Rolling for Coal:
As many of you know, I am currently writing my first novel, "Rolling for Coal" (working title). Though this blog is essentially a collection of random thoughts, it is intrinsically tied to my novel and even more so my writing process. It is with some hesitation that I share the status of this undertaking, nonetheless I feel it is only fair since most of you are the ones who have inspired me to write it in the first place.
- Status: Rewriting first draft - through 15 chapters (of probably 25-30).
- Research: ongoing (World War II era)
- Word-Count: 69,853 (approx 279 pages)
- Rewriting the first draft is a pre-revision step that I have just recently determined is necessary to flush out certain elements of the story. Once I complete this step, hopefully in the next few months, I will begin revising it in earnest.
- In the thick of the plot now...really want to complete the re-write by the end of summer. It is ambitious, but I'd like to have this sucker revised by the end of the year. From there...let's not go there yet.
- Not particularly a good piece of writing - but here is an excerpt from chapter 15 (why am i doing this?)
The snow quickly found its way into the alternating size 11 prints that followed me. Even with cautious steps, the humble slope down to the tracks felt like a steep grade. Just on the other side of the rails, the Susquehanna slowed to trickle, the jagged drifts of snow covered the ice like a rippled dune in a far off desert. I looked back and watched a car struggle to maneuver a left turn past the Shop. I thought to run back up the slope to help the man until he gained enough traction to accelerate through a rut that sliced through the road where I had just crossed. He had a steeper grade ahead of him and I doubted he would get enough speed up to make the climb. The Alleghney Mountains looked up at a heavy collection of dark clouds. And below, Lycoming waited.
Creative Writing Toolkit:
A side project related to my education as a writer. Basically it is a simple blog that highlights the materials I have used in my efforts to learn the art of creative writing. It is also a working lesson on blogging. I am afraid that as of this date, I have not been very successful - 28 page views in its history! Once I learn more about the inner workings of blogging, I truly hope that it can be a resource for other newcomers to fiction.
- Status: Published blog December, 16, 2010
- Page views: 28 (as of Jan 6, 2011)
- UPDATE: This blog is just rotting away in cyberspace. I really thought it would gain some momentum because the content is awesome, in my opinion, but something is just not right. I'm going to try and figure it out one day.
Not much to say here - this is a photoblog we plan on sharing with our family and friends so that they can see some of the adventures we experience while living abroad.
