Writing a New Novel

[David DeLee]

I've always been a big fan of NaNoWriMo and admired those who took to the challenge. I never did because November never seemed like a good time to embark on something like--the holidays and shopping and family trips and all that. At least that's my story and I'm sticking to it. :)

Anyway, I'm starting work on a new novel and since tomorrow is Aug 1st I thought let's see if I can give this a go. I've got all my preliminary planning done--outlines, lists, character sketches, what have you --

So starting tomorrow I'm challenging myself to write 90k words over the next 30 day so that by Aug. 31st I will have a complete first draft done. That's an average of 3000 words per day. I will post my daily word count here at the end of the day for anyone who's interested in following and maybe I'll write a word or two about what I face as far as challenges go in trying to get this done.

Anyway, the title of the book is FATAL DECEPTION and it's the next novel in my Grace deHaviland Bounty Hunter series.

For inspiration, here's a picture of the cover I've already created.

Anyway, wish me luck and please don't laugh too hard if (when) I fall on my face.

David DeLee

[David DeLee]

So yesterday was day 31.

I ended up not writing at all but formatting my three prior novellas into an ebook collection. Not to go all self-promotional but for anyone who might be interested it's called PIN MONEY and available now.

How I ended up the month. Total fiction in the new novel. 71,000 words.

In a short story I started I write 5,700

So a total of 76,700 words of fiction written.

The manuscript is written beginning to end, but with a lot of holes and weak spots, particularly in the middle that I need to fix or add. I have maybe two or three scenes I'll still need to write but I know where they go and what they consist of. I figure another 4-6k words will do it giving me 75-77k in the finished first draft. and another 10-15k to add in the second as I flesh out scenes and bring me to my 90k total (give or take).

I also redid edits and formated a novella and the aforementioned collection and put both up for sale this month. All in all I'm happy with the month's work and want to thank those of you who stopped by to comment and encourage me. It was helpful and appreciated. I'm hoping to have the entire novel wrapped up and to my editor by the end of the month or beginning of Oct.

I may pop in here to tell you all how I"m doing but I won't bore you with a day-to-day rundown. Thanks again everyone and happy (and successful) writing to all.

[Richard Krauss]

Congratulations David. Appreciate your additional effort after long writing days to post here, allowing us to track your progress. Inspirational and motivating. Please do follow-up with highlights of where things go from here. Your journey is a story in itself!