Ending it

I think I'm back on track, after a period which seemed forever, but was actually a couple of days at Christmas and this last week of not working.

The ending was killing me, and I realized I was just drifting; getting 800 words a day all right, but without any direction. I needed to step back and review here at 70,000+ words. I wrote some blurbs on the midnight shift, where I summed up my novel the way they do on the back of a paperback. I thought it would identify what was compelling about my story, and perhaps give me a story question which would satisfactorily end the tale. I think it began that process.

Also I wrote out a plot summary, inspired by the internet meme about Pocahontas=Avatar. It was far too long and wordy, but I think that is a result of the lack of focus in the novel. As I tighten it up the plot summary should tighten up too.

All in all, I am pleased with my progress. I could see this as being the way I would write all my novels. And yes, I expect I will write at least one more after this one.

Novel Update

Well, the novel is still moving forward, although it is truly a Shitty First Draft. Apparently there is more to writing a novel than just producing words. I am going to make it to 90,000 words, I'm sure of that, but whether I arrive anywhere, that's another thing.

Plodding forward.

Frustration

Is there no pastor to tell us of the good things the Lord has done for the sinner; are they all here to beat the flock?

A reflection on the propensity of pastors to focus on emphasizing that the congregation to be "good," rather than focusing them on God's goodness and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. To hear most of them, it would seem God is not involved in the believer's life.

The Novel idea

Work is going well on the novel, although I'm still not sure where it's going. I'm over 20,000 words in, about four and a half chapters. I'm aiming for twenty-four-ish chapters.

Method? Don't look back, write 800 words a day, use a spreadsheet to keep track, and make up any deficit. Oh, and finally, make the first draft sh_tty. I call it the SFD, and if you know it's going to be bad, because the name of it is actually telling you it's bad, then it can be very freeing.

I use freemind to keep track of characters and major plot movements, and add detail as I approach each section. Then I write the section, and then go back to freemind. It seems to be working so far, but it doesn't make for having a complete story, start to finish. Ah, well.

Investopia

I use the Investopia Stock Simulator for trying out my theories. I am the user Acmetrades, and I have been using a DMI to gauge whether the market is trending or channeling, and using the ADX to trade trending, and the MACD for trading channeling markets. So far I've had my ups and downs (a little stock trading humor there).

I use prophet.net's Javacharts for doing my research. Have for a long time, I like them. Their free service is unparalleled, even with its limitations.

11-07-09 update:

Currently also exploring momentum trading, using two long-term EMAs to determine up or down trend, and initiating a trade when both the MACD-histogram and the 13-EMA move in the same direction as the trend. More to follow...

Hot boiled peanuts in Ocala.

On our way to lookout mountain.