Has it really been two years since we started these monthly updates for the WIP Marathon group?
Last report wordcount + chapter count/scene count:
YA FANTASY FAIRY TALE RETELLING/PREQUEL: 10,704 words, 4 chapters
NOBODY’S LADY: 70,746 words, 28 chapters (waiting to get final edits)
Current report WC + CC/ SC:
YA FANTASY FAIRY TALE RETELLING/PREQUEL: 36,153 words, 14 1/2 chapters
NOBODY’S LADY: 70,881 words, 28 chapters (revisions turned in)
WIP Issues This Month: I was doing really well with the new WIP toward the beginning of the month. I managed to write at least 1000 words a day for a while. Then I got caught up with a lot of work and kind of hit a “meh” part of my manuscript and I stopped working on it every single day, or only wrote a few hundred words a day. I had revisions to do as well. Still, I wish I could write faster. I know it’s not a race (no deadline for this), but I hate drafting. I love everything else about writing (revising, marketing, even querying) much more.
Four things I learned this month in writing: 1. You can run out of steam on a book even when you don’t think you will at first.
2. Pushing through and working on the manuscript anyway is painful, but every writing session takes you closer to the end.
3. After stepping away from a manuscript for a long time (NOBODY’S LADY), some of it can seem brand new when you read it.
4. Reading your work a year and a half after you initially wrote it is a strange experience.
What distracted me this month while writing: It’s been cold, so I’ve mostly stayed home this month. I’ve been busy and stressed with work and life, but I do have some news to share. The short story that I wrote back in April (I reported the word count on these updates) can finally be announced! It’s going to appear in a charity anthology later this year. I was also allowed to reveal the blurb for NOBODY’S LADY and you can pre-order the paperback. (The e-book will be available but isn’t up for pre-order yet.) My cover reveal is scheduled for February 26th, and you can sign up here if you want to participate!
Goal for next month: I might have NOBODY’S LADY proofs to look over and then it’s probably ready to go to the printer! *-* Meanwhile, I want to keep working on my YA FAIRY TALE. I’d love to finish it in February, but I’ll try not to set the goal only to be disappointed.
Amy McNulty 
Wow, you got so much done this month! ^_^ It’s so true that we can run out of steam. I always think I won’t. Lol! But as long as the passion is still there we can keep moving forward.
Congratulations on getting a lot done in your story AND finishing up revisions! I can’t wait to see the latest cover!!
Thanks! Yeah, you’re right. Yet I’m disappointed because in the last week and a half or so I’ve barely written anything? I never stop to celebrate the victories! I’ll keep chugging along.
It’s going to be great, I think! (I still haven’t seen it, ha. But I saw an early version last summer, so I bet it’s cool.)
Whoa, you got a TON done on the fairtyale. Good work! And yeah, reading your MS after a year is super strange. I’m having that weird feeling now!
Good work next month and YAY FOR PRE-ORDERS! Signing up for the cover reveal now!
Thanks–I actually need to hear that because I felt like I didn’t get much done until I look at the word count. D’uh. I did get a lot done!
Thank you! 😀
Hooray for being able to announce your anthology story 🙂 And I’m looking forward to the cover reveal.
I totally get you on the drafting thing. It’s the least fun for me. I much prefer the revising and editing phase once I have something to work with.
Thank you! 😀
Yes! I thought I was the only one, but I think I found a few people here before who agreed with me that drafting is the worst. It seems like most writers love the writing part more than anything, but it’s just the hurdle I have to get through to get to the rest!
Congrats on everything you had going on this month! And yay for getting published in an anthology! Love your blurb too! Sounds exciting!
Signed up for the cover reveal too! All the best and more next month!
Thank you! 😀 You too!
Congrats on making so much progress! I can’t wait to see the cover for Nobody’s Lady. I don’t hate drafting, but I always breathe a sigh of relief when it’s over and I have a finished manuscript.
Thanks! Yes, having that finished ms makes me so happy! It doesn’t happen often enough. ;-;
Holy cow, you smashed it this month! From 4 chapters to 13.5?? Fabulous work! Congrats on your short story publication!
“2. Pushing through and working on the manuscript anyway is painful, but every writing session takes you closer to the end.”
Yes. This is so where I’m parking right now. Just getting that draft DONE. Hope February is a productive month for you!
Thank you! I actually thought I didn’t do well at first because I haven’t written much the past few weeks, but I got a lot done earlier in the month and I should have noticed that! Best of luck to you writing this month as well.