December 2018 Update

Still writing, still working on the second book.

As for the copywork exercises, I've paused that at the moment. I blame the cold weather. I do my exercise during my lunch time at work. I like doing it outdoors, taking in the fresh air and the sun. Well, winter came along and took a giant dump on that routine.

Anyway, I'm also having a writerly identity crisis: do I stick with self-publishing or do I focus on traditional publishing? Money, it seems, is not the deciding factor for me. I want a good editor, but I don't have the budget for a GOOD editor. A good avenue for me is getting into traditional publishing. But then again, that's like winning the lottery.

We'll see how it goes. Maybe it's the winter time blues...

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November 2018 Update

Now at 70% with the second draft of the second novel. At this rate, I think I'm going to finish at the end of December. This book will then be released by next year.

I need to create again...

The revision phase has shackled me to pruning mode, but my psyche is begging for creation mode. To sate that hunger, I'm planning on writing short stories, planning outlines and world building. Those I'm scheduling during my lunch hour at work.

But if that's the case, then my copywork exercise would be bumped off. Usually, I do my copywork during lunch hours. That said, I'm planning on doing these exercises every morning.

Of course reading comes in between. I read in the train, read while eating, read before going to sleep, read when there's nothing good on TV (or wait for my husband to come back home so we can binge watch Netflix).

Looking at this, I am fully devoted to my writing craft. Because of this, I am losing my interest in playing video games. The last game I played to the fullest was Octopath Traveler. After that? None.

I'm not even excited for Spider-Man or Red Dead Redemption 2 even though I had expressed my excitement on those titles. They're available now, but I can't seem to nudge myself in clicking the "buy" button.

Though it may be a loss, it is also a gain.

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Scene Analysis #12 - The Gunslinger by Stephen King

Greetings Persistent Writers! Here is my latest analysis: The Gunslinger by Stephen King.

October 2018 Update

58% done with the sequel.

Got one of my short stories accepted by a journal. Very happy with that!

That's about it with the writing life. As for personal life? New York Comic Con was a blast (as always). My husband bought a lot of NYCC exclusive action figures, which is his thing. For me, I bought some comics and graphic novels from The Artist Alley.

Got to see three panels in the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden. I was fanboying so hard when Good Omens came on and saw one of my favorite authors, Neil Gaiman.

During the Q&A, a writer had asked how they could develop their voice. Neil said that your voice is always there, but you need to get it out. He then quoted Chuck Jones who said, "every artist has thousands of bad drawings in them, and the only way to get rid of them is to draw them out."

I'm still drawing out (or writing out) a thousand bad drafts to get to the good ones.

And as life goes, everything comes to an end. I was inspired to write a farewell letter to this wonderful convention. See below:

---

Last day of New York Comic Con for us.

There were a lot of children there. Some of the children were growing gray, but had youth in their pose. Some children were dressed as their favorite comic book, TV and movie characters that they idolized ten, twenty or thirty years ago. And the same children brought their children with them, dressed in their favorite characters of the current.

Some of the children weren't dressed up, but participated in the play, the make-believe, the joyous act of suspending disbelief to enter a fantastical world.

These conventions are like tears in the universe where parallel worlds collide.

DC Universe collided with Marvel Universe.

My Hero Acaedemia mingled with the crew of One Piece.

Spider-Men and Spider-Women clashed with Venoms and Carnages.

And after the universes return to their place, snapping back like a stretched rubber band, we must remember this:

"Fiction is the lie that tells the truth."

Stories they may be, but there is a seed of truth within them. Our lives are filled with myths, and our myths are reflections of our lives.

So as Monday comes, when the work week begins, go and pick up a book, flip open a comic, stream a show or movie...

And play.

Play to be informed,

Play to be inspired,

Play to be invigorated.

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Scene Analysis #11 - A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin

Greetings Persistent Writers! Here is my latest analysis: A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin.

Scene Analysis #10 - Sirens Of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut

 Greetings Persistent Writers! Here is my latest analysis: Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut.

September 2018 Update

About 35% done on the 2nd draft.

I've formalized how I approach the copywork exercises. Before, I was a bit intimidated when drafting the blogpost on the exercises. Now, I'm kinda' confident on the entries. I've devised a questionnaire for myself, and once I've answered all the self-imposed questions, I draft the blogpost with those answers.

The third book, which is not connected with this series, is still in the outlining phase. I think this will be my workflow: draft or revise a novel, and then plan on the next novel. I had called myself a pantser before, but now I see the benefits of outlining: it allows you to work on a future project without fully committing your brain power on the current project.

The third book will be about "doorways."

Lastly, I've decided to stick with Kindle Exclusive, which means that my current book is only offered in Amazon. I'm still a newbie in this publishing game, so I'm taking a cue from the video game industry. Once I have more books under my belt (and more experience), then I'll open up the channels on other platforms.

As for life? Recently celebrated the fifth anniversary of marriage with my husband.

(The nerd on the right is me; the nerd on the left is my husband.)


Keep writing y'all!


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