As 2009 ends tomorrow night, I’ve wrote a good scene, when Melinda’s at the Calverton Gun Range to meet Cole. Things are going to get intense for sure. I wrote 997 words on this quiet winter day with 81582 words. Things are going to pick up a notch or two real soon, some scenes will differ from my original dreams, as I re-dream them to make them better, since this summer’s interpretation. I’ll finish this in Mid-January, about 75% done for sure.
As for the other Nano mss, it’s the same old deal with three out of four editing counts were 15 and higher: I’ve cut 10 words in Double Exposure, 26 words in 24-Hour Chain Reaction, 33 words in Venom’s chapter 2 only (no adds) and 59 words in Specimen. I should hit the 97 K mark for Specimen by this weekend, the 133 K by New Year’s Day for 24-Hour Chain Reaction. Nonetheless, I’m going to work hard in January to whip Venom into shape, even the love scene.
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We’re down to the final two days of 2009. I’ve started writing chapter 11 today and will finish it tomorrow or Thursday. It’s going to get a bit intense, real soon for Melinda. I wrote 1067, like a fast cold wind blowing in from the storm, and became still at 80585. Now we’ll be cutting it close with 20 K left before I stop and edit in about 1 month after I finish. I’ll resume writing probably this summer and start dreaming Cave-in around the same time. So we’ll see where this takes me.
For my other Nano mss, it’s another three ain’t four stories in the editing department: I’ve cut 5 words in Double Exposure, 15 words in Venom (and added 12), 25 words cut in 24-Hour Chain Reaction and 43 words in Specimen. So January, I hope, it changes everything for me, for the better. Will have to prepare soon for 2010.
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Last week I introduced the first of the six “punk” subgenres, which might be new or making a comeback to the sci fi/speculative fiction genre. We started off with the grand daddy of them all, which was cyberpunk. Now we’re changing gears to a newer sci fi genre, also featured in Sci Fi Wire’s same article. And that is biopunk. If cyberpunk deals with computer technology, biopunk deals with biology in some way. According to Writer’s Digest, the definition for this one is a blend of film noir, Japanese anime and post-modern elements used to describe an underground, nihilistic biotech society. What’s interesting is Sci Fi Wire’s explanation is contradictory to that one: this apocalyptic near future genre deals with genetic engineering and bio-enhancement. The one example of that subgenre is Peter Watts’s “Starfish” and its sequels in that article.
Which do you think it’s the right definition? Or all they both right? An underground nihilistic biotech society or altered DNA? Please feel to drop me a comment on what you think of biopunk. P.S. In Double Exposure, my second eco-thriller, it does have a hint of “biopunk” in there, maybe 1%, which deals with eco-terrorism and altered DNA in the present day and not in the near future–that’s the only difference. This was before I’ve learned about biopunk last week. I don’t want to give away too much of my scenario. Next week, we’ll take a peak at the next “punk” subgenre.
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As we say goodbye to 2009 and hello to 2010 this weekend, I approach my final extra Nanofimo month. Today I finished chapter 10 with the second scene, a scene with the baddies, to prep Melinda up for her home security and back in the force for this week. I wrote 867 words, a total of 79518 so far, with 21 K left of leeway before I have to stop for awhile, unfinished, and edit 10 K back at Nanoedmo. I probably resume writing this summer. We’ll see where it takes me.
As for my other Nano mss, three ain’t of four ain’t bad for high word counts: I’ve cut 3 words in Double Exposure, 16 words cut for 24-Hour Chain Reaction, 22 words cut for Venom’s 15 (and added 10), and cut 43 words in Specimen. I do have to redo chapter 14’s love scene in Venom in the end. But I hope to get it done within a month to pitch/query in February or earlier. Here’s hoping for a possible launch to my dream career.
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And the beat goes on… I finished the first scene of chapter 10 today, as Melinda prepares for her mission in a bit. A whopping 835 came in like an unexpected winter blizzard, showering me with 78651 for my word count. Getting closer and close to my final end zone for now to approach it in a month. Pretty soon, I’ll be dreaming of ideas on how to edit it and my next Nano ms to write this summer perhaps, Cave-In. I’m working on it.
As for my other Nano mss, I’ve cut 11 words for Double Exposure, 23 words in 24-Hour Chain Reaction, 77 words in Venom (35 in chapter 2 tweaks, 42 in 14, added 19 words) and 89 words in Specimen. Wow, high numbers. I’m 101 words away from reaching 133 K and should reach it real soon in 24CR. Making good progress in Venom, almost at halfway point to reach my goal of the re-pitch.
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Well as we head into the final week of 2009, I’m still hoping to finish Web of Deceit sometime around there, in mid to late January. I wrote 909 words today, which was plenty of sunshine of easy flow of words in writing today, and had no storm to crash land my plot at 77816 for a total. I’m down to 23 K to go before I decide what’s next to do: stop at 100 K like I’ve done in the past, edit 10 K in Nanoedmo and resume, or go a little bit further. Since when I finish will be close to Nanoedmo, after putting it aside for 4-6 weeks, I would assume the latter; otherwise, it would be the former. That means, it’ll be on hold for at least a year. From March 2010 and onward, I’ll edit it for possible 2011 publication, depending how 2010 goes with Venom and others. For Melinda, she’s shocked at the photos and learns what to do and not to do undercover.
As for my other Nano mss, all were on an upside yet again today. I’ve cut 15 words in Double Exposure, 18 words in Specimen, 28 words in Venom (added 19), and 35 words in 24-Hour Chain Reaction. Since I’m almost at the halfway point, I hope to finish Venom a month from next week or earlier. I’m getting there.
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Merry X-mas everyone. I gave myself an early X-mas tree this morning, when I wrote 1038 words in the middle of chapter 10. This is where Melinda learns that her ex has more than one agenda up his sleeve. No coal in my stocking, as I hope to finish chapter 10.1 tomorrow and move full speed ahead to 10.2. I’m at 76907 for my word count and need some leeway later on. Ugh! Don’t want to go over 100 K this time around.
As for my Nano mss, I’ve gotten a trifecta of hitting 15 words cut each for 24-Hour Chain Reaction, Specimen and Double Exposure. No coal here. As for Venom, I’ve cut 58 words and added 26 words this time around. Making good progress on the holidays. Merry X-mas everyone!
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Happy holidays everyone! This morning, I started to whip out a great first start for chapter 10.1 in Web of Deceit. Melinda learns about those photos and a possible connection between her ex and her boss. 1017 words is a nice present for me, wrapped up for a grand total of 75871 for today on X-mas Eve. That leaves 25 K left to write it within a month, and possibly extend myself some leeway with 10 K to get as far as I can before I edit in March. We’ll see.
As for my Nano mss, I’ve got a double surprising pleasure when all of my word counts were 15 and higher–two mss shared the same word count, the other two got the same. I’ve cut 15 words for The 24-Hour Chain Reaction and Double Exposure, and 22 words for Specimen and Venom’s 14 (added 56 words.) But I’m making it in a good pace to reach the halfway point in 6 days. Seasons greetings! Let’s make it in 2010!
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Now when the going’s get tough, the tough’s get going. That’s what’s going to happen for Melinda real soon. I finished chapter 9 today with 844 words, not bad for lapping around the pool in good freestyle strokes. I finished my swim at 73854. I’ll start chapter 10 tomorrow and finish around Saturday. Tomorrow I’ll hit the 75 K and have 25 K left to spare to write. I might give myself an extension and add at least another 10 K and that’s as far as I’m willing to go.
As for my other Nano mss, I’ve cut 9 words in 24-Hour Chain Reaction, 11 in Double Exposure, 13 in Venom’s 13 (no adds) and 23 for Specimen. I’ll reach the halfway mark in a week, when I have chapters 14-15 at 9 pages each with one scene. I should finish sometime next month and then pitch/query by late January. Fingers crossed. Things are going to go fast.
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This subgenre is no mystery, since it’s from the mystery genre. The humor/comic mysteries are better known as a bumbling detective. I haven’t read any from them. But adding humor, even a punchline or two, can really lighten the mood in a dour mystery, especially after a death or ghastly crime. Even you the reader are having a bad day, these books can make you feel better, like a chick lit book or a romantic comedy movie. We need to even out the laughter with the drama. According to WD magazine, this is what the definition means: Comic (Bumbling Detective): a mystery played for laughs, often featuring a detective who is grossly unskilled (but often solves the crime anyway, owing to tremendous good luck). Have you read any of these books lately? What are you thoughts?
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