Saturday, July 28, 2012

1500 Words a Day


I'm always on the look-out for writing methods. It fascinates me to learn about the way others write. No two are the same. What works for one writer, doesn't always work for another. But, that doesn't mean a writer shouldn't try new methods, just to see if maybe it might work for them.

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I read recently that Stephen King writes between 5-10 pages a day, everyday. If I calculate 250 words per page, that’s between 1250-2500 words a day. Doesn't seem like a lot. (HA!) Many days I average about 2000 words. Then on some days whatever talent I possess has been drained from me and I'm lucky to have 400 shoddy words to prove it. I don't write every single day either. I tend to work on my project and obsessively finish it, or sometimes get stumped and set it aside for a bit (I hate doing that) and find something else to work on. But I take breaks in between. I work on editing. I read a lot. Many articles about the writing craft and the business side of writing. I also do research for my stories. So, even when I'm not producing word counts, I'm still working on my writing, just from a different angle. 

At times it seems a bit difficult to get back into the writing part of it if I linger away for too long. I often hear writers preach that you must write every day to keep the writing muscle strong. For writing is like working a muscle, isn't it? If you don't exercise, it gets a little sloppy until you get back into the swing of things again.

Since I do a lot of research into the way other writers work, I thought I'd try an experiment. My method of writing seems a little laid back. I have three young children between the ages of 22 months and 6 years. They take up a lot of my day. I have a flexible writing schedule, doing most of my writing in the early morning hours and at naptime. I don't like to stress myself, but I do like to push myself to try harder, so that's what I'm going to do now. I'm challenging myself.

I going to write 1500 words. Every. Day. 

Starting today, I'm going to strive to reach a word count of 1500 (or more!) every day until school starts at the end of August. Then I'll re-evaluate my writing schedule and see how well I've done.

Am I insane? I'm not sure yet. I've never given myself such a challenge before, but I do enjoy challenges. However, because I hate to stress myself, I have given myself an easy way to out. No, I'm not going to quit.

I'm going to write 1500 words every day, but they don't necessarily need to be part of a manuscript. Aha! No one said my writing muscle needed to be a fiction writing muscle. So, if I feel stumped with my characters for the day, I might give them some breathing room. Sometimes I need a day or two to figure out a solution to whatever has stumped me. So on those days (hopefully there will be very few!) I'll write a blog post or two. I'll look up writing prompts and try those for some exercise. I'll write about my day in a diary-like fashion. Or I'll write about my kids. I do have their journals I need to catch up on. I'll write about any little thing, as long as I get 1500 words (or more!) a day.

Look here! I'm counting this blog post as part of my word count for today! See, it's working!

When I look at it this way, it seems completely do-able. After all, there are 24 hours in a day. I can certainly sneak an hour or two away for solely myself and my writing. I've done more in the past, I can do this, too.

I'll check back in near September with my results. Hopefully, I'll have some positive things to say about my experience. Wish me luck!

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Who Are The Dark Sentinels?


They lived millions of years ago, fatalities of fear and prejudice. Now, answers to a prayer for survival, they are among us again. Other shifters were nearly extinct, murdered by the thousands at mostly human hands. Capable of shifting at will, without the aid of the moon’s phases, they were born to protect them. Bigger, stronger, faster, and longer living, with highly developed preternatural abilities, they are prized outsiders among their packs. Prized for their ability to protect, yet destined to live as outsiders because of the very differences necessary to prevent the pack’s extinction.
Born to stand at the crossroads between pack-members and their slaughterers, Sentinels quickly learn that they are on their own – a different species. Born human, only two are born to each pack, male and female alphas, brother and sister. Pack members deny them mating privileges within the pack based on fear. No female wants to bear a sentinel because their lives are constantly at risk. When danger comes to the pack, they are on the front line, considered expendable.
When they reach mating age, they leave the pack for a time to find a mate – another sentinel. What happens when a sentinel develops feelings for a human? What happens when malevolent scientists learn how to strengthen humans by using sentinel blood?  As you can imagine, with their feral nature barely beneath the surface, Dark Sentinel passions run high. Touch, affection, and loyalty are necessary for their survival, and they are willing to go to extraordinary measures, risk everything, and break every rule for love.

Dark Sentinels – Book One: Sable

Sable, a sentinel wolf shifter, is captured and locked in his wolf form until Akila, a veterinarian, tries to tame him and unleashes a 6'5" baby blue-eyed surprise.

Dr. Akila Marshall is a veterinarian with a calling – save as many stray animals as possible. The only child of wealthy, yet distant parents, she’s convinced that love is not for her. Until…

Sable’s search for his twin sister leads him to Akila. Born into a rare species of wolf shifters whose main purpose is protecting others, he has always been forced to fend for himself, but Akila’s loving, protective nature draws him – and not a moment too soon. Together, they must learn to trust each other enough to overcome a new, deadly enemy.


Visit Dariel's site at http://www.pendarielraye.blogspot.com/ to find information about her books and music!