Where are the updates ?  

Posted by HED

A little update about what I am working on.

Personal website : the project is currently on hold. The biggest thing to do is the Wordpress template for the website, and I need a long ininterrupted chunk of time to design it.

Nano 2007 edit : I'm currently putting all my efforts into my novel. I think the manuscript is turning really good. And I write fast. For example : yesterday alone I (re)wrote 9,000 words ! I'm really really happy about my novel. For me, it even translates into an increased confidence in others areas in my life (yeah weird, but true). By the way I won't do NaNoEdMo - but I expect to be finished at the end of March.

Until next time,

From the First Novel Draft to the Second Novel Draft... with Excel  

Posted by HED in

I know, I know there are dozens of articles on Excel spreadsheets designed to summarize or edit your novel. But here's my take on the subject : the double draft spreadsheet !

Sorry for the part french - part english spreadsheet :)

The spreadsheet is divided in two. Your first draft (to be edited) on the left and the second draft (to be written) on the right.

The columns :
  • Scene number : by the way, scenes are easier to number/outline if you use text folding.
  • Scene type and description : I also note if it's a flashback or an infodump (baad !)
  • Place, Time, Weather :
By filling the info for your first draft, you will quickly notice the main problems in your writing : time inconsistencies, impossible weather conditions between scenes, infodump galore, bland places and scenes actions (yes I have written something happening in a dark locked room where the characters were retrieving black boxes they couldn't open...).

When you're done with the first draft info, you can tackle the right part of the spreadsheet. First, note the things you'd like to see improved (more interesting places, switch scene order etc). Then, write your second draft and report what you've written in the spreadsheet. Use it as a guideline, a reminder, print it, make paper airplanes with it... but finish that second draft !

Thinking about my upcoming website  

Posted by HED

I'm currently thinking about creating my personal website.
 
I've maintained my own personal website in 1998-2000 (the infamouse HED's WEBsite, where I created my menu items in 3DSMax *sigh*) but I stopped because school didn't let me much free time. The second reason to do that is that I feel that my "creations" are too much scattered around the web. Having a place that I call "home" on the net would be much more practical, for me and for you, readers !
 
I plan to put my short stories on download there, as well as my drawings, and old tracker tunes. Of course, this writing blog would be transferred in the new website. I would also post on other subjects that I am passionate about, like creating boardgames, programming and drawing. It would be something like Raph Koster or Paniq website, who are artists I admire.
 
My new website will be in English, so I'll keep improving in that language :) Meanwhile, I will keep posting writing articles on this blog (I'm certain you are all waiting for "What is the best writing setup" part 2 lol)
 
 

About this blog

I'm HED, from Cergy, France. I like writing and experimenting and talking about it.

Check my other experiments on hed854.net.

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