Weekly Word Count: February 26

What Is This?

Following the lead of my mentor, friend, and exemplar, Tami Moore, this is a weekly article to document progress in meeting my writing goals as described here. I use an Excel spreadsheet to track all my work by category (blog post, copyediting work, creative writing) and item. So all I need to do is add up the “words” column and I’m good to go. This article will be counted, minus the first 150 words. However, it will be counted in the following week’s total. All other blog posts and creative writing count full credit. Copyediting for other writers is counted at ten percent of the starting word count for the document; style sheets for that copyediting will count twenty-five percent. Editing my own work, if and when I get to that point, will count fifty percent of the starting word count.

How Did I Do?

My weekly goal is 2,000 words. This week, I wrote a couple blog posts and did some copyediting for Iris.

• “Weekly Word Count: February 19” – blog post – 1,164 words
• “Featherpath, Chapter 8” – copyediting (twice!) – 460 words
• “How to Use MS Word to Track Edits and Revisions” – blog post – 1,083 words

Total: 2,707 words. Well above goal again, for which I’m happy. I had a hard time getting motivated this week, and I don’t really know why.

Projects

I think part of my funk is the growing realization that Darklight is not working the way I want: What I thought was perhaps the third scene from where I am now, is more likely going to happen much, much later—except, I’ve no clue about what happens after Chapter 3, until we get to the climactic scene that I thought was coming next. Confused? Take a seat next to me.

On a much more positive note, I went to Lowe’s yesterday and bought a new toilet and vanity. I also ordered a new bathroom sink, which should be here in about 3 weeks (or less). Oh, I also bought a new light fixture for the bathroom. So, a lot of progress on that front.

Also, it looks like the old vanity and sink will find a home in my son Scott’s house, so that’s a good thing. He lives in the lower level (walk-out basement) of his home, and rents out the upper level. His bathroom has a very, very small vanity, with just about no storage. So the hand-me-down will help out a lot (especially since he’s having to replace his water heater next week—ouch!).

Choose

One project I’m very happy about is Tami Moore’s self-published first volume of her web serial, Choose. As you may recall, I was privileged to copyedit this book, and I’m very happy to see it published. It’s available as both a bound book and a downloadable PDF. Here is the (corrected)review I posted at Lulu:

“Choose” began life as a reader-directed web serial. The author, Tami Moore, has an incredibly deft hand at creating characters we care about, a world that is believable, and scenes that leave the reader wanting more.

While set in a steampunk world, “Choose” does not smother the reader with its genre: Steampunk is part of the world, giving background and color. But steampunk is not the star of the book; the characters are. And the characters are driven, in large part, by the readers of the web serial: Each major plot twist or new character was determined by vote of the readers; hence the title.

Remora Windgates Price is a wealthy heiress who does not put on airs. She is what she is, and isn’t hesitant to use (but not abuse) her position. And of course, rich heiresses are occasionally the target of ruthless assassins.

She is in search of the mythical Dawnstar, and to find it, she needs the help of someone who doesn’t get squeamish in the face of possible extra-legal situations. Enter Handsome Hank McCoy, an airship captain who may or may not be a pirate as well.

Unfortunately, Hank’s airship isn’t really his at the moment. By the time Remora and Hank are out of jail (the events leading up to this minor mishap are too enjoyable to give away here), Remora is the owner of Hank’s Miraj. She’s also recruited another crewmember/bodyguard, who just happens to be a mortal enemy of Hank and his first mate, Bones.

Ahh…Bones. Easily the most memorable, and most popular, character in “Choose,” “he” is a ticker: a clockwork, which is an almost-human-appearing construct who almost has a sense of humor, and certainly a sense of when to needle his boss.

Together, this diverse group embarks on their quest, guided by Remora’s will, and that of Ms. Moore’s web readers. “Choose” is a wonderful, light-hearted romp that will have you begging for more.

Congratulations, Tami, and here’s hoping for bestseller status!