Tag: how to write

Simple Math Large Results

~ Author R.K. Gold ~ Leave a comment

It’s funny how something so simple like basic arithmetic goes write over my head sometimes unless I’m looking right at the results. What I mean is, obviously writing every day has its perks, but writing a little more than you’re used to can yield major returns.

When I first started writing (late 2014 early 2015), I had a daily goal of 1000 words, not bad, and I would play with that sometimes going up to 1500 sometimes just settling for 1200. Anyway, I always wanted to hit 2000 so I finally started doing that and of course, the product finished sooner (twice the speed duh).

Then I bumped my daily word count goal up to 3k (where I currently am now) and of course, I finish books even faster cause DUH! The 32k novella I just wrote was completed in 10 days (the final day I wrote 5k).

These big chunks were easy to understand. I mean everyone knows writing 3000 words a day will hit a goal 3 times faster than writing 1000 words a day, but what if you started adding a couple hundred words to your daily word count goal. Nothing overwhelming, I’m talking next time you write and you hit your goal and 200 more words. What would that do for you?

Well, assuming you write daily that’s an extra 1400 words a week for possibly five-ten minutes more of writing.

I know this is pretty basic stuff, and almost insultingly simple to put down in a blog post, but I’m writing this because it’s one of those things that’s so simple I’ve completely overlooked it for so long. I’ve hit my goal and called it a day instead of putting in an extra ten minutes, which by the end of the month could earn me an extra 6000 words.

It’s why now I say my minimum is 3k but usually, I write 3100 or 3200 and the results are so obvious it’s cool. It’s fun to see how quickly you reach your goals just by adding an extra inch each day.

Anyway, thanks for reading!

Another Rough Draft Down

~ Author R.K. Gold ~ Leave a comment

Well, it still needs a title but I just finished the rough draft of the project I started 10 days ago. It’s not long, in those 10 days I wrote close to 32,000 words, which translates to between 120-140 pages. It was a lot of fun to write though. I really love the story, I think the plot is pretty solid, the characters all have good motivations and overall I think it’s gonna be a fun read. I also have an idea in mind for a second book, which I think would be cool cause if it’s the same length I can package them together and have a full length 200-300 page book in two parts.

As for what I need to work on, well the ending is a little rushed. I know I can fix that in the edits but with the rough draft, I just wanted to get an ending on the page and worry about making it pretty later. It reached the point where it felt like the sooner I reach the end, the sooner I can start focusing on making it good instead of just prolonging it, cause no matter what it would need to go through multiple edits so might as well reach that stage a day earlier than planned.

I’m really excited to start editing it because I really feel like this story has a lot of opportunities. It’s a YA reaper tale. The main character and his best friend are 13 and his older sister is 15.

I think as far as characters are concerned his sister and best friend are the flattest. I need to give them more depth and development in the edits. I think their main guide is the richest character I wrote, the neighbor and the main villain are tied for second most in-depth and the MC is third most.

His parents probably should be improved in the edits too. At the moment they don’t even have names. At first, I did that purposefully cause I was thinking like Charlie Brown adults but I think it might just make the story weaker since they are a big part of the MC’s motivation to take the quest.

Anyway, I’m excited because my goals for the summer were to publish two novellas and one full-length novel. So far I’ve published one novella, I just finished the rough draft of my second novella, and the novel is written it just needs to go through severe edits. Since it’s only June 2nd I think I’m doing alright with my schedule.

Death Note

~ Author R.K. Gold ~ Leave a comment

It took me long enough but I finally watched the series and WOW it was good! I’m sad it’s over though it makes me want to read the manga. The good news is there are plenty of other anime shows out there for me to sink my teeth into.

As for Death Note itself, I think it may have inspired me more than I first thought. I just opened my computer and outlined the first book of a voodoo doll series. Does the idea of a voodoo doll killer helping the investigation her own crimes interest anyone?

Please, your feedback is important! I wanna know what you wanna read!

That being said I am currently 15k into an MG reaper book. No clue how long it’s gonna be. If it’s only 20-25k I’ll probably turn it into a short series and box three stories together for a longer book.

50 page stories

~ Author R.K. Gold ~ Leave a comment

I’m curious what people think of longer stories. Not quite novella length but larger than anything they’d find in a lit journal. I have two stories I am working on now, both in the 10,000-15,000 word range. I think they are cool, unique ideas that stand alone. There is no point to make them any longer if the story is served in that length so adding extra words to meet some quota word count seems self-defeating.

What’re your thoughts on these stories? Are they enjoyable? Should they be published online for free or listed on Kindle and KU. Should they be used to entertain newsletter subscribers? Do you enjoy writing them yourself?

I like how effective they are at delivering a theme. Like my one story deals with balance, life and death, loss. The main character isn’t on a journey to save his family; he’s on a quest to make sure he says goodbye properly.

The story I’m further along with is my usual technology vs nature theme only it has more twists than I’m used to at doesn’t villainize one side or the other. It’s more this is the existence of a fictional landscape and they’re finding balance.