Weekly Check-In Post

[sineala.livejournal.com]

Hey hey! How's it going with those stories, writers?

This week I'd like to link you all to a few sites that are helpful in, well, getting those words out. I have the feeling we've mentioned them before, but I am sure they are just as good the second time.

750 Words is a site that encourages you to write 750 words per day, and rewards you with points and such for staying on target.

Write or Die, which you have probably heard of, is the, let's say, slightly more evil version of the same concept. (You probably want the left-hand link that says "web app.") Basically, start typing, and if you stop typing, hideous things will happen. On the highest setting, if you stop typing, the program begins to delete your text.

Written? Kitten! (made by, I think, a couple of fannish people) is the kinder, nicer version of Write or Die. Every hundred words (or whatever increment you like), you are rewarded with a cute kitten. Yes. A kitten. This one is my favorite.

I hope some of those are helpful! (Don't forget to copy your text back to your word processor when you're done.) Happy writing!

Comments

[judesmk.livejournal.com]

Thanks for these but I don't need fancy programs to tell me how much to write! I have an editor and she's pretty scary. At the moment, she's refusing to look at my BB story until I get to 10,000 words. I'm at 4k so am getting there slowly.

[squeeful.livejournal.com]

KITTEN!!!!!!!!

[inlovewithboth.livejournal.com]

Oh god. I'm at the same 2000 words I was at last week. I've been vidding, and burning discs of pretty things for friends, and playing with my dolls...

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

I was determined to keep the word count to no more than 22,000 or so. Unfortunately, it's already at 37,000 on my second major rewrite. I'm plugging away. Even if my long suffering and poorly paid betas ax out 10,000 words of the next draft, I should be all right. They might not be though.

[saintvic.livejournal.com]

Fantastic links, I admit I adore the Written Kitten one, it really makes me want to keep writing :D.

[halotolerant.livejournal.com]

Written Kitten may lead to me deluging the WHOLE EARTH with words just for teh kittez... and it'll be your fault... *g*

Starting epilogue

[longstrt.livejournal.com]

My story now has 60 printed pages so I am doing proof work on that, but I still have the epilogue to write and that is harder than the other 30,000+ words ever were.

lbc

[golden-bastet.livejournal.com]

So I went on my trip, and while I didn't write on the plane (because I was afraid the guy next to me would get nosy), I wrote a couple more pages.

And then I broke my foot. :O

I *have* had a mini-inspiration in the last day around the next stuff to write, so all is not lost. But I need to get crackin', wah.

BTW,

On the highest setting, if you stop typing, the program begins to delete your text.

That? That is *not* helpful.

[marjorammax.livejournal.com]

Noooooo, not more gizmos to distract me!

Things coming along really well. Over 14,000 words done (even though there are some blanks and lots of revision needed) so I'm over the moon.

[hutchynstarsk.livejournal.com]

Just letting my draft sit partially edited. Been busy. Also, doubting my whole story.

There IS time to start fresh if I need to!

[hutchynstarsk.livejournal.com]

Ouch!!!!!
:O

[marjorammax.livejournal.com]

I know I shouldn't say it but at least it wasn't your writing hand ... *g*

Sorry, know it's not a laughing matter. Hope you're not in too much pain and that the recovery will be speedy.

[liriel1810.livejournal.com]

I haz progress!



Not as much as I'd wanted, but hey, it's still progress!

And just quietly, I would not be happy if a program started deleting my text on me!

[murphybabe]

Ha! I wrote a hot scene on the plane, to the accompaniment of some heavy breathing next to me. I consoled myself with the thought that I'd never meet the guy again, and that if he was getting turned on by gay sex, then at least I'd made someone happy that day!

I do hope your foot mends quickly. At least it's not your writing hand.

[murphybabe]

I'm unhappy. I'm not a completer/finisher by nature. My mind seems to think that because I have the outline completed (around 150 words), that's it - I don't need to do more.

The two scenes I have, totalling around 6,000 words, seem sort of okay-ish, but I'm still not quite sure what happens in between.

I think I might need a beta... :(

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

Oh noes!! You must be in pain and immobilised. Still, that might give you time to write... (((hugs))) for the foot and best wishes for recovery.

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

I started on Sunday, courtesy of the April Fool site which did force me to start writing but is now just a nuisance/time waster/displacement activity... And I'm intrigued by the kitten thing which I will definitely investigate even if it turns out to be even more of a time waster. *g*

Anything that eats your words has to be teh eevil.

Anyway, just passed 6000. Would have got further but I stabbed my finger with a knife while prepping veg and the sticking plaster made me make so many typos it slowed me down. I've sent a summary to my beta who is away for Easter and hopes to come back to something to edit. The trouble is, the story has decided that it wants about 27k words to do itself justice rather than 15k and I can't dissuade it.

Plus - does anyone else have the sensation of a film running and rerunning in their head once they start writing and the only way to stop it is to get to the end? The plot etc. (even some of the dialogue) is all there - it just has to get written down.

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

Oh, darn! I hope your foot heals quickly! Take care.

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

Plus - does anyone else have the sensation of a film running and rerunning in their head once they start writing and the only way to stop it is to get to the end? The plot etc. (even some of the dialogue) is all there - it just has to get written down.

All the time! It's how I write and read also. I hve to see and hear the story as it unfolds or it doesn't work for me.

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

Yesssss!!! But I gather we're by no means in the majority!

[golden-bastet.livejournal.com]

Actually, beyond the original break and the occasional accidental touching, it doesn't hurt. It's just that I can do NOTHING now. :(

Well, I can still write, though. :D

[golden-bastet.livejournal.com]

Naw, we're good, considering everything. I'm pretty much working from home for the next six or so weeks.

[golden-bastet.livejournal.com]

The doctor said it's in a bad area for healing quickly. D: But he told me about things to do to help mitigate that.

The guy next to me seemed pretty mellow, I'd've been a little freaked out if he started getting into it (especially since I was in the window seat).

I should go write, but maybe I'll take a nap and then watch some Sherlock.
LOL, I really need to stop the procrastination.

[golden-bastet.livejournal.com]

Not really in pain, but not really going anywhere, either. My patience has already evaporated, wah.

[golden-bastet.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I hope so, too; I can tell this is going to get old pretty quickly.

Maybe I'll slow down enough to write, too...

[golden-bastet.livejournal.com]

It's not exactly that it's running in my head and I have to get it down; it's more like in order to find out what's happening I have to write it. So it's unspooling while I'm writing. If that makes sense.

And it does unspool - I just have to sit down and concentrate write.

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

So you're watching your film for the first time whereas by the time I start writing I'm on the second or third involuntary re-run... But I gather some writers don't 'see' their stories in that way at all. I can't quite imagine not doing! Interesting!

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

I see bits in my dreams, parts I have to write, voices that are talking. So I write it down. :) Weird, I know. When I'm vidding, the song is part of my dreams also. Sometimes a particular scene pops into my head that I need for a word or line. It's the way I run. LOL!

That sounds not fun at all

[hutchynstarsk.livejournal.com]

I do hope you can use this time to write. :) IMO it makes tough situations (where you can't do much) easier. I've written some of my best stuff (well, stuff I liked the best!!) while stuck in bed. Wishing you well~