Update

I've written about 26,000 words of Hostile Planet.  Not bad for a week's work.

When this draft is finished, I'll go back to the Free Space trilogy and work on revision.  But I definitely needed this break from those stories.  I think I'll be able to tackle them with renewed vigor.  It's sort of a schizophrenic way of writing, I guess, but you have to do what works best for you.

Stanley Brothers reunite at last

R.I.P., Ralph Stanley.

Bluegrass music pioneer Ralph Stanley died Thursday at the age of 89, publicist Kirt Webster announced on Stanley's official website.

Now you and Carter can show those harp-playing angels in heaven what making music is all about.

I imagine it'll sound a little like this:

Gave in

Yeah, I know.  I'm weak.  I'm a bad, bad man.

I should be revising the Free Space trilogy.  Instead, I've started a new book.  Started yesterday, actually.  Already got over 7000 words down.  And a battle scene!  I can't remember the last time I wrote a real live military battle.  It was really fun.

I expect to finish this draft by August.  Then, hopefully, I'll have the willpower to wrap up the Free Space trilogy and get them out for another round of beta reading.

Until then, though, my weak, bad self will be in the galaxy known as the Wheel of Fire.  For Homestead!

Irresponsible

That's me.  :(

I should be revising Mercury and Mars.  I should be getting the whole trilogy ready for another round of beta reading.  That's what I would be doing if I had any sense.

The problem is that I'm kind of sick of the story and the characters right now.  They've all I've been writing about for the past year.  I'd rather go ahead and write the first draft of Hostile Planet and then come back to the Free Space trilogy.

I haven't decided what I'm going to do yet. 

Needed a break

I've almost got Venus sorted out and ready for another round of beta reading.  Then I'll move onto Mercury.  All three books are undergoing significant changes.

Right now, though, I'm sick of this trilogy.  I needed a break, so I'm writing a short story.  I'm about 3000 words in so far.  Not much, but it's a nice change of pace.

When it's done, I'll get back to the Free Space trilogy.

John Galt

Most of us are familiar with the character from Atlas Shrugged, but it turns out there was a real guy with that name, too.  He was a 19th century author.

John Galt on Amazon.

John Galt on Wikipedia.

I went ahead and downloaded Ringan Gilhaize from Amazon.  It's free, so I figured I'd give Galt's work a try.

Seven-point story structure

Dan Wells's presentation is full of good stuff.  Check it out: