Last Check-in Wordcount + ChapterCount: As of last Saturday, I’d just finished the fourth chapter and that took it to 17,480 words. (Long chapters, I know, but they were intro chapters and from now on, the chapters HAVE TO be shorter.)
Current WC + CC:
I outlined on Sunday and then got back to work. Now it’s at seven chapters, 23,839 words.
WIP Issues this week: Figuring out the rest of the plot (which I did with an outline, yay, I feel more confident now) and feeling bad about not writing much toward the end of the week because I was busy with work and then a bit ill.
What I learnt this week in writing: Writing outlines are not the enemy of creativity that pantser-me used to think. Yes, I love discovering the story as I write, but having that outline in place is so reassuring. I’ve tweaked a few things as I write, so it’s not like the outline is something rigid.
What distracted me this week while writing: Work and feeling sick. At least feeling sick let me read a lot, yay.
Last 200 words: Hmm…. Not my favorite passage or scene by any means (and a tiny bit more than 200), but:
“My advice, should you ever find yourself surrounded by an angry mob again.” The voice was alto, deep but melodious. I felt the soft brush of dark hair press against my cheek as he spoke, as the man—the man—ignored my blows and turned the horse backward, back toward the duchy. “Don’t rely on someone in the sky to get down in time to save you.” He flicked the reigns. “Hee-yah!” The horse went speeding forward, the few women and children remaining in that direction scrambling desperately to flee the pounding of hooves taking me away from Mother Flore and Mother Ermessenda, away from Mother Jehanne and the safety of the towers… And off into the burning ember sun, toward the duchy, a sun-kissed, unknown savior seated behind me.
“Why are there no men in the Stargazers, Mother Jehanne? Why must all the boys leave when they come of age?”
Mother Jehanne stroked my hair, lulling me to sleep with the rhythms of her rocking chair. “Ytoile would not permit their savagery. We take their gifts to the tower, it’s true. We might bless them even, if they are devout. But they will never be as dear to Ytoile as are women and children.” Mother Jehanne leaned in, whispering directly into my ear. “Men want women, Cateline. They want them in unspeakable ways. If one ever catches you, let Ytoile guide your hand. Don’t let him defile you.”
I shielded my eyes with my arm at my forehead, feeling the hot burn of the sun demon even through my closed eyelids, taunting me to do what needed doing.
Amy McNulty 
Outlines should never be rigid. 🙂
Good luck with your writing this week!
That passage is really interesting.
I know, right? I used to be so scared of them, though, saying, “But I don’t know where the story will go, so how can I write an outline?” Well, I know once I sit down and think about it. XD
Thank you, you too! Thanks!
Woah that extract is fantastic! I am super intrigued!
Hope you’re feeling better! 🙂
Aw, thank you! It’s kind of weird to see out of context, but that probably helps add to the mystery. ^^
Thank you very much, I am feeling much better!
“They want them in unspeakable ways,”…that line was golden.
Good luck!
Thanks! I kind of like how we’re sharing things out of context, even though it’s weird at the same time!
And good luck to you, too!
Haha yes I like it too! It’s a bit more spontaneous than picking a favorite scene, and that’s what makes it exciting! 🙂
Whoa, that excerpt is awesome! Can’t wait to read the whole thing!
Thank you! I was going to say that anyone who reads this excerpt and read VMG may think I can only write about men vs. women, lol, but I swear gender is just relevant to this character, not the others.
Outlines can be a great help, I find they make me so much more productive, even if I end up changing them as I go along (which I usually do!). Best of luck with it!
Mine change, too–but usually for the better, I think! Thanks, you too! 😀
So what’s the new title??
Also, minor nitpick but ‘alto’ describes a woman’s lower vocal range. A deep male voice would be baritone or bass.
Heh, will reveal later today! 😀 (This is my update from last week~)
Yeah, that actually occurred to me and my brain spit that out anyway. XD I was in a choir in school, so I ought to have known. This character hasn’t met many men, I suppose, but I don’t know if that’s reason enough to keep that word.