ton, but I did meet this goal.
  • Develop the major plot points through the middle section. Kinda-sorta did? Not enough to let myself cross it off, though.
  • Focus on the antagonist Things are getting clearer. But I’m not there, yet.
  • Cut and paste Rip Current It is started. I’m enjoying the tactile element, but let me tell you: I’ve learned my lesson. New scenes get new pages from now on for The Echelon Project (which I’m also writing out of order.) That way I can print and just re-organize. Phew.
2.  My goal(s) for this week

I’m keepin’ it simple this week, folks.

  • Write for 3 days
  • Tackle those plot points!
  • Keep cutting and pasting Rip Current
  • Make a new Mindscapes 8tracks mix for writing/editing inspiration

(My new CD stash, ready to be loaded onto my computer and 8tracks!)

3.  A favorite line from my story OR one word/phrase that sums up what I wrote/revised

Hidden fears.

4.  The biggest challenge I faced this week

Distractions.

5.  Something I love about my WiP

The fun I can have with inventing technologies!

 

Ready. Set. WRITE! {Week 5 Update}

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Hello! ThRSWCoffeeis is a post about my progress towards goals I am making in a summer writing initiative hosted by lovely writers Alison, Erin, Jaime, and Katy. We’re posting our goals publicly, cheering each other on, and reporting back via link party to let everyone know how we’re doing. Why not join us?

 

*** UPDATE: I made a last-minute decision to do Camp NaNoWriMo as part of my goal-reaching. Anyone want to join me in a private cabin? ***

1.  How I did on last week’s goals

Word Count –  Back to 2,500 words again. AT LAST! I DID IT!

Excuse me while I celebrate a bit.

While it took me until noon today to finish, I made it. (And hey, since I wrote it before publishing this blog post, I’m counting it!)

Start an outline – It will be REALLY rough, but I need to start somewhere. YEP! 

And yes, it is VERY rough.

Raise the stakes DONE!

I wrote a couple more version of my practice query to get there, but I am excited about the ideas that it generated.

Print out my Rip Current draft – I think I’m ready to begin edits now.

Printed and ready to go for my new goal for it this week.

2.  My goal(s) for this week
  • Write for at least 3 days this week.
  • Develop the major plot points through the middle section.
  • Focus on the antagonist
  • Cut and paste Rip Current

(No really. I’m cutting actual paper with scissors. I wrote the first draft of this story out of order. Now I need to get it in chronological order so I can edit it.)

3.  A favorite line from my story OR one word/phrase that sums up what I wrote/revised

Transitions.

4.  The biggest challenge I faced this week

Plot. Always plot.

Also, fireworks disturbing my dog and my baby over the weekend.

5.  Something I love about my WiP

One of my favorite scenes right now feels like a high school version of a Leverage episode!

 

Ready. Set. WRITE! {Week 4 Update}

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Hello! ThRSWCoffeeis is a post about my progress towards goals I am making in a summer writing initiative hosted by lovely writers Alison, Erin, Jaime, and Katy. We’re posting our goals publicly, cheering each other on, and reporting back via link party to let everyone know how we’re doing. Why not join us?

 

1.  How I did on last week’s goals

Word Count – 6, 090 to bring me up to speed. EPIC FAIL.

2,171. Despite my best efforts, 5,300 (or more!) words in a week is just more than I realistically can handle right now.

Draft a Query for my WiP – CHECK!

Read a few chapters in The Girls of Atomic City – CHECK!

Survive P90X3 – CHECK! 

Before anyone gets too impressed, I have to admit I’m taking it easy because I’m being gentle on my post-c-section abs and sometimes choosing to write over working out. But I did at least the majority of 3 out of 5 workouts with my husband. I’m happy with that! (And the whole he does the cooking thing is a sweet deal. Check out this breakfast he made for me … yum!)

2.  My goal(s) for this week

Word Count –  Back to 2,500 words again. Same as two weeks ago. It seems more doable.

Start an outline – It will be REALLY rough, but I need to start somewhere.

Raise the stakes – Per this tweet, my helpful husband suggests New York strip. Ahem.

Print out my Rip Current draft – I had set aside the first draft of this contemporary YA project when life got crazy (pregnancy and newborn); I think I’m ready to begin edits now. Fun fact: both of my current projects involve the ocean. I think I miss it.

3.  A favorite line from my story OR one word/phrase that sums up what I wrote/revised

Possibilities.

Most of which will probably be cut in revisions later, but I’m just hashing things out for now.

4.  The biggest challenge I faced this week

Still plot. *sigh*

5.  Something I love about my WiP

The exotic setting. My “Future” Pinterest inspiration board hints at it.

*** UPDATE: I made a last-minute decision to do Camp NaNoWriMo as part of my goal-reaching. Anyone want to join me in a private cabin? ***