Down to the last stretch

…in more ways than one.  School is coming to a close, I’m making my final preparations for the study abroad, and this novel is only one or two chapters from completion (in rough draft form, that is.  Very rough draft form).  Now that I’m almost finished with this draft of the novel, I’m able to see a number of things I’ve learned about writing from the experience…

I’m starting to get to the really cool parts…

…in both of my stories. In The Lost Colony, Leila, who’s a native of this somewhat primitive civilization that doesn’t understand spacefaring, stows away on a shuttle and experiences space for the first time. Pretty cool! And in The Wormhole Paradigm, tension builds as they set off towards the planet, anticipating that the aliens will intercept them at any time. When they don’t, Mike almost has a nervous breakdown–but that’s about 1,500 pages down the road. Altogether, I wrote 3,000 words tonight. Holy Cow!

There was also a Quark writing meeting today, and it really surprised me…

90,000+ words, 300+ pages, and I’m going to bed

That’s just about it.  I did some revision of The Wormhole Paradigm in between classes, and that was actually quite satisfying.  After homework, wrote in The Lost Colony for a while, and it’s coming, slowly and surely.  I’m tired and starting to get loopy, so I had to end in the middle of a scene, but other than that it went well.  Now, must rest…tomorrow…blegh.

Progress and sadness

First, I wish to note with great sadness the passing of President Gordon B. Hinckley.  He was a great man who had a deep and lasting impact on my life.  I don’t doubt that he is in a better place, reunited with his wife, but for me, here on Earth, it is still very sad.  He will be greatly missed.

I heard about the news when I was at a friend’s house, writing in The Wormhole Paradigm for English 318…