On Writing

So I’ve been working on revisions for my Assassin book. I’ve just finished up the big battle scene at the end, and now I’m working on the wrapup chapters.

In other words, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I’m really going to push myself and try to finish the revisions by the end of the weekend. That way, I can read through it next week and start editing/polishing.

So I’ll basically be in the dark interior of the computer room all weekend. Not very exciting or glamorous, but hey, at least the air conditioning’s back on now. 😎

What about you guys? Anybody got big plans for the weekend?

Wheezley (the significant other) and I had an interesting discussion a few days ago. We were talking about hobbies and how geeky some of ours are. Wheezley builds model tanks, and we both enjoy Dungeons & Dragons-style gaming. I also said reading was a hobby of mine (although it’s really more like a passion, bordering on addiction).

To which Wheezley responded: Reading’s not a hobby, it’s a necessity.

Of course in one sense, reading is a necessity. You have to read e-mails and street signs and the label on the soup can at the grocery store. But Wheezley meant that reading books is a necessity.

He’s right.

I’ve learned and grown so much as a writer from reading other people’s books. Not to mention the hours and hours of pleasure of being transported into another world. In using my imagination to fill in the details. In squealing with delight when the hero triumphs and the villain gets what’s coming to him. I love reading so much I couldn’t ever imagine not doing it.

I think reading keeps your brain active, lets you learn about different folks, places, and culture, and helps you put yourself in someone else’s shoes for a few hours. Books broaden your horizons, something that’s always important.

So yeah, to me, reading is a necessity. I just need to make time to do more of it. And whittle down my ever-increasing TBR pile. :rolleyes:

What do you think? Hobby or necessity?

I just realized that the mass market paperback version of Karma Girl goes on sale a month from today on July 1. So pre-order away!

And is anyone else freaked out that it’s almost July already? Where did the first half of the year go? Bueller? Bueller?

I spent most of my holiday weekend working on the second draft of Assassin 2. I wrote 8,869 words and now have about 82,000 total. I managed to move from chapter 13 all the way up to chapter 21. Only about 10 chapters to go. The end is almost in sight.

Unfortunately, this is always the hardest part for me. The closer I get to the end, the more difficult it is to make myself sit down in front of the computer. Because I’ve been working on this for weeks now and I just want to finish. I want to do other things, like finish the book I’m reading, clean off my desk, and just mindlessly sit in front of the television for an hour without feeling guilty that I’m not doing book stuff.

But I’ve still got those 10 chapters and 20,000 words to go. Ugh. I don’t like it, but I’ll make myself keep plugging along, even if it’s only for an hour at a time. Still, ugh. :hulk:

What about you? When do you hit the wall in your writing?

Holy summer, Batman! :batman:

Can you guys believe it’s almost Memorial Day? With the longer days and lack of good TV to watch (except for The Closer and Burn Notice, which I am eagerly awaiting), I tend to be more productive in the summer as far as writing goes.

I thought I’d share some of the stuff I’d like to accomplish this summer — or at least by the end of September, when my time will once again be sucked up by the TV’s siren song. In no particular order:

1) Write Assassin 2 (working on it right now — 62,000 words and counting)

2) Write Assassin 3.

3) Write Spy 3.

4) Write Charm Queen (think urban fantasy with cowboys and magic)

5) Write a romantic suspense or my long-percolating romantic comedy

6) Whittle my TBR pile down to 10 books. So I can order some stuff I really, really want, like Fire and Ice by Anne Stuart and Ill Wind by Rachel Caine. And of course, the new one by J.R. Ward. :scooby: 

What about you guys? Got big plans this summer? Share in the comments.