In One Week

In one week, I'm going to start with editing.  Editing the winners' projects, and editing Lost Ties (previously titled Sever).  Until then, I aim to get lots more written for LT's sequel, Revived Pasts.  (I still need better titles for these, but I have lots of time (if I ever plan to query (which isn't very likely)).)  I'll also be preparing for Camp NaNo in August.

Right now, RP is at approximately eight thousand words.  I hope to get it around twenty by next week.

When you have no internet, you can get a lot written.  And speaking of no internet, I plan on reading a book a day for the days I am off camping.  I probably won't actually read a whole book, but I will try to get at least two books read soon.

As I get more into reading, writing, and editing, I start to realize that I don't have that much time left until school starts.  Five weeks are left.  Two of those weeks will be spent away from home.  One week will be spent at my school's parking lot, preparing for the upcoming marching season.  So that leaves me with two weeks to spend my time.

And then I need to read more.

Yeah, this summer has been uneventful, and not.  I've completed a novel, and actually am writing the second in the same trilogy.  That's a first for me.  And I hope to win Camp NaNo within two to three weeks.  Probably two.

So, that's my writing update.  I hope to start posting writing tips and more book reviews.

For my writing challenge: I must write 12k in 7 days.  That's about 1.7k a day.  Achievable.

And now, to write!

Camp NaNoWriMo?

This year, I'm going to be a part of the Camp NaNoWriMo in both June and August.  For the past two years, I've tried NaNoWriMo, but I get too busy and lazy that I just can't do it.  And it doesn't help that this year, I'll have two AP classes plus marching band plus all of my Honors classes.  So, unless I can slack of in Honors Spanish 3 (Spanish, for the past two years, has been my slack-off period), I may be able to do it.

Anyways, after that lovely rant...

Last year, I wrote a novel in three weeks time.  For those of you from inkpop, you may know my project, Rush (or Deception).  Well, this year, I plan to write another novel (or maybe to).  I plan on completing Sever, and if I can get to it, either edit Rush or work on my idea I'm currently calling RUT.

Oh! And I have the pitches for Sever.  Look:

Sora has spent the last six years toughening up after the disappearance of her older brothers. No matter what, she wants them back. When she hears word of her elder brother, now the Lord of the land of Cura, all of her training and courage is put to the test. She must travel across two unfamiliar lands in order to find her brother—all the while remaining undetected.

With the help of Eli, everything seems a little more possible. His past is filled with knowledge of the lands, and how to get around without being caught. A promise made in magic binds Eli in Sora’s debt until she finds her brother, assuring his help until the end.

But a revolution is starting in the land of Cura. The only chance Sora has at keeping her brother alive is if she can convince him to step down from power. It’s only a slight bump in the path to what she’s always wanted: her family whole again.

Even then, speaking to him doesn’t mean everything is closer to normal.

(I do not own the image used in the cover.)

So, now that I can update that one page...

For those of you who're going to participate in Camp NaNo, let me know! Maybe we can be cabin mates, or just message each other.

You can find me here.

Have a fun summer guys!  I've only got three more days left.  Oh, and those of you who're American: Happy Memorial Day and I hope you guys enjoy your three day weekend!

Ta-ta!

Writing Hell 5.3

Welcome to day 3 of Writing Hell!  Today I needed to catch up, having only written around 900 words yesterday.  So, I actually wrote in my notebook today.  It was rather help, and nice not to have a gazillion and four people ask me what I'm doing.

Sever
Starting word count: 7589
Ending word count: 10019

No preview today because I'm still behind and kinda dead right now.  Hope you guys are doing better than I am!

This week...

This week will be quite ... interesting.  Tomorrow starts Writing Hell, which means I need to aim for 2500 words for the next ten days.

On Wednesday, I start Driver's Ed. From 6-something to 8:15 PM.  Yay me. #sarcasm

And on Thursday, I've got a spring concert at school.  The band goes on first, so I'm hoping that means I can leave earlier.  Unless I feel like watching the orchestra + mariachi later.  Which means I won't get home until, oh, 9-ish.

And, for the month of May, I have to work on this project for Algebra II.  What do I get to do?  Make a Ferris Wheel.  In one month.  While taking Driver's Ed, which will cut my open dates nearly in half.

Oh what fun this month brings for me.  The bright side: starting the second week of the month, we have 2-hour early releases on every Friday.  And then there's finals, and then NO SCHOOL.  Which means NO SUMMER SCHOOL for me and more time to write.

I just have to survive one more month and hopefully not cry during graduation, either because I know some of the seniors, or because I'll be thinking about how sad my graduation will be, or because I'll be thinking about my currently-junior friends' graduation.  ... I think I'm doomed to cry.

So, if I wind up not posting for a week, you now know why.

P.S. Another sad thing: On Saturdays, I have to miss Legend of Korra.  Good thing I'm recording the series.

Internet, how I continue to abandon thee

I guess you could say that the past few days have been busy.  Friday, I didn't get home until 9pm, and didn't feel like doing anything.  Saturday, I was going to work on this research project due in two weeks, but then I had to help with yard work (result: slight sunburn on back + one sentence added to research project + revival of Pokemon addiction through DSi).  And today, I have a new idea which came to me through a dream.  Granted, it's similar to Rush, but I want to work on it anyways.

Really, the only thing that's been going on is me doing school work and spending time with my friend.  Not a whole lot.  Which is why I'll probably get to this new idea.  I'm sort of stuck on the project business.

Just another tiny update.

Advanced Placement

For those American students, you know what AP classes are.  And for the next year, I plan on taking 3, along with some Honors classes, and marching band first semester.  Watch me die this school year of 2012-2013.

And, as I think about it, I realize that so much is different now.  I'm going to be in AP classes.  I don't feel like an upperclassman (even though I've got a few months).  And then school's almost over!  At this rate, I'll be section leader for band in the fall.  Another factoid that will lead to my demise.

For this summer, I really hope I can just enjoy it.  I think I'll get some community service done, and start running (in preparation for band, and maybe tennis/track).

I have summer goals, I guess.  Let's just hope I can achieve them.

And now my random update is done. Ta-ta!

Why oh why...

So, with the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award coming very soon, I've decided that I will join.

But, I only have a week. And that's a maybe.

I am giving myself about a week to polish up Rush and write it a new pitch. Which really will be difficult, do to the little time I have at home.  Hopefully I can take my laptop to the hospital when I visit for the next week.  Hopefully I don't have whole lot of homework this week.

Starting today, I plan to enter ABNA.  Wish me luck, 'cause I'm definitely going to need it.

New Year's Resolution Updates?

I think I'll just start doing this on Sundays. Just to keep some regular posting.

So, as far as my resolutions go, I've read 0 books, have gotten 2 new ideas, finished writing 0 projects, edited 0 projects, and have been more social, and nicer to people. This first week has been very eventful, after my friend got into an accident and I witnessed someone crash his truck. I'm sure one to two hours every day will be dedicated to visiting my friend, because our families are very close and she's my best friend, so I don't think I'll be getting a whole lot done for a while. Tomorrow is the restart of school, and I've got to really pay attention in two classes to make sure my friend won't fall behind in those subjects.

*big sigh* The year as just begun.

And thus ends my first NYR update.

Updating y'all?

So, ten days later, I've finally decided to return to my blog.

This past week, and the next week, was/will be interesting. At the beginning of the week, I finally got into contact with my brother who lives a couple hundred miles away. That brought up my week. Thursday, I had to play at my school's concert. And, I have learned that I barely have an A in my History class, and a low A in HP Chem. Today, I'm going to watch Sherlock Holmes 2 with family friends and my mom. Awesome way to end the week.

Next week starts finals, and then Winter Break. I want to achieve straight A's this semester (Yes, I'm a nerd) which means I need to study. Which is the first, because studying isn't in my nature. At all. Which means I'll probably just write out this outline for my Chem test (my teacher won't give us a review) and read over the first chapters in my History book.

As for reading and writing, I am almost done with The Night Circus, and am going to finish another one or two books. Along with doing my homework. Writing wise, I'm at a block, even though I just came up with an idea based around a tree. Yeah, that's got to say something.

So, what are you guys reading? Those of you who are in school: has your break started yet?

Woohoo! I'm an epic failure!

As you know, I should be nearing 50,000 words tomorrow in Smolder. So let's say that I'm really past 18,000 words right now.

Yeah, real big difference there. For the majority of the weekend, I was watching Yu Yu Hakusho. And I'll end up watching Sailor Moon and Rurouni Kenshin in the upcoming weeks. Anime seems like really like me during the winter; last year, my friend got me to watch almost all of the DeathNote series. But ... yeah, I didn't finish it.

Let's see if I can get this writing done! On Thursday, I have community service because of my history class. On Friday, I have to play for the football game, because we've made it to championships for the first time in the history of my school. And we're undefeated. So, I must suffer in 30 degree weather (I'm a Californian used to 90-100 degree weather, of course I'm going to die!) and then thaw out at home that night.

At least I don't have homework. Not with finals coming up. I just need to pull up my history grade a little to maintain straight A's. (Yeah, I'm a nerd, too.)

So, those of you who're participating in Writing Hell: Are you failing as badly as I am, or have you stayed on track?

You poor little thing

It's been a while, if you hadn't noticed. But school, band, and writing have all overcome me. Kind of.

On Monday, I have an essay on Macbeth due. On Saturday, I'm going to be out of town for our last marching competition. And then I'm trying to get lots of writing done for Rush and my new idea, Smolder.

But, come Monday, I won't have to be at school until the regular time, and will start posting Writing Tips. The book I just finished and the book I'm currently reading have sparked a series of tips that I believe will help aspiring authors.

And that's my little update. See y'all on Monday!

Starting tomorrow!

The last few days have been busy. And the next month will be busier.
Last Friday was a football game. (My school won, by the way. Off to playoffs.) And then Saturday, my school hosted a marching competition. Where I was sunburned, marched twice in heat that I'm not used to (we usually march during the evenings) and had only 6 hours of sleep. Then I got 12 hours of sleep Saturday night. And now I have a whole bunch of history homework plus some reading to do.

Anyways, I plan to start posting excerpts from the novels I plan to work on throughout November for NaNoWriMo. I hope to get the 1.7k for my NaNo, Wanderlust, every day. Which might be achievable when I only have one more Monday night rehearsal for band. And early outs. And two three day weekends (even though Saturdays are for band.)

I might aim for a schedule. I've got four different projects I'm working on, all of different genres. (With the help of Write or Die, of course.) I'll try to think of a good schedule today.

And, as for my reading, I'm halfway through Carrier of the Mark. Still have a lot more to read, and I hope to get a lot of reading done this month. I'm getting myself busy, which isn't very smart of me.

So, what are you reading or writing this month?
Oh, and Happy Halloween for those of you on the Western side of the world.

What's next?

Many things are coming up for me. Today I plan to buy Carrier of the Mark at Wal-mart. Tomorrow I have a usually Monday night rehearsal for band (we're learning the rest of our third song). Then I have to study for the PSAT on Wednesday. It's the end of the quarter this Friday, I've got a weird presentation for English, a test in Chemistry, and this year's first marching competition on Saturday. I get to spend more of my Saturday at school, on a bus, at another school, and on the bus again. Oh, and I get to listen to my lovely iPod while trying to ignore people and get some sleep. And might read on the trip to the other school. And wear my super awesome, super warm jacket.

Writing and reading wise, I plan to have all rewrites for Deception done by next Sunday. And I plan to get Shiver done sometime this week, too. That, or The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. Depends on what I decide to pick up tomorrow morning.

Yes, short little post on a Sunday. Not very important, since I still need to figure out some writing tips. I might explain my ways of planning and how I motivate myself to get a whole bunch of writing done in a little bit of time.

So, until then, go listen to Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. It is my favorite Queen song.

And that is all.
-Dylan

I am crazy. Just a little, though.

Since reading five books at one time plus writing five different stories at once isn't at all strange. But it is the truth.  And I can most likely tell you a little bit about each of the five books I'm reading without getting them mixed up. I think this fact makes up for the fact that I'm a super slow reader. (Nice little random fact there.)

So far, I'm a forth of the way through Blood Red Road by Moira Young. (Which you need to read. I have yet to find any big problems besides the odd style and some grammar stuff.) Almost a forth of the way through Lord of the Flies by William Golding. (For school. Not too great, since the main characters are evil little boys. Besides Piggy. Poor Piggy.) And barely into Divergent by Veronica Roth (it isn't that bad, except the writing needs improvement. Passive voice present tense irks me, and then the lack of contractions plus the whole bunch of telling makes me think of a beginning writer (inkpop status)), Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan (the first chapter is rather pointless and filled with telling, but I'm going to read past it anyways), and Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater (which I started at the end of the school year last year. Been a while, but I'm pretty sure of what's going on in the story). (Have I mentioned I'm rather good with remembering books? That's a bit of a lie, though.)

And then I'm mostly working on rewrites for Deception, which will be in inkpop's Top 5 at the beginning of next month (at the moment, it'll be #1). Then I'm posting Day One at the end of this month/beginning of next month.

I'm keeping myself rather busy with school and all, but still managing to get a full night's sleep. I just need to make sure I don't get injured at band.

Are you good with reading multiple books at once? How about writing? Or am I the only crazy out there?

-Dylan

(P.S. Be expecting some reviews some time in the middle of next month, if not sooner.)

It's been quite a while...

Marching band + school + history homework + writing = busy Kelly

My blog is being neglected, which isn't surprising when I get up at 5:50 in the morning  (Monday-Friday), then come home around 4pm, do my homework until 5pm, (on Mondays) go back to school from 6-9pm, and then try to get some sort of writing done before my self-set bedtime of 9pm. Lots of things for me to do during the week. I even have homework on the weekends.

But enough about the majority of that equation, let's talking about my latest projects!

The first thing would be that Rush is now titled Deception. I find that this new title fits much better. Another fact about Deception is that it's being completely rewritten and is currently ranked at 7 on inkpop. Unless it goes up two more ranks this month, it'll be hitting the Top 5 in October, which means I need to finish my rewrites for the story. So far, only the first chapter is rewritten, and I'm finding that I like this version better.

Next is the two ideas I've written pitches to. The first is a dystopia set during the events that lead to the dystopic world. The other is a paranormal that might have some romance.

Day One

The world will fall, but God will save it.

Olive is blamed for the end of the world after reading a single sentence.   No one knows she did it, except for a group of teens following a young man calling himself “God”.  His plans for the United States involve Olive, leaving her to choose between the chaotic streets or his side.

Around her, she watches the world crumble, not knowing what to do.  Only one solution comes to mind: do whatever God tells her.  She fears her position in this new monarchy, believing that the divine right excuse won’t last long.

A few weeks pass before her threat appears—a single man who leads a group of rioters, ones who know the lies for what they are.   

Hitting inkpop on October 1st, 2011

Fright Nights

Once the night sets in, the real games begin.

Alex and her friends are the jokesters in Amity Heights.  But when their recent joke results with an outbreak between human and monster, there reason something’s wrong.

 

The humans and monsters lived years with each other, the humans always knowing that the man they walk alongside could be a werewolf when the full moon comes out. A peace once rested among these people, but when outbreaks of dead humans rattle the city, attention lands on the creatures of the night.

 

Alex, her distant cousin Troy, and her five-hundred-year-old vampire friend, James, are only three pawns in the wars to come.  Both humans and creatures turn against each other, waiting for the others to fall.

 

With no one to trust, the trio of friends relies on the help of each other more than ever. Until one of them changes sides.

Might hit inkpop on January 15th, 2012

I've also got another idea, but it doesn't have a pitch just yet. It's mostly likely that this project (entitled Trapped) will be my NaNoWriMo project. 

And now that I've typed this up, I believe I shall return to rewriting Deception. I want it completely rewritten before the end of the month, just in case it slips into the Top 5 and stays there. Plus, it'd be nice to just be able to edit for next month, instead of rewrite and then edit.

Hope you all have a lovely day!