Editing… it’s not just for breakfast anymore.
Just a quickie update…
I’ve been doing a ton of editing lately. Chapters 8-10 are nearly 15,000 words apiece, and that’s a lot to edit. On top of that, I’m still busy with real life, which means that I rarely get uninterrupted blocks of time. So it’s been slow going.
While I haven’t had much time, that’s not really the problem. After I finished Chapter 10, I didn’t really “see” how I wanted Chapter 11 to begin. You’ll understand when you read them. I’ve been thinking about it a lot, but I’ve also been “writing ahead” in my head.
The “writing ahead” is more planning than anything else, but it should pay off in later chapters. I have a clear vision of how I want certain events to unfold, and that’s when I can sit down and bang out 1,500 words an hour… for several hours.
Take today, for instance. I finally “saw” how I wanted Chapter 11 to begin. I’d written an anemic 750 words over 3-4 writing sessions, but I had a lot of time today, so I sat down to write. When I finally pushed back after my first editing pass, I had 3,049 words for the day (those are words that survived the edits, BTW). Not bad.
The rest of Chapter 11 should come easily. Some of it is due to my writing ahead, but mostly it’s because I’m past the big emotional hump. That was part of the problem with Chapters 9 & 10… lots of difficult emotion.
I’ve said I’m a “method writer,” and it’s true. If I have to write something “down,” I procrastinate. Take Book 1 as proof of the converse. When I’m writing something exciting and new—is the Love Boat theme song running through your head? ;-)—I can crank out the words. That’s what happened with Book 1. It was all exciting and new. Book 2 less so, and Book 3 was just plain hard. The first part of Book 4 has been like that, and it’s been slow.
That being said, I’m not completely past the “downer” stuff. I still have more to write, but it’s not as emotionally nerve-wracking (for me, that is). The exiting stuff is coming, though, and I’m really looking forward to it. Some of these scenes have been in my head for years. 5+ years in some cases.
And now for the nuts-and-bolts update: I finished my post-alpha edits on Chapter 10 today. I sent Draft 2 off to my full team for their comments. I still have to revise Chapter 8 to address reality comments, but that should come with my full editing pass before I send it off to my editor (which is the first step in the process for posting).
I want to get more written on Chapter 11 before I send Chapter 8 off to the editor, so give me a week or two. Fortunately, I also did a lot of outlining today, which will help. We’ll see how much time I have, though.
In any event, that’s the update.
- Nick
Comments
38 Responses to “Editing… it’s not just for breakfast anymore.”
Leave a Reply
Thanks for the update…but no thanks for planting the Love Boat theme in my head before going to bed.
Jerk.
Do I need to post the words to Girl from Ipanema in revenge ?
First: I hate you. You should be selling drugs, I´m addicted to this story already, now you just added somthing so I must get my next fix.
Then: I love you. You take your time to get everything just right. For that I am forever grateful.
Just a question, what is loveboat? I´m swedish so forgive my ignorance
thanks for the update, and for writing.
JP-shame you can’t *write* the lyrics to the Hampster Dance.
Nick, as always great job. Eagerly awaiting the next chapter.
What happened to the site last week? I kept getting a pic like you forgot to renew the domain, but when I did some searching I found a forum with a whole thread dealing with how evil you are for posting a pic that someone on there owned. Apparently, you are the devil incarnate.
The loveboat was a TV show (sitcom) from the Late 70’s early 80’s about people on a cruise ship. I vaguely remember it, my parents used to watch it.
Jay
I know exactly what you mean… whenever I write something, I usually have to dwell on the first sentence/paragraph for an hour or two, before I actually get rolling.
While I sorta know what I’m going to say, it’s hard to find the right words in the right combinations.
Nick,
Keep up the good work
Thanks for the update. Like everyone else, I’m waiting(patiently, I hope) for chapter 8. I’ve tried to write some myself, so I know what you mean about getting the story in your head . Please note I said “tried”. I can’t begin to imagine how much work and preparation you put into each chapter. many thanks for sharing your talent with us.
Nick:
Thanks for that writing tidbit. Now I have yet another great excuse for not finishing something!
Tata!
I still don’t know how you can create the volume of superior quality output you do. I agonize over words, paragraphs… Wow.
@Jay:
I believe the Hampster Dance goes like this:
Da da dee da dee da do do
Dee da do-do-do
Dee dee dee dee dee dee dee dee dee da dee da da dee da dee doooooo
It’s funny watching others suffer patiently like I do for the next chapter….
Raise your hand if you hate yourself for how often you look for a new chapter being up….oh you know it wont be but you just have to click over and see for your self.
Nick -
Thank you for all your efforts.
CJ- I am with you, patiently waiting and suffering. I don’t check that often for new chapters, I come to the site to see the picture of the day
Boris, Jay’s description of the Loveboat reference does not go far enough. It was a hour long sit-com that had cheesy setups for people to find love and romance on a cruise ship.
Jack Jones thanks you in advance for all the people who will think about that song, go and download it from iTunes or Walmart, and make him a small commission on each sale.
I on the other hand thank you for your continued work…..as alway, Nick, all my best,
Al
Boris, better yet, check out the opening theme of the show at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_wFEB4Oxlo
The “Love Boat” was actually the “Pacific Princess” from Princess Cruise Lines. A friend of mine, who is now Bandmaster for Princess, played in various bands aboard that ship.
According to google, I have 64 visits in the last month… I am an addict.
I keep checking in daily hoping for chapter eight. Everytime I see it still grey I think lots of nasty things to call you. Do you realize how much pain and frustration you deal to your fans?
Is it my imagination or did Chapter Seven feel kind of hollow emotionally?
Thanks for your efforts even if the results are much too slow.
Please disreguard Howard’s frustrated comment.
I, among others wait for the next chapter like someone waiting for Christmas Day.
So keep up the good work and as always we have to wait and see.
Damn you all,
Hamster Dance….
Now I have to search for Love Boat reruns for a campy/cheesy TV fix…
Maybe Knight Rider is on……
“In 1972, a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn’t commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire… The A-Team.” Cue music. ;p
Btw, can’t wait till Ch 8 comes out :p
“I, among others wait for the next chapter like someone waiting for Christmas Day.”
But don’t you know when Christmas Day will be each year? Imagine if every morning you went downstairs to see if there was a present there waiting, in hopes that TODAY was Christmas. Every day, you’d hope, and hope… But on most days, you’re disappointed. And even when Christmas comes, once it’s over, you’re waiting for the next one (since you have no clue when it will be).
That sounds like what we go through in waiting for the new chapters.
And I can’t wait for next “Christmas”.
Re Howards comment
It came across quite dry to me, I dont think it was intended as a slur. Rather is was written by someone with a dry sense of humour.
Chapter 7 felt hollow to me as well, but I dont mean hollow as in no emotion was written in. The chapter felt like there was an emotional hollow in their lives, that almost numb going through the motions of life kind of hollow. In fact that hollow emotion was written in perfectly.
Enjoy!!!
http://www.retrojunk.com/details_tvshows/392-the-love-boat/
Love, exciting and new
Come Aboard. We’re expecting you.
Love, life’s sweetest reward.
Let it flow, it floats back to you.
Love Boat soon will be making another run
The Love Boat promises something for everyone
Set a course for adventure,
Your mind on a new romance.
Love won’t hurt anymore
It’s an open smile on a friendly shore.
Yes LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE! It’s LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE! (hey-ah!)
Love Boat soon will be making another run
The Love Boat promises something for everyone
Set a course for adventure,
Your mind on a new romance.
Love won’t hurt anymore
It’s an open smile on a friendly shore.
It’s LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE! It’s LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE! It’s
LOOOOOOOOOOOVE!
It’s the Love Boat-ah! It’s the Love Boat-ah!
Raf: “In 1972, a crack commando unit…..”
excellent choice….campy/cheesy TV, better comic relief….waaaayy better. Thank you Face, BA, Murdoch, Mr T and the Colonel,NO David Hasselhoff
Here are the real lyrics to the Hamster Dance by The Blue Man Group
YEEHAA!!
Here we go.
Thats it.
That’s all there is to it.
Alright everybody now here we go.
It’s a brand new version of the dosido.
Just stomp your feet and clap your hands.
Come on everybody its the hamster dance.
Bounce in time to the beat.
You don’t even have to move your feet.
Just shake your thang; let me see you move.
Now spin it around and feel the groove.
YEEHAA!!
Lets try it.
You’re catching on.
YEEHAA!!
Terrific.
Come on everybody.
Clap your hands.
Come on everybody.
It’s the hamster dance.
Come on everybody.
Clap you hands.
Come on everybody.
It’s the hamster dance.
Here comes the music.
Re. Chapter 7
I agree overall with Pipe’s opinion of the emotional lull in the story. While I can see why nick covered what he did and the points he wanted to highlight in it, I still longed for the return to school and inevitable real begining of the end of Kendal.
Thats just me being greedy for the meat of the story though. Chapter 5 was full of emotion, half of 6 was also. It cant all be at a fever pitch.
Just my 2 cents
CJ
I really wish Paul and Kendall would break up and Paul and Christie would get together already… I mean, he did name the book after her. We also know that Trip and Wren end up getting married from the intro (I think, it’s been a while since i read it). Oh well, maybe it’s better that Nick doesn’t publish too fast. This way, I can still watch the world series and finish the reading for my philosphy class
CJ,
It may seem chapter 7 may be an emotional lull, but remember, keep in light of the whole story. If we were reading the whole book at once, it would fit perfectly. The main reason we feel this way is because have a month between chapters. I plan on rereading this book once it is complete to see how it flows together as a whole.
Rich
I don’t disagree…and the point of having a month is also true, though I never thought of it.
Any lull or peak is going to be magnified until the story moves past it….damn good point.
Nick,
Please give us updates more than once per month. It’s cool to know what’s going on outside of the books. It would also be great to know abouts when the next chapters will be up. I’m not suggesting that you write huge blog entries every time. Just a quick paragraph or two would be great.
Thanks!
Nick,
Without sound like an ungrateful troll, I was wondering if you would/could share how many chapters Book 4 is going to be. I wasn’t sure if you had a number in mind or were the type of writer that let the words come and dictate the length.
OK, Nick, I’ve decided that I’m tired of life rafts so now I’m swimming every day
So I don’t _need_ you anymore, that’s right, I can walk away any time I want to, I just don’t want to.
But on a more serious note, keep up the great work and I will be here to hang on your every word.
Paul
I think book 4 will be 20 chapters. Ch 20 should be out around Dec. 2009 or Feb. 2010.
I have read ch. 1 & 2. I will read the full book when it’s complete.
wow, I must say Kendall has changed. Something is definitely bothering her. Great chapter (as always), I can’t wait to see how Paul will go on with his life. I actually find myself thinking that the sex part of the story is getting in the way of the story itself for a fraction of a second, but then I think again and agree with myself that the whole package is the reason I have read each chapter as soon as it was released since Book 1, chapter 3 was fresh.
Think positive, keep writing good stories and keep your faithful fans happy :o)
Awesome. Another chapter where pretty much nothing happens, and Kendall acts uncharacteristically bitchy.
Quit reading then, Kendall has had a bitch streak for a while. She actually is pretty canniving it seems. I hope everyone who has the complete lack of gratitude to get on here and bitch about the time between chapters has sat down and took the same effort to say thanks. Try and write one 10000 word chapter in the time Nick writes one. I have been screwing around with a story for a while and have gotten almost nothing out of it.
I just wanted to say that I have really enjoyed your stories so far. I finished the 3rd book and read all of the 4th just today. I just couldn’t get away. I can’t wait for the next chapter, but I know how it is to take the time to think of it let alone to write it. I don’t like Kendall either and I think I miss Gina as much as Paul does, but I think I see where the story is going so I am happy with that. Just wanted to say thanks again and that I am looking forward to the the rest of the book.
Methinks Nick would be a killer at NaNoWriMo (nutshell for those like me who didn’t know until I looked it up: write a 50,000 word novel during November), heck he’s done how many more times over in the past, what, 60 months? Way more than 60 times over, I can guess.
I don’t mind Nick’s pace, as it gives me time to read it over and over again. (Well, read what I have time for, there’s lots of new stuff I haven’t touched. I can’t _read_ 50,000 words a year, never mind write that many!)
And re Bob’s comment about Kendall being a conniving bitch - reading some of Nick’s real life problems in his blog (and he still puts out stellar work despite!) makes me think he has a model for Kendall’s personality in real life.
Nick,
It would be great if you could throw us loyal readers a short update more frequently than monthly.
You know, just so we have a feeling that you haven’t fallen off the end of the Earth.
Thanks for what you do.
– Dennis
THanks Everyone including you Nick, Now I’ve got these silly ass tunes running in my head for the rest of the day. Just what I needed - The Love Boat tune running around my head while working around commercial jet aircraft. The other week I had to endure the jingle “It’s a small world after all” with the grandkid. I hate that song!
Nick - About the POD for today. There Are only 12 days of Christmas and 24 girls. That’s 2 a day. Plan on surviving the New Year? I’ll be more than happy to come over and help, in the best interest of the Summer Camp readers that is. Wouldn’t want our writer getting too tired now would we?
And by the way - I’m do not believe I classify myself as a servile self serving flatterer. I am simply a voracious reader encouraging a damn fine writer doing what he loves to do. I tend to read about 3-4 paperbacks per month and about 8 net publishers as yourself as often as they post. IMHO you could publish this in hardback/paperback and sell enough copies to retire. Barbara Cartland wrote that drivel for the women and made millions.