Monday

[azhure]

While I’m editing, I’ve decided to take a break from the daily wordcount posts.  Their primary purpose is to keep me accountable for what I’m working on, and I’m afraid that they have just become monotonous.  Has anyone actually been reading them?

I spent today editing edits.  I’ve been mulling over some plot points, and I figured out how to make them make more sense.  So I’ve been filling in some stuff at the start of the book, and quite enjoying doing so.  I’d still be writing right now, except I’ve developed a headache that’s just bad enough to break my concentration.  Meh.

I also have a tentative new title for the book - instead of Thought and Memory, it’s now The White Raven.   The companion book is going to be The Black Raven.  It all makes sense in the context of the books.

Now I really need to drag myself away from the computer screen and let this headache go away.

[cross-posted from my website]

Comments

[gillpolack.livejournal.com]

The wordcount is to help getting through a first daft, surely. Do you need it again until you're asking an agent/publisher to look at it?

For me, the content is supreme in that interim period and wordcounts mean I keep watching them rather than checking that I have got rid of the character who turned out to be function-free - which is what I ought to do tonight, I guess.

[azhure.livejournal.com]

It's really just the easiest way for me to keep myself honest and accountable. Though it probably acts as a distraction when I'm editing. Right now, I'm just trying to get the bones of this book *working*, so they're really not much help.

[skybee.livejournal.com]

i love the new titles! i think they are great. i skip past your wordcounts because i figure they are just for you to keep track of. hope the headache gets better soon!

[azhure.livejournal.com]

It's me keeping myself honest, mostly, by making the work I do public. I always feel if I'm not holding myself accountable, I'll end up doing no work at all.

And yay! I'm glad you like the new titles.

[stephbg.livejournal.com]

I *love* the new title.

[azhure.livejournal.com]

ee! Thanks :)

[x-raeya-x.livejournal.com]

I read them, though I know I don't comment much on them. I like the new titles. 'Thought and Memory' made me think of a slow contemporary drama. I like 'The White Raven' MUCH better.

[moonvoice.livejournal.com]

I like the dual titles White Raven / Black Raven A LOT, that's awesome. I didn't mind Thought and Memory, because it reminded me of Huginn and Muninn; but I think this is more individual, and would make for an excellent, captivating title. :)

[tauria.livejournal.com]

I really enjoy you commitment to your word count. Wish I could do that...

[azhure.livejournal.com]

It's just stubbornness, really ;)

[fibro-witch.livejournal.com]

I think the new titles sound great. Looking at your word counts and how they grow does make me happy for you, but does not mean anything to me except as a reminder that I can't do more than 5,000 words without getting lost.

[snowywolfowl.livejournal.com]

I don't comment on them much, mainly because I have little of value to say. Personally though, I do think its a great idea, and one I should adopt when I can finally get back to the writing. There is something to be said for accountability.

Book Titles

[perzephone.livejournal.com]

I don't know if book titles are copyrighted or not, but depending on your subject matter, Diana Paxson wrote a book called The White Raven (it's a take on Tristan & Isolde) & it might cause some confusion among sci-fi/fantasy readers.

Re: Book Titles

[azhure.livejournal.com]

There's no copyright on titles (though you'd struggle trying to publish something with the same name as a bestseller, obviously). And realistically, few writers get to keep their titles anyway, depending on how marketable they are.

Re: Book Titles

[perzephone.livejournal.com]

Well, hey, at least there's no legal issues there. It's kind of sucky that a publisher would get to arbitrarily choose a new title, though :(