The first sentence I wrote today…

BPS Sanctification to approaching vessel,” Chris Keating said into the microphone of the headset he’d worn since the ship’s computer had announced that another Holy Warrior vessel had entered the system.

Current word count: 77,775
New words this session: 2,511
Percentage of novel completed: 77.7

I wrote more words than it looks like today; once again I backed up a bit just to insert some additional information that made what I needed to happen today to advance the plot appropriately make sense. That entailed erasing as many words as I wrote, at least, which makes the daily total look a little small, since I computed it by subtracting yesterday’s word count from today’s word count. Of course, my word count is always approximate, since it also includes CHAPTER SIXTEEN, etc., at each chapter break. I attempted to compensate for that, but…

Hmmm. I just realized something.

Nobody really cares, do they?

Anyway, the book is proceeding nicely. I think I may finish the first draft in about ten days–end of next week, or the beginning of the week thereafter. Then it’ll be the intensive rewriting, which, unlike the writing, will have to actually take place in my office: I can’t rewrite in Second Cup the way I can first-draft.

I’m looking forward to the revision. I kind of like writing first drafts, but I really enjoy revising.

Permanent link to this article: https://edwardwillett.com/2006/11/the-first-sentence-i-wrote-today-38/

6 comments

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    • Edward Willett on November 8, 2006 at 3:36 am
    • Reply

    Brenda, Amy,

    Gee, thanks! I don’t think I’ve ever been called “inspiring” before. “Perspiring,” sure. “Conspiring,” maybe. But “inspiring”–that’s a nice change. 🙂

    • Amy on November 7, 2006 at 1:32 pm
    • Reply

    Ed, I love all parts of your blog, and I check in almost every day to see how you’re coming along with your manuscript. I’ve recommended your blog to someone else who’s needing encouragement. It’s very inspiring!

    Love the photos, too.

    • Brenda Schmidt on November 6, 2006 at 6:19 am
    • Reply

    I check in every day. It’s been inspiring to watch that word count go up.

    • scrawney on November 4, 2006 at 6:06 am
    • Reply

    Ed, I’ve read every blog of yours since Homecoming. I appreciate the insight into your writing schedule and how you work in your other projects while also taking time for youor family. Your ability to apply yourself to such an array of endeavors with the level of talent you bring to them is amazing! I find it fascinating.

    scrawney

    • Edward Willett on November 4, 2006 at 3:46 am
    • Reply

    Eeek! People are actually reading this?

    • Billy M. on November 4, 2006 at 3:18 am
    • Reply

    Actually Ed, I’m finding it very interesting. Deista used this particular series of posts with her Gr. 3 class to illustrate the need for editing – you just never know who is watching/reading, do you?

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