Finally. It’s Friday! It’s always tough to get back into the groove after a week of vacation.
It’s funny how 5 minutes on my work laptop can dissolve every ounce of tranquility.
Anyway, I wasn’t totally idyll last week. After completing the first draft of Misfortune Cookie and sending it off to my first readers, I moved onto Mystic Storm (Zephyr’s book) and Redemption (Galen’s book).
So far, Zephyr continues to resist me. Galen, on the other hand is being more cooperative. The only problem, Redemption is the next book after Ascension, which I still have out on submission. Normally, I wouldn’t spend time on Galen’s book, but he’s been itching for completion since I started in it in January 2010. Plus, he’s so much fun to write. I’ll miss him when the book is done (maybe that’s why I’m still working on it).
I have a theory that Mystic Storm is harder because it’s the next book in a published series. I admit there’s a small shadow of concern in the back of my mind. I don’t want to disappoint people who enjoyed the first book. I know I need to forget all that, but sometimes it’s hard.
I am happy to report I’m over the 30,000 word mark and that seems to be the “sweet spot” for me in my writing. I believe it takes me about 30,000 words to get into the groove of the story. At last, Kalli and Zephyr have come into their own and the story I’ve plotted seems to be flowing more smoothly. Yay!
Does that happen for anyone else? Is there a magic amount of words you need to get on the page before you know your characters?
If you have time, please stop by and visit me at the Scribes where I’m talking – Hootsuite!
Until we meet again next week, I’ll leave you with an image from my photo collection from Stonington, CT – Zephyr’s home.
Casey Wyatt 
Love the picture. Hope you had a super time on your vacation.
There is no magic number for me. It depends on the moment, either I’m into it or I’m not.
Glad you like the picture, Janna. It’s funny. When I dreamed up Zephyr’s Inn all I had was a map of Stonington Point and my imagination. I was so delighted, when we finally went there last fall, to find an actual Inn that came pretty close to my idea!
I don’t have a magic # either. Sometimes I don’t feel fully immersed in the story until I’ve completed a full draft. Then I see what’s wrong with the plot and how to take it to a deeper level. I love your characters’ names!
Thanks Tracy! I’ve only had that full immersion experience with one book – Ascension. But that also could have been because I’d worked on it, on and off, for about 8 years!
I don’t have a magick #, but I do live with them in my head for a while before I get anything on paper. For me, it solidifies their character to think about them, go on imaginary adventures with them and basically sum up what motivates them. Can’t wait to read Zephyr’s story. Guess he’s being as elusive as the wind.
I do the same thing Raven. I have to plan out the whole story ahead of time. And yes, you are right about Zephyr. He’s got his own timetable. He is a God after all.
Love the photo.I kn ow you will get the groove and the end product will be truly amazing.
Thanks Savannah. I have a bunch of great photos of Stonington Point. When we were there, Hope Springs was being filmed (new Tommy Lee Jones, Meryl Streep flick), so we also got to see a movie in progress. And thank you for the sweet compliment!
I actually do have a magic number–40,000 words. Somewhere between a third and halfway done. Some books come easier than others, and the sweet spot comes sooner…But usually it’s about 40,000.
Great post!
I’m glad I’m not the only one! I don’t what it is lately, I seem to get slog through until I hit 30,000. Before I knew all “writer rules”, it was a heck of a lot easier to get a story down on paper.
Glad you had some time off. Writing a series or a sequel is hard. I can do it… sometimes. But I get requests to write a sequel to Captured constantly and I am so not sure I’m up to the task. I do know what you mean.
It is hard to write sequels. You are so right. I feel the same way about The Undead Space Initiative. I left it open for a sequel and have a vague idea, but I don’t know if I will write one.