My Novel Writing Countdown

Post by **Michael** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 1:55 pm

So I've decided to buckle down and finish this **** novel I've been writing over the past year, but I need some encouragement - and since nothing works better than self-gratification, I'm posting my progress.

There are so many methods for calculating word count, so it's hard to tell exactly how close I am to finished.

I'm exactly half way finished chapter-wise, but I keep combining short early chapters so that's not neccessarily accurate. But 17 chapters to go!

I'm currently at 51,795 words (55,709 based on Word; 69,750 based on pagecount).

Only 20,805 to go!

ProfessorPlum54 · Post by **ProfessorPlum54** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 2:06 pm

It's amazing that you're actually writing a book and actually making progress! Every time I think about writing a book, I just get to abouta page then give up.

What's it about and will it actually be published?!

And just curious, why do you need a certain number of words?

Good luck with it and hopfully you'll get it done soon!

Post by **Michael** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 2:24 pm

I don't plan on submitting it for publication or trying to find an agent until the thing is written. Wordcount is essential because publishers tend to look for material that is a certain length making it feasibly publishable.

It's a young adult novel about a college student trying to write a story for her college newspaper that uncovers a campus murder. Little does she know that the killer is drawing her deeper into his "game".

Colonel Gray Poopond · Fri Jul 01, 2005 3:08 pm

Ooooh. Creepy.

I like writing but I haven't been making any stories lately.

chaostheory1489 · Post by **chaostheory1489** » Sat Jul 02, 2005 5:07 am

i'm also currently writing a story. i'm nowhere near being done yet, but it's the first thing i've made substantial progress on, so i'proud of it.

also, i don't know how long it will be since i don't actually know the whole plot yet. but so far, i've been working on it for about a month, writing whenever i get an idea, and wordperfect says i'm at about 9000 words.

anyway, it's about a day in the life of these three siblings and an exchange student that lives with them. it follows each character from 12:00 to 12:00, and the stories intertwine as need be. so, for instance, if ana and carissa are watching a movie together, that will appear in both ana's section and carissa's section. also, characters and places show up in all four sections but only have to do with the main plot of one of the sections. so like, in don's section he'll say something to doxy about ana, and then in ron's section doxy will mistake ron for ana and punch him, and then in ana's story they'll finally confront each other and so forth.

Post by **Michael** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 11:12 am

Sounds very interesting! You should post an excerpt!

I finished two chapters over the weekend, but it's all in long hand. I'll have to type it up soon. Only 15 Chapters to go!

Post by **Michael** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 8:02 pm

One more chapter down. One more written still to type up.

52,800 words (56,785 based on Word; 67,000 based on pagecount - how this went down, beats the *beep* out of me).

19,800 words to go!

Post by **Michael** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 10:20 pm

Getting Closer. Chapter 19 is down.

54,387 words.

(58496 Word / 69500 Pagecount) 18,213 words to go. It seems so close now, but getting close to the end of the story...

PrinceAzure33 · Post by **PrinceAzure33** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 10:22 pm

what's the title?

Post by **Michael** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 10:24 pm

Right now I call it Opponents. It represents the dueling nature of the story's format as well as the fact that the murderer thinks it's all a game to him and the main character is his opponent.

chaostheory1489 · Post by **chaostheory1489** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 1:55 am

i'll post an excerpt in a new topic.

PrinceAzure33 · Post by **PrinceAzure33** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 4:58 pm

Opponents sounds like a great title!

and creepy too

Post by **Michael** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 9:51 pm

Yay, a milestone. Another 600 or so words has brought me to 75% of my word count goal.

Post by **Michael** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 10:12 pm

642 more words. Now less than 17000 to go!

Post by **Michael** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 9:59 pm

Chapter 20 is complete. The Murderer has been quite busy. He's got a gun and knows how to use it!

Up to 56493 words (60786 word / 72250 pagecount). 16107 to go!

Post by **Michael** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 9:38 pm

Another 800+ words brings me to an even 57300 words. Beverly's hot on the track of the killer now.

Post by **Michael** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 9:39 pm

Beverly learns the connection between Clue and one of the victims...

While I sail past 58,000 words and 80% of my word goal! Yay.

alwaysPeacock · Post by **alwaysPeacock** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 11:08 pm

If/when this is published, will you autograph our copies if we send them to you?

Post by **Michael** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 11:21 am

If this thing ever gets published, you can have a free copy.

alwaysPeacock · Post by **alwaysPeacock** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 1:42 pm