Thursday, July 31, 2008

AH, TOMORROW...

Tomorrow begins AugNoWriMo: August Novel Writing Month. This is and official month, though the website is not nearly as cool as the NaNoWriMo website, and the "holiday" is much more obscure. There is less structure as well. Rather than setting the goal of 50,000 words in a month with no prior work, AugNoWriMo allows you to set up your own goals and continue work on a current project, as long as you finish the novel in 31 days.

My goal, therefore, is to complete the second draft of my novel in 31 days. I shall write 2,600 words and a blog entry each day, and I shall send each chapter of the novel out as I finish each chapter. (If you'd like me to send you a copy, please let me know.)

I will be done with the second draft by Labor Day, as I had originally intended, though I will need to work harder and longer each day. Considering that I have no "real job" at the moment, this may be a welcome change to hours of nothing to do but housework.

STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT EPISODE: DAY ONE: MEET KATE

Monday, July 21, 2008

I HAVE RECONSIDERED

After working on High School Musical for two months, I have reconsidered the removal of Grease from my manuscript. Instead of stage managing, my character is now going to direct the show, and instead of dealing with prima donna Equity actors, she will be dealing with middle schoolers and a producer who can't say no to a few more kids joining the cast each rehearsal. That leaves more room for lead cast members to be gone on family vacations the week before (or week of) hell week, angry costumers, and stage parents, which makes for a much more interesting sideplot. I will miss Jenny at Steak&Shake, but maybe I can find a way to work her back in.

I am trying not to rush myself with the rewrite. One chapter at a time, if I can keep myself interested.

Sunday, July 6, 2008

BEGINNING THE SECOND DRAFT

Things that will be cut from the first draft of the novel:

1. The game "I will go to the hospital with..."
2. Grease
3. The Christian bookshop run by drug dealing old ladies and, consequently, their gangsters
4. The "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" knockoff about pulling mice out of the ceiling tiles

It may seem as though I'm cutting the most interesting part of the story, but hopefully the story that is developing in the absence of these elements is more relatable and...believable. I will miss the showdown on opening night, but the plot was becoming too Bobbie Faye.

Date set for completion of the second draft: September 1
Daily word count goal: 1,432