Finish one book, start the next ...

[Simon Haynes]

I finished editing my seventh novel for the year last night (well, at 5.30 this morning).  Got up again at 9am, sent it to my beta readers, then collapsed back into bed.

Now it's 11pm and I've just written 4500 words of plot outline for the next novel.

The funny thing is, this year I wrote one novel with no outline, then three with extremely detailed outlines, then another three where I just winged it completely, letting the characters do whatever they wanted, and now I'm back to a strict outline again.

I think switching between plotting and pantsing gives me a nice bit of variety. After all, who wants the same-same every day?

The other thing I have on my plate is to finish a 50k 'pen name' novel, and to rewrite two other 'pen name' novels in first person. I'm altering my writing software at the moment, so it will automatically handle as much of the conversion as possible, but it's still a big task.

[WasAnn]

I finished editing my seventh novel for the year last night (well, at 5.30 this morning).  Got up again at 9am, sent it to my beta readers, then collapsed back into bed.

Now it's 11pm and I've just written 4500 words of plot outline for the next novel.

The funny thing is, this year I wrote one novel with no outline, then three with extremely detailed outlines, then another three where I just winged it completely, letting the characters do whatever they wanted, and now I'm back to a strict outline again.

I think switching between plotting and pantsing gives me a nice bit of variety. After all, who wants the same-same every day?

The other thing I have on my plate is to finish a 50k 'pen name' novel, and to rewrite two other 'pen name' novels in first person. I'm altering my writing software at the moment, so it will automatically handle as much of the conversion as possible, but it's still a big task.

You are one busy man!

[angela]

That's a full schedule, Simon!

I always feel a bit sorry for myself if I have to put in the number of hours some indie authors are reported to work every day. I can only brain so many hours or I has the dumb.

[Mark Gardner]

I finished editing my seventh novel for the year last night (well, at 5.30 this morning).  Got up again at 9am, sent it to my beta readers, then collapsed back into bed.

Now it's 11pm and I've just written 4500 words of plot outline for the next novel.

The funny thing is, this year I wrote one novel with no outline, then three with extremely detailed outlines, then another three where I just winged it completely, letting the characters do whatever they wanted, and now I'm back to a strict outline again.

I think switching between plotting and pantsing gives me a nice bit of variety. After all, who wants the same-same every day?

The other thing I have on my plate is to finish a 50k 'pen name' novel, and to rewrite two other 'pen name' novels in first person. I'm altering my writing software at the moment, so it will automatically handle as much of the conversion as possible, but it's still a big task.

Way to go, Idaho!

[dgcasey]

I finished editing my seventh novel for the year last night (well, at 5.30 this morning).  Got up again at 9am, sent it to my beta readers, then collapsed back into bed.

When you love what you're doing you can just keep going. Just don't keep going so long you begin to hate it.

 :thumb    :hands

[Simon Haynes]

When you love what you're doing you can just keep going. Just don't keep going so long you begin to hate it.

Yep, true enough. That's happened to me a couple of times over my writing career. Not so much hated, just ... lost interest.

Right now I really feel like I'm building something special. I've created whole new series, instead of writing more of the same, and I still have the option of extending those series if people like them.

I'm also exploring different genres. I've just spent three months writing fantasy humour, sticking the boot into Tolkien and George RR Martin's works, but now I'm temporarily back to scifi comedy for a month, before I write a middle-grade novel, and finish off three novels under a cough pen name cough.

And then I have a brand new series of three military scifi books to tackle. They're about a lone wolf pilot rather than big space battles, and while they're in the same universe as all my other novels, they won't be comedy.

Not intentionally, at least.

[guest120]

I finished editing my seventh novel for the year last night (well, at 5.30 this morning).  Got up again at 9am, sent it to my beta readers, then collapsed back into bed.

Now it's 11pm and I've just written 4500 words of plot outline for the next novel.

The funny thing is, this year I wrote one novel with no outline, then three with extremely detailed outlines, then another three where I just winged it completely, letting the characters do whatever they wanted, and now I'm back to a strict outline again.

I think switching between plotting and pantsing gives me a nice bit of variety. After all, who wants the same-same every day?

The other thing I have on my plate is to finish a 50k 'pen name' novel, and to rewrite two other 'pen name' novels in first person. I'm altering my writing software at the moment, so it will automatically handle as much of the conversion as possible, but it's still a big task.

Your work ethic is enviable. Reading your posts gets me motivated. Thank you for that! Also, I'm with you on the plotting and pantsing. I tend to switch between them and I too like that variety...keeps the fire stoked.   

[Vijaya]

You are amazing!  :hands 

[Rob Martin]

Now that's a man with no time on his hands, lol.

[Jeff Tanyard]

I finished editing my seventh novel for the year

 


Wish I could produce like that.

[Ghost5]

 :hands

[Simon Haynes]

Now that's a man with no time on his hands, lol.

Actually, I spend the other half of my time programming and supporting 1000's of users online. (E.g. yWriter)

[Robin]

Simon, I wish I could be as productive as you!

[Gerri Attrick]

Yikes! Staggers off, exhausted,  for a nice lie down in a darkened room. 

[bookworm]

I'm altering my writing software at the moment, so it will automatically handle as much of the conversion as possible, but it's still a big task.

I used your software when I was a teenager working on my magnum opus! I loved playing around with the different features. That was a while ago - but it's not too late to thank you, right? (Only there's no THANKS emoji)

[Vijaya]

I'm altering my writing software at the moment, so it will automatically handle as much of the conversion as possible, but it's still a big task.

I used your software when I was a teenager working on my magnum opus! I loved playing around with the different features. That was a while ago - but it's not too late to thank you, right? (Only there's no THANKS emoji)

Me too! Except I was a grownup! I discovered Simon over on KB just a couple of months ago but moved over here because of all the weird ads and unacceptable ToS. Thank you, Simon. I remember you said you had another program that *translates* Amazon reports? I don't sell much but it might be useful in the future.

[Simon Haynes]

Yes, google Spacejock SalesScanner.  I use it daily, and I keep tweaking it to suit my needs. (Actually, you reminded me to release the lastest version.)