The Terry Pratchett Prize, Round Two...

[Jan Van Quirm]

I like going over editorial comments and seeing what's been done through someone else's eyes even if I don't always go with the suggestions

As for cracking on - the stuff I've been writing recently has been hard to do because some of it's coming from very negative personal experience so I've not been so keen on the splurge method. This next bit's more action-based and character-led and really I've already got it mapped out mostly so it'll be fun and so my speed will pick up - when I'm on a roll I can do 2000 words a day easy...

[Quatermass]

I like going over editorial comments and seeing what's been done through someone else's eyes even if I don't always go with the suggestions

As for cracking on - the stuff I've been writing recently has been hard to do because some of it's coming from very negative personal experience so I've not been so keen on the splurge method. This next bit's more action-based and character-led and really I've already got it mapped out mostly so it'll be fun and so my speed will pick up - when I'm on a roll I can do 2000 words a day easy...

Well, may the best person win.

[Quatermass]

Anyway, just managed to do review and revision of about a third of the book. The rest should be easier: I noticed some glaring continuity errors (partly because I had copied and pasted from previous drafts of the book, and partly stuff that I had written in that was meant to have a payoff later, but didn't), so I fixed those. And I've implemented some changes my critiquer suggested, and made other changes myself to help make the speech of characters seem more natural.

[Jan Van Quirm]

Continuity's a problem for me as well, but mainly because I tend to write in spurts with gaps in between - this year's been hard for me to keep writing with the housemate having to go to hospital for various stuff so some of the action I haven't worked on for several months and it is hard to remember what's going on sometimes.

As for 'naturalness' I tend to go over every chapter as I finish and read any dialogue out loud (well in a whisper mostly as there's a lot of accents and I sound terrible ). I find it easier to fish any really silly-sounding bits that way

[Quatermass]

Continuity's a problem for me as well, but mainly because I tend to write in spurts with gaps in between - this year's been hard for me to keep writing with the housemate having to go to hospital for various stuff so some of the action I haven't worked on for several months and it is hard to remember what's going on sometimes.

As for 'naturalness' I tend to go over every chapter as I finish and read any dialogue out loud (well in a whisper mostly as there's a lot of accents and I sound terrible ). I find it easier to fish any really silly-sounding bits that way

Regarding continuity: that can be a problem too for me, not because I write in spurts, but because I forget details that were in the murky past of writing the novel.

Regarding dialogue: I don't do that. I'd probably look stupid doing so. But I tend to write in one of two styles of dialogue: Keanu Reeves, or Brian Blessed.

[Jan Van Quirm]

[Quatermass]

The scary thing is, apparently Blessed taught Reeves how to meditate. Think on that for a mo.

[Quatermass]

Welp, I've finished the first big sweep of my revision. I'll probably only add bits here and there, but the novel is all but done. All that needs to be done before the submission is the changing the font and the size and formatting.

[Jan Van Quirm]

130,200 and a bit words

Actually getting close to finishing now - hopefully another 5000 tops to go including a short Epilogue. May even finish it this weekend. Just as well there's only the 2 chapters that need editing - rest is done already

[Quatermass]

Well, my book is essentially done. I just need to get one bit of revision back from my friend, and then send it off.

[Quatermass]

Submitted my entry to the TP Prize.

[Tonyblack]

Submitted my entry to the TP Prize.

Best wishes, Q!

[Quatermass]

Submitted my entry to the TP Prize.

Best wishes, Q!

Best wishes not needed, but duly appreciated. But then again, I get the feeling that, come March 31st, I'll have the exact same reaction that Rimmer had in Red Dwarf: Trojan when, despite telling Kryten that he was ready to accept a potential failure in his astronavigation exams, he reacts...badly to the actual failure.

I get the feeling that I'll be yelling the same thing at the computer screen.

"CAN YOU NEVER EVER SUCCEED AT ANYTHING, YOU USELESS RANCID CANCEROUS SACK OF SICK?!"

*bangs computer screen with hammer repeatedly in a fit of rage*



But seriously, I am in with a chance, I hope.

Still, good omens today. I've sent off my TP Prize novel, I finished reading I Am Legend, and I finally got the Doctor Who Big Finish audio story I had ordered, Zagreus. Four Doctors, three epic episodes, two pierced hearts, and one seriously [EFF!]ed up story.

[Dotsie]

Well then I will wish you good luck, whether you want it or not

[Quatermass]

Whether I want it or not is irrelevant. I still appreciate the sentiment, even if wishing luck is a load of dingo's kidneys.