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Submitted by Stuart on Wed, 03/31/2010 - 12:14pm

I know I don't update my blog very often, but that's because I try to add something to the discussion, so to speak. I doubt most of you want to hear daily updates about how many words I've written or cut in my current WiP. The thing is, I've enjoyed looking back at blogs of new authors to read their pre-published posts. There is something fun and magical reading posts by someone who was once where I am now: finishing a manuscript. Except they have done that, and then foun an agent, then got a contract, and finally counted down the days to publication.

rambling

A Bit Premature?

Submitted by Stuart on Mon, 03/29/2010 - 2:59pm

I just figured out how many words I need to trim to get the manuscript down to 165,000 words, and I'm still four chapters away from finishing this version of the revision (which included both story, flow, and word count cuts).

Too soon? :)

This final draft will be only about cutting words and incorporating the thus far minor comments from my beta readers. With luck, I'll start this final draft next week.

(And the answer to "How much?" is cut 13% of the current manuscript, which amounts to about 24,000 words)

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Rediscovering Information

Submitted by Stuart on Mon, 03/29/2010 - 12:35pm

I'm one of those strange people who reads historical non-fiction for fun. Yes, I do it as research for my books as well, but sometimes I'll pull a random book off my shelf and sit down for ten minutes or so and just read. Doing this, I find tidbits and facts from history and mythology that end up in my stories. Usually this amounts to cultural details or even place names based on real events.

The funny thing is when later I can't remember where I got the tidbit.

Almost there ... (stay on target)

Submitted by Stuart on Fri, 03/26/2010 - 9:51am

Yeah, I went there. I used Star Wars lines as a blog title. :)

I'm still hammering out revisions and am down to the last four chapters. Two of them just need the usual read through to cut out words, but the other two need more work. One is the climax for one of the main POV's which I needed to alter a bit, and the other is a brand new chapter, because the afore mentioned chapter didn't give that character enough resolution. My outline for this one is short. Here's to hoping the chapter turns out short...

Getting It Done

Submitted by Stuart on Wed, 02/17/2010 - 9:38am

I feel like my revisions have been an exercise in two steps forward and one step back. Especially in the area of word count. My goal was to shave about 35,000 words off this manuscript to get it down to a more realistic publishable length.

I've also realized that I needed a few chapters inserted to improve the pacing. Some I've known were needed for a long time and some became apparent during the re-read. The good news is I'm really pleased with my new chapters/sections. The bad news is they're eating away at my word cut progress!

October, 16 2012

No current news, as life took precedent over writing for awhile. Hopefully, I'll have something to report in the coming months.

While reading The Fellowship of the Ring at the age of twelve, Stuart A. Etter was told by his teacher that he should be reading shorter books. Undaunted, he finished the trilogy and promptly moved on to other novels ranging from fantasy/sci-fi to historical fiction to horror to thrillers.

Prologue: The Prisoner

Damion rubbed the dull ache of age from his hands. Countless years wielding a sword had strengthened his tendons and muscles, but time had worn them down, replacing power with chronic pain. Closing his eyes, Damion dreamed of his youth. Battle and victory marked most of his memories, but darker images tainted his successes, reminding him of his one great...