Day 61: Do they have a beginning, a middle, and an end?

"Re-read your novel and ask yourself: Have I raised a question or presented a puzzle, and then solved it?
If you can give a satisfactory answer to this question, then continue."

I guess I raise a question: Is Jason going to have an affair?

But I'm more concerned about whether I have made readers to care about Jason.

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

39 days.

Day 60: If you have written five pages a day...

"...for the last 60 days, you have written about 90,000 words. It is time to begin to rewrite and edit your novel."

Nope...

And I remember he said 4 pages a day? Or 300 words? That doesn't add up. 90,000/60 = 1,500.

Weird.

But no, I probably just barely start it. Working on my dissertation takes too much time. Sigh.

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

40 days.

Day 59: “Don’t tell, show.”

"There’s an old adage in writing: “Don’t tell, show.” It means, don’t tell us about anger, show us. We then will read and feel the anger. Don’t tell the reader what to feel. Show the reader the characters and situation, and that feeling of anger (or sorrow, love, honesty, justice, etc.) will awaken in them."

So, show the actions.

"She was sad" vs. "She sobbed" vs. "'My world comes to an end,' she said."

Which one is better?

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

41 days.

Day 58: Remember...

"...that novels can be light on plot and short on style, but flesh-and-blood characters with believable traits and motivations can save any book by gaining the reader’s sympathy."

Yes... again, it's all about the people in your story. Believable traits and motivations.

I better take a good look at my characters. They seem to be... lame?

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

42 days.

Day 57: Take a break

"Take a break from your novel. Take either a day off, or a week. After this period, you’ll see your work with a fresh eye."

I've been writing some stories. In fact, there are tons of unfinished stories. I haven't read most of those stories for a long time. Sometimes when I read them, I can see some mistakes and therefore get some motivations to go on.

But I think I need some other people's opinions too, b/c I still will have bias; after all, they are my own stories.

Anyway, will take a break...

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

43 days.

Day 55 & 56

Yesterday I was in scout camp out w/ my 2 boys, so I didn't have time to write. I thought of something for the story though.

Day 55:
"Select your details. As Mark Twain said: “Use the right word, not its second cousin.” Remember that verbs are the strongest parts of any sentences. As Rita Mae Brown puts it, “Verbs blast you down the highway.”"

Hmm...verbs? So...actions are the key?

Day 56:
"Strunk and White in The Elements of Style make this point: “If those who have studied the art of writing are in accord on one point it is on this: The surest way to arouse and hold the reader is to be specific, definite, and concrete.”"

Ok.... specific, definite, and concrete. Let people see and touch.

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

44 days.

Day 54: Good description observes all the senses

"Go to the library and browse through books on food and gardening. Authors of these books describe smells, tastes, touches, and even sounds in precise detail. When writing, always mention scents and tactile sensations. Good description observes all the senses."

I read the magazine: Cooking Light. This is one of the paragraph I read:

Remember how great a snow cone tasted when you were a kid--how the frozen sweetness cooled you down and perked you up on a hot summer day? Those bubblegum and blue raspberry, sugarcoated ice flakes are still fine for kids. And with flavors fit for an adult, frozen ice is a great summer dessert.

Then it continues:

"Water ices," or granitas in Italian, are flavorful, coarsely textured ice crystals. Stirred while freezing, the "ice"--often little more than fruit juice and sugar--develops into a refreshing, flaky slush. Ices are pretty to look at and a delight to eat, especially after dinner on a warm evening.

Well, in my opinion it describes a bit of "scents and tactile sensations," but mostly it's talking about how to do it. I'll probably read much more. So far what I've read is pretty much the same. The gardening books are about the same; I have no luck on finding the rich descriptions of scents and/or colors. Anyway, will keep looking.

Here is my try:

You have been working outside, or maybe playing basketball, in a hot summer day. You're thirsty and your sweat like rain. Then you see the tall glass of golden sweetness; the ice crystals clinking like wind chimes in a gentle breeze. You take a big slurp, then another, and another. The coldness flows down into your every bone and every pore until your hot body is totally chilled. Each cell in your body is alive again.

Some more revisions:

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1655035-An-endless-failing-pursuit-temp-title1

Don't forget my other short story:
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1567145-Prince-Vingo-Imperfect-love

46 days.