G. Derek Adams liked a comment in the forum thread, How do you prepare a story?

Consistency and structure aren't exactly my friends, but even with my chaos-loving ways I do have some tendencies.

I approach writing the same way I approach my artwork (I'm a painter), meaning that I constantly switch back and forth between two modes; inspiration dumping and self-editing/study. Inspiration dumping is getting all of the ideas that pop into my head down on paper. This is usually the characters, certain aspects of the world, most of the dialogue, some of the descriptions, many of the plot points. Self-editing/study is when I step back and apply some critical thinking. The timelines, themes, how things relate to each other, how things function, making lists and diagrams, and anything that might be missing. Research also falls into this category. I don't do research for every project, but when I do, I become obsessive.

The other tendency that carries over from painting is that I "work the whole canvas," meaning that I write the beginning, middle, and end concurrently.

like · liked by Joseph and 1 other

G. Derek Adams liked an update for She Is the End

My campaign is over!

IN PRODUCTION!

Now... I just need to make sure my book is the best book ever to book, don't I?

SO! Most of the manuscript is done, but there are some rather... wobbly parts. January and February are going to be hardcore #amwriting months, and I'm aiming to be done with my final, FINAL edits by February 29th. Leap Day!

Thank you so much, everyone who has helped me get through this campaign.

Thank you to the other half of my heart, Alex, without whom I'd be adrift.

Thank you to John Robin and Joe Terzieva, who have helped me keep my head on straight through all the craziness.

Thank you to Matt Kaye, Avalon Radys, Jeremy Thomas, and Thad Woodman at Inkshares, who have been so supportive and encouraging.

Thank you, my readers. You are taking a chance on me, and I'm not going to let you down.

like · liked by Tony and 23 others

G. Derek Adams liked an update for The Footsteps of Cain

Damn you, holidays. How dare you get in the way of THE WORK. You really are a jerk. Hey, I rhymed! That was totally unintentional.

Despite the massive speed bump of the break, I do have something to report. Just before I saturated myself with cookies and presents, I did hit a milestone. 400 pages! 100,000 words! That was my original estimate, quantity-wise, and I'm kind of psyched that I made it there. If I had to guess, I'm thinking that I've got another 10,000 to 15,000 to go, and I'll stamp this puppy as “kind of finished”!. Kind of, because of the whole editing thing, which of course will be lickity-split, because of COURSE I'm SO GOOD that the manuscript in it's raw form is PERFECT. (Bluster bluster bluster...ego ego ego.)

Okay...maaaaaybe there will still be some work to be done. I've divided the book into three acts, or “books”. The first and third, I think are pretty strong. It's that pesky middle one that's going to need the most work. I am really happy how the third act is concluding...I think things are getting wrapped up alright. Although, I'm sure that when I go back through I'll realize that I forgot something HUGE, like neglecting to mention something really important, like how, in the distant dystopian future, nobody bothers to wear pants. EVER.

Was that a red herring? A ruse? Or, in fact, is it critical plot exposition??? You'll never know. I mean, you will...that is...when I finish this thing and get it the eff out of the factory and into the hands of the consuming public.

I'm pretty happy. February was and is my original delivery time, and I think I'm still going to make it, as long as something horrible doesn't happen. Even if it slips, I can still say that I've done a decent job committing to the progress. Yay, me. (Back slapping sound.)

The funny thing about these posts is that I'm not sure that anybody actually reads them. I haven't really done much to promote myself yet, because I don't like saying things like “Hey, guys! I'm Derek! I'm writing a book! Oh...no...it's not done yet...but if you'll wait a few months I'll have it all ready!” I just figure that people might forget about it, and not come back to paint my greedy hands with their hard-earned greenbacks. (There. You've make me spill my ultimate intentions.) But, if anybody really is seeing this...well...then thanks. :)

The era of “pre-first-book” is a special kind of purgatory. There's nothing to point to, other than the idea of a product. Everything is just preamble and intent...there's nothing concrete, other than a web page and a bio. Sigh. I've wanted this for so long. The last few yards are truly the longest.

But, when it's all written and done, I'll be a world-famous, lambo-driving, surrending-to-excess SOB, and I'll be loving it. Or, the book will suck, and I'll live the rest of my life inside my literal closet.

Or, perhaps somewhere in between. Tally ho!

Back to work.

like · liked by Tony and 3 others

Keith followed G. Derek Adams

G. Derek Adams

Emotional Greasefire

Follow

G. Derek Adams followed Keith Young

Keith

An avid reader.

Follow

G. Derek Adams liked an update for She Is the End

My campaign ENDS TODAY!!!

If you want a copy signed by me, this is the last day to pre-order it.

ALSO, I decided that anyone who pre-orders today will become a character in the book. You! In the book! So, order now!

I'm excited and scared, guys. I need to mold this manuscript into the most beautiful thing I've ever created (besides my children), and then we'll get the book into your hands a quickly and smoothly as possible.

And if you're excited about She Is the End, you can now go follow the draft for the sequel...

She, the Defiant!

Yay!!!

like · liked by Tony and 14 others

G. Derek Adams sent an update for Asteroid Made of Dragons

I sent this out to my blog followers last week - but I thought you guys might enjoy it as well. For new travelers visiting the setting of Asteroid Made of Dragons.