For those who haven’t noticed, I just finished chapter 40 of 60 on this draft of Curse of a Dark God. My original target was September 5th to finish the draft. I’m closer in my projections than I have been in the past, but I’m clearly not going to make that date. However, I’m going to see what I can do these next three weeks and hopefully pull it off by the end of September.
This is possible. Author James Maxey just finished a novel of almost 60,000 words in one week. Yes, you heard that right. ONE WEEK! Here are his tips for doing this and here was his master plan when he started. I got to read his updates a few times each day. It was simply amazing.
Of course, there’s no way I can write 60,000 words in one week. Not because I think it’s impossible. But because it takes time. James had a week off and spent like 10 hours a day at it. I can’t take a week off. But even if I could, I don’t write as fast as James. But hopefully I can structure things to get more time and finish it in three weeks. We’ll see. I’ve been working on this draft for the last four months and have put in about 240 hours on it, roughly 12.5 per week. My slow 500 words per hour that I can’t seem to budge (yes, some is writing and some is revising as I go along). I wanted to get a solid 20 hours in each week–that’s really the key–and am disappointed I haven’t managed to do this. Of course, it’s hard with a full-time job and family and a daughter going off to college and life. Waa, waa, waa. But I’m going to see what I can do to boost that to 25 hours per week for the next few weeks. The good thing is that I’m really enjoying the story on the page.
As for manuscript size, the issue with the last draft, right now the manuscript is 123,000 words. The target is around 170,000. I’m roughly on track to hit that. I’m trying to keep my chapters around 2,500 words. We’ll see how close I get.
It’s official. SERVANT is in grocery stores outside of Utah. Saber2gecko saw and purchased a copy in a Raley’s grocery in the San Francisco Bay area then very thoughtfully posted that fact here. That chain has 144 stores. So not only is that great news for the book, but it also just plain rocks. I lived in that area for a few years. I love it down there. To know my book is circulating in the stores I used to shop is cool. Welcome to the Grove, California.
Send Frank, Sheriff Hood, and the Knitters of Death club to kick some award patootie!
Oh, just for your personal information John, the book I purchased was a Paperback.
I also was at a Safeway grocery today, but had no luck in spotting a copy of your book at that particular location. They may either have sold out and not restocked yet, or they may not be carrying it. If I spot it on a return visit, I’ll be sure to report back my findings here. :b
I may be off, but I think Raley’s is part of the same parent company that Smith’s is. It would seem that you have a fan up in corporate. Good for you!
The word spreads.
I did see it a Barnes & Noble out here in ND, but that is not quite the same thing, I know. ;D
Saber2gecko, thanks!
WEKM, I googled and saw that Kroger purchased some Raley’s in Vegas. But I went out to their site http://www.thekrogerco.com/ and didn’t see the logo. Then I went to the Raley’s site and didn’t see http://www.raleys.com/www/feature/facts.jsp mention of a Kroger purchase. If this is right, SERVANT is in at least four different chains.
Now we just need to get the book into WalMart!
Amen to that