The Greatest Oppurtunity of All

I got a little sleep today, so I'll try not to be so grouchy in my post. (smile)


I have very little good news today. But I thought I would start with it first. I finished Thomas' chapter this afternoon, which means I have two more to go before the second draft of Deliverance: Episode 2 of Where are our Children is ready to be polished, formatted, and uploaded.


Right now this episode is looking to be a little bigger than 411 was. I'm on pace for 270000 words for the entire finished project, though I expect that number to go down as I move along. I know, I have said that before. Thanks 4 reminding me. (smile)


I've made a couple of executive decisions. I will make each one of these Episodes a trade paperback through Createspace. I don't think they are going to print something in one volume that is approaching 300000 words.


The audio book and Amazon editions will be in one volume that I will call: Where are our Children: Complete and uncut.


Now on to the NOT so good. Life is trying to get in the way. I managed to write for the 16th consecutive day today and I hope that streak continues. But if anyone of you has ever worked nights, you know how difficult the transition is when you reach that first day off is. Well, add to it that I have a serious appointment to deal with tomorrow afternoon and have to start a stretch of 5 straight 12 hour days after that. My bank account will look good next week. I probably won't. ( Insert your own private joke here, folks.)


Finally, the good folks at Smashwords did email me back saying that Apple and ITunes had some glitches late last week. 411 is still not up. I missed an entire weekend of potential readership over there at the second largest audience for eBooks in the world.  


Technology can be wonderful, technology can be a pain in the a$$.


Anyway, at least I'm showing some growth. I 'm showing some maturity in my writing. In the past I would have used a setback like this as an excuse to quit. I'm not doing that (yea for me!!). I'm still writing. I'm still publishing.


I'm using these challenges and setbacks as if they were the greatest opportunity of all.


Because they are just that.

The Good, The bad, And the ugly

I'm still tired.


I told you guys yesterday that today would test my streak of 15 days consecutively writing. It would mark the first time in my 45 years that I put pen to pad, (or fingers to keyboard) as it may. Well the good is that the streak is alive. I actually pounded out over 3000 words in just over 3 hours.


Alright, the bad news is that I didn't finish Thomas second entry in Deliverance.  The chapter is a lot bigger than it appears on my Kindle. Anyway, there is a ton of important talk in this section that when this thing is released, that I think you guys will enjoy. I'm enjoying writing it, though I admit to being a little fatigued.


In other Bad news, 411 still hasn't appeared on I Tunes. I stopped long enough so send a polite email to the good folks about it. I would think it would be there. These things happen. Technology is can wonderful. Technology can be a pain in the a$$.


Last not on that front, the downloads are coming very well at B&N.


Finally, the ugly, well that has to be my Jags. (yuck)
Maybe, just maybe, that will get change some day soon.


You can always count on the good, the bad, and the ugly to so just that.

Battle Hardened

I'm tired.


Sleepy.


That first night of graveyard is always tough and I aint 25 anymore. (smile)


I still got up and completed another chapter. In fact, including the first draft of this novel, this is the most consecutive days of writing I've done in my entire life. I'm going to stop a sec and acknowledge that achievement.


Alright, the acknowledgment is over. Time goes back tonight, which I will be working a 13 hour shift tonight and have my pitiful Jags to tune into tomorrow. This presents a clear and present danger to my streak, but I'm going to get it done...somehow.


411 is online at most retailers, although I Tunes still didn't have it up the last time I checked this morning. I hope that it is by this writing. I am REALLY looking forward to seeing how it does over there. 


Anyway, back this war of attrition with this serial tomorrow. It's going to be my biggest challenge so far, but I am battle hardened. 

Short and Sweet

I'm going to promise to keep this posting short and sweet. Here it goes...
 
Since I last posted, I've finished Serena and Xavier's latest chapters. This story is expanding beyond anything I would have ever imagined and I'm enjoying watching where the chips are falling.


I have four more chapters to go on Deliverance, they will all need a final polish and formatting before they are uploaded.


I am returning to work tonight, so Life as I call it will get in the way little. No more 8 or 12 hour sessions on the serial for awhile. But I am holding myself to at least a chapter s day, which will put the upload in the middle of next week if I don't hit any hiccups.


Alright, I did it, I kept  the posting short and sweet today. I only I could do this with this story...

Long Winded

I'm posting early today because Life is going to get in the way of my writing a little today. I finished Xavier's 2nd chapter a few minutes ago and somehow...someway will get another Serena chapter done before bed tonight.


I'll say this: I'm done fighting myself about the word count. The last two chapters rivaled some of the earlier chapters that many of you have in your hands right now. It was A LOT of backstory to these character that is important as the main story moves forward. many readers may disagree with me and that's fine. But this isn't padding on my part. Remember, 6 of these 9 episodes are listed as FREE. and with the other three going for only $.99 a piece there isn't a lot of royalty in this for me even if this serial sells like crazy. (smile)


Anyway, everyone across all outlets should have the new covers and back matter in my first three works as they all went through the meatgrinder successfully yesterday. I made another round of modifications on 411 yesterday and I'm cautiously optimistic that everyone out there (Other than Amazon Kindle Exclusive folks) will have a copy burning their fingers by this weekend if they wish.


I CAN by so long winded at times...   

Technical difficulties

I don't usually post to the blog until after I'm completed with whatever I'm trying to accomplish for the day but I'll make an exception today. (smile)




I competed 2nd drafts of two chapters and have plans to do one more after completing this blogging. Theses are the first two chapters of Deliverance: Episode 2 of 9 of the Where are our Children (Serial) but chapter 11 and 12 respectively in the original novel. Other than you guys who go to Smashwords for your fiction, you don't have an earthly idea what I'm talking about since a couple of technical difficulties but I'll touch on these in a paragraph or two down. For now let's focus on how the writing itself is coming.




Just like I suspected, the word count is coming down. 411clocked in at over 35,000 words. I don't suspect any of the remaining 8 books to finish over 15000 words each but we will see. I also predicted the first Roxanne chapter to be a bitch...and well it is just that. There is an important back story in there, that I never quite made clear to myself the first time around and I'm paying a price for it now. Anyway, I just wanted to get it out of my head and unto the paper, which I did this morning. I'll work on it some more tonight because it has to be right before I publish this 2nd episode.


I faced a similar issue with Seth's back story but I have most his issues worked out. I hinted at it but I didn't reveal it (as you readers can tell) if you've already yet, since his first chapter was already running long anyway. It's coming. Be patient.    


I finished Thomas second chapter as it went relatively smooth but will need touching up.


I got a Serena chapter to start and finish after I'm done here.


Oh yea, back the technical difficulties. I got a little (lot) frustrated with technical stuff yesterday. There is an issue over amazon and its family of publishing houses that I have to attend to this afternoon. Although I am happy how well all of my new covers for my first three books came out over there. I did them as well for the Smashwords family but I had other glitches occur on me with the uploads, so gain everything is delayed going out to the major retailers. A very small error cost me on 411 that I fixed and I'm hoping folks outside of the main page get to start downloading it as soon as today. I'm curious at what the numbers will look like. Again, it is by FAR been my most successful publication so far. Again, I thank each and EVERY reader. I hope you enjoy it.


Alright it is back to it, and I'm hoping technical difficulties don't keep my writing away from you.

One Last Look Back

I decided to take a full day off from writing for a couple reasons.


I was mentally and physically drained after that marathon yesterday of editing and formatting. I hadn't published anything in over a year, so Smashword's standards lead to some head scratching if you haven't done it in a while.


Actually, that leads me to my second topic first. I felt so positive about the formatting that I reformatted and put added new covers to my three previous works: Waiting, Fumblerooski, and The Gospel According to John. All three have a table of contents, superior formatting than the versions that came before them, and new back matter that mentions all my present and near future releases.


Look, I understand that these 3 works have made zero dollars for me since they were published. They are my first 3 babies however. I love them. And they also serve as a means to introduce readers to my newer work coming up in Where are our Children and beyond.


Now, onto that present and near future I was talking about. I won't get into specific numbers but 411: Episode 1 of Where are Our Children has had more downloads in its first 12 hours than my previous 3 works combined. I thank EACH and EVERY reader. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed bringing it to you.


Smashwords is the only outlet it is available at the moment of this writing but that should change rapidly over the next few hours and days.


Remember, a fair review is always helpful and appreciated by any Indie Author.


On to the future, but the one last look back was nice...