Saturday, July 31, 2010

1k-a-day Day 31

Day 30 word count: 0
SS current word count:

LI current word count:

WS current word count: Zippo on the word count for me yesterday. Our 18 year old kitty, Vegas, has been going through a rough patch and we were on "death watch". Sigh. We're taking her back to vet today to see what's up with our little diva.

Here's hoping everyone gets writing on this last day of 1k!




Day 30 word count: 1,382

Parlor current word count: 34,363

WD current word count:
Dream current word count: 2,212

Wow, today is the last day of 1k-a-day. The time flew by! Be sure to try to hit those word counts hard today for one last push. Everyone did so awesome, be sure to take Sunday off and not think about writing! You deserve it. I know I'll be relaxing.

Since today is the last day, I have extended the deadline for the last Friday book giveaway. I will be announcing the winner tomorrow, instead of today. If you haven't posted your word count for the week, please do so to be entered.

As I mentioned a few days ago, we have one final HUGE prize to give away. On Monday we will be announcing what is included in the prize and Tuesday we will announce the winner! If you have participated at all in 1k-a-day and have commented on a post throughout the month, you will be entered to win!

Also look for our final post with the 1k-a-day end word counts and some thoughts on how the month progressed.

Good luck everyone!

Friday, July 30, 2010

1k-a-day Day 30

Day 29 word count: 1551
SS current word count:

LI current word count:
WS current word count:
Untitled: 1551

I needed a break from SS yesterday and so I just sat at my laptop and wrote whatever came to mind. To do so can be a dangerous thing. Writing is a form of therapy after all.

With summer here and us spending time at the beach, I've been having these flashbacks to the days when my father was healthy and strong, and used to take us out to the lake to swim all day, and burn burgers on an open fire. My dad is originally from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. When he was a kid, he swam every day, rain or shine. We've been in Alberta forever. Here we have seas of canola fields. I know he made do with our leach-dodging, muddy-bottom lake swims, but it would have been wonderful for him to get to the sea one last time before Alzheimer’s really started to do some damage. Anyway...the bit I wrote starts like this...

"Lightning flashed where sky and water met in a black line across the horizon. I saw your mouth moving, but your laughter never reached me. It travelled with the wind, skimmed the white caps and was lost. You waved, then dove under one last time. I shivered on the shore. Waiting. Towel around my shoulders, my damp hair hanging in crisp strands. I wanted to go home, but you had just arrived."

Anyway. Re-reading it today is tough. It's raining this morning, maybe I'll head to the lake, Dad. Wish you could join me.

Day 29 word count: 4,288

Parlor current word count: 32, 981

WD current word count:
Dream current word count: 2,212

I had a great day yesterday, which felt good since we're down to only two days left of 1k-a-day counting today. I edited and rewrote 1 1/2 chapters, one of those chapters pretty hefty. Things are going well, and the new character traits I've added turning 1k-a-day are weaving in nicely. I'm also proud that I have hit above 31k (which would end 1k-a-day) before the last day.

Today we will be giving away more books! Be sure to post your word count if you have yet for the week. Plus, in the first few days of August, Tracy and I will be revealing what is included in the large final prize pack that includes a signed book, ARCs, swag and more! Every person who has posted during 1k-a-day as a participant will be eligible to win.

Also, for the previous winners, I have waited to go to the post office at the end of 1k-a-day. I will inform you all when I send out the books.

Good luck everyone!

Thursday, July 29, 2010

1k-a-day Day 29

Day 28 word count: 1343
SS current word count:

LI current word count:
WS current word count:

SOMT - 1343


We're down to the wire with 1k! Exciting stuff. ;) I wrote a scene for Second Skin and then realized I HAD to save it for the third book, Skin of My Teeth. It's now in a file with a bunch of notes, bits of scenes, bits of dialogue, etc - I have no idea how many words I actually have for that book. I'm still plotting through the SS ender. I want to end on a cliffhanger, but give enough resolution that the novel can stand alone. Sooooo tough to do. Enjoy the last few days and the giveaways!


Day 28 word count:
878

Parlor current word count: 28,693

WD current word count:
Dream current word count: 2,212

I didn't hit 1k yesterday, but I got a LOT done. I edited/rewrote 2 chapters and also had a slight character development change. Overall, I'm not super happy with the two chapters, but I think they improved. I'm moving on tomorrow with a few more chapters, and will return to the two I did today when I start on draft 3. It was a good day, I felt confident in my writing and also found a new coffee/tea/gelato place which was friendly and homey. They even have rocking chairs! Too awesome.

Great giveaways by Tracy yesterday! Congrats to the winner. :) Look for more giveaways as 1k-a-day comes to an end in the new few days. Good luck everyone!

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

BEA ARC Winner....

Thanks to my husband picking a number between 1 and 3 - we have a winner......BEE!

Please email me at tracebelsher at ymail dot com with your addy and I'll send you the ARCs.

Congrats!

The BEA ARC Giveaway!

Alrighty 1k-a-day participants. Here's a fun giveaway for you. Comment on THIS post with your word count for today to enter for today's prize. Winner will be announced at 9PM EST.


Up for grabs we have an ebook ARC of Ascendant by Dianna Peterfreund. Since I'm not 100% sure the ebook will work (it was from BEA and who knows it might have an expiry date), I'm also giving away a print copy ARC (also from BEA) of Halo by Alexandra Adornetto. Soooo...hopefully you'll end up with two amazing ARCs, but at the very least you'll get one. ;)


Here are the blurbs:






Astrid is now a fully trained unicorn hunter, but she can't solve all her problems with a bow and arrow. When she's given the opportunity to leave the Closters to put her scientific skills to use discovering the Remedy, Astrid leaps at the chance. But soon Astrid begins to question everything she thought she believed: her love for Giovanni, her loyalty to the Cloisters, and - most of all - her duty as a hunter. Should Astrid be saving the world from killer unicorns, or saving the unicorns from the world?






Three angels are sent down to bring good to the world: Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, a teenage girl who is the least experienced of the trio. But she is the most human, and when she is romantically drawn to a mortal boy, the angels fear she will not be strong enough to save anyone—especially herself—from the Dark Forces.
Is love a great enough power against evil?

1k-a-day Day 28

Day 27 word count: 1446
SS current word count: 62 599

LI current word count:
WS current word count:


Somehow I worked in my 1k amidst watching several movies and weeding in the garden (although I swore never again after last week - but those weeds haunt me!).


I hope to stay focused on writing today, although after watching The Runaways last night, I just might end up calling a few friends to jam. My bass has been lonely. ;)


Day 27 word count:
0


Parlor current word count: 27,815


WD current word count:
Dream current word count: 2,212

Okay, so I was bad yesterday and didn't write but I did do some research, does that count? I also had a lovely time with my friend I met online. The last few days I plan to hit the word count pretty hard, so we'll see where I get. I love 1k-a-day because it makes me feel guilty when I write. Yesterday was one of those days. I hope to finish re-writing a few more chapters before the month is through.

Can't wait to see what ARC Tracy is giving away today!! Good luck to everyone who enters.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

1k-a-day Day 27

Day 26 word count: 2007
SS current word count:

LI current word count:
WS current word count:

I spent all of yesterday working on catchy back blurbs for Second Skin. Even though my editor may choose something completely different - I needed to work on the pitch anyway. I compiled all the versions into a single Word doc and whoa, that was some word count. ;) Some of the lines I created are pretty cool and might get worked into SS. But did I actually write for SS? Nope.

Today I will.

Giving away a freebie book tomorrow - an ARC I think you'll be excited about!

Day 26 word count:
1,423

Parlor current word count: 27,815

WD current word count:
Dream current word count: 2,212

Words did not come easy yesterday. I had to force them out through the throbbing in my mouth and foot. That being said, the dentist trip went as good as hoped when you're getting two fillings. I was able to spend some time crocheting and watching a movie (Did you hear about the Morgans? which was an okay movie. Didn't love it, and the writing kinda sucked but it was entertaining enough) which was a nice break from struggling to write.

Today I meet a friend from the internet that I've been talking to for some time. We're planning to go have coffee and crochet (yes, I am that big of a dork), so I hope to get my words in before that so I don't feel stressed that I'm not writing.

Wow, I can't believe we only have 3 more days after today. Did July just fly by for everyone or was it just me? I believe tomorrow Tracy will be giving away a book, so be sure to stick around and find out how to enter to win! Good luck everyone!

Monday, July 26, 2010

1k-a-day Day 26

Day 25 word count: 0
SS current word count:

LI current word count:
WS current word count:

Ugh - epic fail on writing yesterday. I didn't even plot. Sigh. Was obsessing over drafts of the Second Skin cover - that's right, the cover is in the works and so are two teaser trailers. :) Kinda lights a fire under your butt to finish the book, let me tell ya.

Tami - hope the dentist goes well. Think of a happy place...


Day 25 word count:
899

Parlor current word count: 26,392

WD current word count:
Dream current word count: 2,212

Wow did I have a weird weekend. Saturday I went to the eye doctor as I mentioned and then my husband got sick. We spent the night at the ER (he's okay) and didn't get much sleep. Yesterday we took it easy, just running errands and such. I got a lot of reading time in, which is awesome. I was finishing up laundry, when I didn't realize there was a small crowbar sitting on top of the dryer. I went to empty the lint trap, which caused the crowbar to fall on my almost barefoot (I had on flip flops). Now I'm hobbling around, wondering if a small bone could be broken. Not fun. The crowbar instantly left a dent/bruise. Today I go to the dentist (in about 10 minutes actually) to get a cavity filled. My life is FULL OF FUN! I hope to get some time in writing today but frankly, I just feel like vegging on the couch reading and watching movies. We'll see how it goes once I get back from the dentist.

I hope everyone has a great day! It's the start of the last week of 1k-a-day. We have a ton of prizes/books to give away to make sure to stick around. You owe it to yourself!