Thursday, October 17, 2013

Busy at Work But not Much Writing at Home!

Wow! This week has been awesome at the office working on my three projects and making some really good headway with them.

Unfortunately, I haven't gotten much writing done on Crisis on Terra-Bravo. Haven't really felt like writing. Hopefully this weekend!
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Received another reader review on Foothold on Terra-Bravo! A solid "4" again. The fact that I happen to know the writer of the comment does NOT lessen the fact that I received another review!!!
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Received another Amazon e-mail advertizing Foothold on Terra-Bravo this afternoon. Really hope it's going out to more folks than just me.
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Hopefully will be able to report some serious Terra-Bravo writing tomorrow or Saturday!

Until then...stay safe!


Jeff

© Jeffrey M. Fortney - 2013

Monday, October 14, 2013

Not as Prolific Tonight, but Still Good!

Last night, I had a wonderful night of writing with 6 pages and just shy of 2,200 words. Tonight, I didn't do quite as well (3 3/4 pages and 1,370 words) but I still feel good about it. Last night I wrapped up Chapter 9 AND wrapped up Part One of the book. Tonight, I picked up the thought process and started Part Two! The second part of the book won't be as long as the first but will return to the exploration, technology, and sense of the unknown found in Foothold on Terra-Bravo.
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I'm planning to add one more writing project to my To Do List. For years, I have been putting together a short book on how to improve your instructional skills. I initially hoped to submit this to FPP and market it to firefighters. I've realized since that it can apply to anyone who teaches/instructs. Let me be clear here, this will not be a book about how to become a teacher/instructor. It is about honing your skills to be a better, more inspirational instructor who can reach the most students.

So I plan to generacize it and e-publish it. Should take about six months (to include some photography). The new plan is to start it in January while I'm working on the prequel to the Terra-Bravo books. I'll keep you posted.
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If I keep yawning as I have been, I'll put my computer to sleep without finishing this post to my blog. So with that thought I bid you all a good evening and remind you...let's be safe out there!

Jeff

© Jeffrey M. Fortney - 2013

Sunday, October 13, 2013

The Muse Really Earned Her Title Tonight!

Wow! Guess I really needed a couple of down days to recharge the ol' writing batteries!

Tonight, I wrote 6 pages and 2,198 words in about 2 hours. As my old fire chief, Hugh Pike would say..."Mercy!"

Crisis on Terra-Bravo now sits at 162 pages. I still have a 3 to 4 chapters I want to write to finish the story but the sleeper agent story arc is about over. Huzzah!!!
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I'm kind of disappointed in the sales of Foothold on Terra-Bravo this month. Real slow with only 5 units sold thus far. Hopefully it'll pick up in the next couple of weeks and especially after the Local Authors Fair.
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I'm ready to called it an evening, folks. Y'all stay safe out there now!

Jeff

© Jeffrey M. Fortney - 2013

Thursday, October 10, 2013

An Experiment with Limited Success

A number of my co-workers bring lunches and craft projects to work and have crafting lunches in our conference room. In an experiment to save some time and (gas) money driving across town from work to home and back for a lunch, I thought I'd do some writing over lunch. I took my personal laptop to work so I wouldn't be using office equipment to work on my story(ies).

I've tried this on a few occasions and have come to the conclusion...it's just not worth it. By the time I set up my (older) personal laptop, get it up and running, and try to write while eating my lunch, I get about a page in before it's time to start shutting down and putting stuff away. I'm just not getting the page counts I was looking for.

So, I'm going to stay at the office for lunch to continue saving gas money and wear and tear on my vehicle. Instead of writing I'll just read a book and relax while enjoying my lunch.
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Foothold on Terra-Bravo picked up another sale this morning taking us to 60 units sold(!) and then this evening we got yet another sale!!! It's not melting the digital highway but it IS moving.

I'm investigating how much it would cost to have the bookmarks (and maybe the cards) printed at the local Staples instead of buying the card stock and ink and doing it myself. It would definitely get done faster and better quality but I'm not sure how much I'll be saving.
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Got four more pages written on Crisis on Terra-Bravo today! Probably 10 - 15 more pages of the sleeper agent storyline and then back to more exploring and other adventure with strange and exotic animals.
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Enough for tonight. Tomorrow promises to be a LONG day at the office!

Stay safe, my friends!

Jeff

© Jeffrey M. Fortney - 2013

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Got Some Work Done TODAY!

Had a good day at the office today getting a chapter and a half of images selected and illustrations drafted! Yay me!
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Got 3 pages and 1,189 words written today on Crisis on Terra-Bravo. Not great, but NOT bad! I'm close to wrapping up the sleeper agent storyline (YAY!) and looking forward to getting back to exploration and growth of the colony.
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Enough for tonight.

Stay safe out there, folks!

Jeff

© Jeffrey M. Fortney - 2013

Monday, October 7, 2013

A Slow Couple of Days

Our daughter was in town over the weekend, so I didn't get much writing done. Got a little more in tonight but am too tired to write coherently. Am going to turn in soon.

I'll get more done tomorrow night...I promise!
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Everybody stay safe out there!

Jeff

© Jeffrey M. Fortney - 2013

Thursday, October 3, 2013

I Have More to Add...

Over the past two days, I've written 5 pages and 1,945 words for Crisis on Terra-Bravo. Total page count thus far is 147 pages. Still on track for the mid-December.
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Sales on Foothold on Terra-Bravo were slow in September (only 20 units) but should be enough with the August sales (37 units) for Kyle and I to get our first royalty check. I plan to put my share into some advertising (local and online).
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I plan to drop by the library tomorrow and talk with them about the Local Authors Fair. I'm going to make up some 3x5 cards with the cover to Foothold on the front, where it's available, and price (plus QR code link to the Kindle Store!). The back will have Coming in December 2013! at the top, the cover to Crisis in the middle, and some additional wording beneath the cover. Someone recommended making bookmarks which I plan to do as well with a similar design. Hope to order the cardstock this week.
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My thoughts and prayers go out to my family and friends affected by the government shutdown.

Stay safe!

Jeff

© Jeffrey M. Fortney - 2013