This week got derailed from the get-go I'm afraid. A bout of insomnia on Sunday night made Monday night one of those want-to-but-can't nights. I mean I could sit down at the laptop, but couldn't concentrate enough to type much.
Tuesday night was a movie night for the family as we went to a special 3-D Imax screening of Transformers: The Last Knight. Even though the movie started at 7, the evening didn't end until after 11, so not a big night for writing.
Did manage some rewrites on Familiar Stranger on Wednesday night, but I'm at a point where some of the timelines need work. I've got more time and less action to fill that time. As a "pantser," a writer who sits down and writes without everything outlined in advance, this is an occupational hazard. With a little more time I should be able to fix that. Oh, but time...
Thursday night is the time I spend putting together the Saturday Morning Review, San Francisco (1936). My editor on this might not believe me, but this is the time I copy the review into Blogger, check the grammar and add photos to illustrate the review.
My Friday afternoon was spent running errands and Friday night was Family movie night, Transformers (2007). Saturday was yard work, laundry, errands and another viewing of Transformers: The Last Knight, this one also in 3D, but free at Paramount. (I'm a sucker for a free movie.)
All those distractions aside, some work did actually get done. On Powers Squared, we got four more pages finalized with our artist, though we're still missing a couple of Tiffs. We also got four more pages from our colorist. In addition, I took the first pass at Issue #3, making some notes for Paul to also review. On top of that, I reviewed what would be the scripts for Issues #6 and 7; you have to plan ahead. Still some edits to be made, but I'm guessing we have plenty of time to make them.
And to make the week complete, I also finished a review for Journey into Fear (1943) and began one for He Ran All the Way (1951).
So while not my most productive week, things still got done.
Sunday, June 25, 2017
Sunday, June 18, 2017
A Week in Writing #147
Surprise surprise, a fairly productive week on all projects: Familiar Stranger, Powers Squared, and Trophy Unlocked.
I tried this week to break up the writing by time. First thing in the morning, I try to post whatever tweets relate to anniversary reviews we have on Trophy Unlocked, this week including Raiders of the Lost Ark; Holiday; The Endless Summer; The Lion King; Psycho; and The Immigrant. Trying to keep page views coming on the blog.
When I got home after work, I worked on a review of Red Dust and Journey into Fear, the former which I also posted as Trophy Unlocked's Saturday Morning Review. I'm still working on the latter, but I should finish it this week.
After dinner, I worked on Powers Squared. We received four pages from the artist, including layouts and pencils, but we're still waiting for the inks. Our colorist is working on her pages and our letterer also did some pages this week as well. While we're firmly working on Issue #4, we still have some wrapping up to do on Issue #3. But progress is progress.
Additionally, started making notes for an idea for a future story. Have the premise, but I'm working on the details.
I tried this week to follow up on the publication dates for Issues #1 and #2, but nothing new to report. I'm not sure what publicity we'll have either, though our contact at ComiXology wants to meet at San Diego Comic Con to discuss. Will report more here as I know it.
Also, sent our submission to Image Comics to see if they might want to physically publish our books. Probably won't know anything for a few weeks, but I'm happy to have finally done it. Every time you put yourself out there, there is always the possibility of rejection, which is never fun. But you've got to put yourself out there. Fingers crossed. There are other publishers out there, but they have different requirements, so I'm working on those as well. Wrote a 1000+ word synopsis this weekend for issues #3 through 5, a story arc we refer to as With Great Powers Come Something, Something, Something.
As for Familiar Stranger, I was able to finally finish a chapter that had been sitting there for over a month and start on a new one. The goal is to keep moving the story and rewrite forward. I feel like I'm getting closer to the point where I have an ending already written. There is then another round of edits to go before it's ready for someone else to read.
That's one thing about writing, it's a process.
I tried this week to break up the writing by time. First thing in the morning, I try to post whatever tweets relate to anniversary reviews we have on Trophy Unlocked, this week including Raiders of the Lost Ark; Holiday; The Endless Summer; The Lion King; Psycho; and The Immigrant. Trying to keep page views coming on the blog.
When I got home after work, I worked on a review of Red Dust and Journey into Fear, the former which I also posted as Trophy Unlocked's Saturday Morning Review. I'm still working on the latter, but I should finish it this week.
After dinner, I worked on Powers Squared. We received four pages from the artist, including layouts and pencils, but we're still waiting for the inks. Our colorist is working on her pages and our letterer also did some pages this week as well. While we're firmly working on Issue #4, we still have some wrapping up to do on Issue #3. But progress is progress.
Additionally, started making notes for an idea for a future story. Have the premise, but I'm working on the details.
I tried this week to follow up on the publication dates for Issues #1 and #2, but nothing new to report. I'm not sure what publicity we'll have either, though our contact at ComiXology wants to meet at San Diego Comic Con to discuss. Will report more here as I know it.
Also, sent our submission to Image Comics to see if they might want to physically publish our books. Probably won't know anything for a few weeks, but I'm happy to have finally done it. Every time you put yourself out there, there is always the possibility of rejection, which is never fun. But you've got to put yourself out there. Fingers crossed. There are other publishers out there, but they have different requirements, so I'm working on those as well. Wrote a 1000+ word synopsis this weekend for issues #3 through 5, a story arc we refer to as With Great Powers Come Something, Something, Something.
As for Familiar Stranger, I was able to finally finish a chapter that had been sitting there for over a month and start on a new one. The goal is to keep moving the story and rewrite forward. I feel like I'm getting closer to the point where I have an ending already written. There is then another round of edits to go before it's ready for someone else to read.
That's one thing about writing, it's a process.
Sunday, June 11, 2017
A Week in Writing #146
I had a pretty good week. Didn't accomplish everything I wanted, but I think I made progress on all fronts, including the oft put-to-the-side Familiar Stranger. Actually finished a chapter and started a new one. I think once I get past this part of the book it will go rather quickly, as it is this part of the book that has been the problem.
On the writing front, I just registered for the Writer's Digest Conference in Pasadena in October. I had considered only going on Saturday, but now I'm planning to go all three days. One of the added bonuses is that I get to attend with my son Paul.
Powers Squared took up its usual bulk of time, but wasn't as much this week as it has in the past. While our artist finished four pages, it still took about two weeks. Sometimes I feel like we focus in on one or two panels and that can really slow progress down. After a while, we get to the point where we feel it's as good as it is going to get and move on.
Our colorist was absent for a second week. We heard from her, but no pages. It is really not a big deal at this point. We know she's working on it. Our letterer, though, did come through with a couple of pages. We're getting close to being through with Issue #3, which is encouraging, even though we started it six months ago. I'm hopeful the next two can come together faster.
Speaking of the Issues #1 and #2, I registered for copyrights for them. Trying to get that out of the way ahead of publishing. No word on exactly when, but it's a bit of business that needed to be done.
I think I've finished the cover letter and synopsis for submission to Image, but I'm finding myself to be somewhat reluctant to send it in. Maybe it is the fear of rejection, but I'm hesistant. I'll have to get over it, but for now it's ready to go, just not sent. Next I need to work on the Dark Horse submission, which includes a lot of synopsii of different lengths.
Had an idea during the week for a future story for Powers Squared. I haven't done more than write it down. Involves Instructor Miller becoming Destructor Miller. We'll see if anything ever comes from it.
Finished my review of Red Dust, but I still have Journey Into Fear to go. Published Dance, Fools, Dance (1931) over the weekend, which was a hold over from last week's Saturday Morning Review.
So all in all, not a bad week in writing. Maybe I could have done more, but I'm pretty pleased to have been able to get in a little bit of everything.
Sunday, June 4, 2017
A Week in Writing #145
First of all, I want to say thank you for all the concern about my step-father. He's still in the hospital and weak. He was out of Intensive Care for most of the week, but he's gone back in. The news does not sound good.
Something I'd like to pass on from my sudden trip last weekend is that writing and airplane travel don't mix very well. I had taken along my laptop hoping I could get some writing done while in flight. It has been a long time since I had flown and found that there was no longer enough room on that little folding tray to even open the laptop up. When the entertainment system didn't work on the return trip I was helpless to sit there bored out of my wits. Note to self, always take a book or pages to edit.
Most of the week was spent on the comic book and writing reviews and once again not on Familiar Stranger. I can't seem to get to it anymore, which frustrates me greatly. I have done some thinking about it and have played with dialogue in my head but while that's a part of the writing process, it really isn't writing in the truest sense.
Did manage to complete a new review that I was planning to publish on Trophy Unlocked as the Saturday Morning Review, but I changed my mind. We went to see Wonder Woman on Friday afternoon so I wrote a review of that film. Decided it was best to publish that and not try and double-dip with the planned review of Dance, Fools, Dance (1931); that can keep for another day. I also finished a review of San Francisco (1936), another Clark Gable film and yes I did sort of watch the recent Star-of-the-Month salute to him on TCM. I'm also going to review Red Dust and possibly Journey Into Fear, an Orson Welles film of sorts from 1942.
Powers Squared continued to pre-occupy most of my "writing" time this week. The artist is working on four pages, which takes a lot of time to review through the steps. And the letterer is also making good progress. Despite the work, it is good to see things moving forward.
Then there is the business of the comic book, the copyrights, the submissions, the website, etc., all of which also take time.
There are a few comic book companies that publish creator-owned titles, so we're starting that process as well. While on the surface writing a one-page synopsis doesn't seem that hard, it is still something that takes time and rewriting to get it right.
So, last week was a little truncated, but I still got some things done. The problem with planning too much for next week is I'm not sure what the future holds as to my step-father and his health. Some things are more important than others; it's all a balancing act.
Something I'd like to pass on from my sudden trip last weekend is that writing and airplane travel don't mix very well. I had taken along my laptop hoping I could get some writing done while in flight. It has been a long time since I had flown and found that there was no longer enough room on that little folding tray to even open the laptop up. When the entertainment system didn't work on the return trip I was helpless to sit there bored out of my wits. Note to self, always take a book or pages to edit.
Most of the week was spent on the comic book and writing reviews and once again not on Familiar Stranger. I can't seem to get to it anymore, which frustrates me greatly. I have done some thinking about it and have played with dialogue in my head but while that's a part of the writing process, it really isn't writing in the truest sense.
Did manage to complete a new review that I was planning to publish on Trophy Unlocked as the Saturday Morning Review, but I changed my mind. We went to see Wonder Woman on Friday afternoon so I wrote a review of that film. Decided it was best to publish that and not try and double-dip with the planned review of Dance, Fools, Dance (1931); that can keep for another day. I also finished a review of San Francisco (1936), another Clark Gable film and yes I did sort of watch the recent Star-of-the-Month salute to him on TCM. I'm also going to review Red Dust and possibly Journey Into Fear, an Orson Welles film of sorts from 1942.
Powers Squared continued to pre-occupy most of my "writing" time this week. The artist is working on four pages, which takes a lot of time to review through the steps. And the letterer is also making good progress. Despite the work, it is good to see things moving forward.
Then there is the business of the comic book, the copyrights, the submissions, the website, etc., all of which also take time.
There are a few comic book companies that publish creator-owned titles, so we're starting that process as well. While on the surface writing a one-page synopsis doesn't seem that hard, it is still something that takes time and rewriting to get it right.
So, last week was a little truncated, but I still got some things done. The problem with planning too much for next week is I'm not sure what the future holds as to my step-father and his health. Some things are more important than others; it's all a balancing act.
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