38,400 words and counting ….

… handwritten!

clairefontaine_filled_CTandODM

 

I couple of months ago I completely splurged on some clairefontaine notebooks. It was a splurge, because I just scrawl out a first draft, copy it into the computer, and never touch the handwritten draft again.  Nor am I interested in collecting such things, I usually recycle them. However, I found my hand aching – enough to be distracting – and had read that my fountain pen would be more compatible with this paper, and it totally is … smooth and lovely … my hand may still ache after a couple of hours, but not due to the pen/paper.

So today, just now – actually in the middle of a scene – I filled my first one of these notebooks. That’s 192 pages, averaging 200 words per page. So, 38,400 words completed on my newest novel, an urban fantasy, Cupcakes, Trinkets and Other Deadly Magic. I’m just beyond the midpoint, and have a habit of being more wordy in the set up than in the resolution, so I’m probably on track for a 60,000+ word novel. Super cool.

Okay … I’m off to grab a fresh notebook and finish the scene!

1st pass of the 1st draft of the 2nd novel – DONE!

This is the –  handwritten – 1st complete draft of my 2nd, currently untitled, novel.

Tomorrow I will commence my 2nd pass of the 1st draft via computer, but today – I cannot think of a better day – Valentine’s Day – to finish the 1st pass of my next love story, because, despite the fact that this is a fantasy novel full of magic and swords and lost memories, it is ultimately a love story… for that is what I write… that is what I believe in:

True Love Conquers All.

(Always & Forever After)