Drive-By Metrics

[loaded_march]

I said Friday, and as it turns out, it's Friday holy shit when did that happen, I lost two days, I thought it was still Hump Day so here's the quick and dirty on the metrics for LM #11.

I've explained before that I work in sections, and that my sections are saved in different documents.  These are equivalent to chapters.  So I don't have a total word count because I'm not writing in Scrivener, which has a handy feature called Project Statistics, which I obsessively refresh whenever I'm in Scrivener. 

But, no.  Not this time.  I'm writing in plain old Word.  I could import the files, I suppose, but I'm too lazy.  No Project Statistics for you.

However, I can give you a ballpark estimate.  The chapter length varies from part to part, but in #11, the going average is around 5,000 words.  Bearing in mind that once I get the ball rolling, the chapters get longer and longer, first by 500 words, then 1,000 words, and (what looks likely to be soon) 2,000 words, I'm going to be seriously underestimating the total word count by the end of this, but, hey, I don't think anyone will be complaining.

ANYWAY, yes, back to the word count.  I have seven documents, so that puts me anywhere north of 35,000 and south of 40,000.

Unfortunately, I have no ETA.  Remember when I said I sketched out the outline?  That I had three pages, single-lined, double-sided of outline?  Outlines are awesome.  I totally respect anyone who puts work detailing outlines to follow so that they know what they're writing next.  I am not one of those people.  Outlining, for me, is a teasing lie.  A filthy, misleading lie.  I could look at that outline and think, "Yeah, I'll be done soon" and I'd be wrong. 

Obviously this means I'm not following my own outline.  I've gone off-roading, my GPS is down, my compass is in the rapids back there, my ATV ran out of gas, I'm in the middle of freaking nowhere, night is falling, there's an unseasonable cold snap on the way, but at least I have my trusty flashlight --

-- had my flashlight.  The batteries seem to be dead.  Yep.  They're dead.

I'm not going to say I'm lost, because I'm not.  My map might be a little soggy and a lot useless, but I know my way out of here, and it's somewhere... thataway *points wildly*.

(please send help)

Comments

[lec90.livejournal.com]

All this reminded me of was the Tolkien quote about how not all those who wander are lost. Congrats on the wordcount and can't wait to see it once you get yourself back to home base. :)

Marco!

[keoki.livejournal.com]

Good news! We happen to know a set of intrepid SAS officers who are trained in orienteering!

[altocello.livejournal.com]

No prob. Gwaine doesn't need a map, and, well, MERLIN. We'll get Captain Prat to organize the exfil and to come up with backup plans for the backup plans for when the fic process goes pear shaped. If you're lucky, Owain will have to blow something up. :D

(seriously, have fun out there in the wilds of your imagination, we'll have fun with whatever you find out there when you get back!)

[resqdog51.livejournal.com]

I'll send a search dog - you want the ghost or the heel biter? (I'd advise the ghost, honestly - the heel biter never made it past basic and, while he WILL find you, he might lead you out the "fun" way. Heh.)

Also, I admire the hell out if you for even TRYING to use an outline. They squash me flat - every time I try, it's like I used up all my creativity making the outline and I'm done now. However - you've been lost in the wilderness before and look what you've produced!

Stay lost as long as you like. I'll airdrop in some matches, so you can stay warm at least! Can't write with frozen fingers!

[k-nightfox.livejournal.com]

I've got some MREs here I could send up for resqdog51 to drop along with the matches!

(Seriously, I actually have MREs because that's what they distributed to the storm victims and once she had power again, my aunt wanted to get rid of the leftovers...)

[amphigoury.livejournal.com]

LOL, I was calling bullshit as soon as I read "Remember when I said I sketched out the outline? That I had three pages, single-lined, double-sided of outline? Outlines are awesome."

I'm like, "What? LM doesn't use outlines, and I'm pretty sure referred to them specifically as the Devil's A-Hole" ..... or something along those lines ^__^

Tchh... if you're going to get lost in the woods, you have to bring me along! I'm an ex wilderness survival instructor!! We'll make lean-tos and set snares and make signal fires!!! Funtimes....

[giraffatrolli.livejournal.com]

#swoooons# at wordcount! :)

Sadly, Icelandic rescue folk don't know how to rescue folks from forested areas (We have none... the joke goes "What do you do when you're lost in an Icelandic forest?"... Anwer: "You stand up."...) but if you were to find yourself wandering some tundra, a glacier, or find yourself lost at sea, shoot up one of those flares, or turn on your cellphone, and someone will come get you. :) (One shouldn't joke though, people die regularly out there, I'm sure you have the same in Canada...)

My understanding of outlines has always been that they're just to demonstrate that it's _possible_ to get from A to Z. Having one thus gives you the green light to go ahead and wander off, and perhaps (ok, almost certainly) find some other way. One that includes butterflies and rainbows, or in your case, probably explosions, heart-wrenching feels, and general awesomeness. Seems like you're doing just that... :)

Happy Exploring! :)

[brunettepet.livejournal.com]

Your process is fascinating! Dry out that map and take a deep breath. See you on the other side. *hands you fresh batteries and a spare flashlight*

[jayfray18.livejournal.com]

Outlining, for me, is a teasing lie - lol! Snap! I made outlines for the big bangs I wrote a coupe of years ago, and I think I may have used the first line and the last line, and then wound my way merrily off track for the rest *grins*

[(Anonymous)]

Holy s**t!! What a a beauty out of a word count!! :OO omg, I can't wait to read what happens next!! omg, u're awesome!! :D

[quietomega.livejournal.com]

WELL it sounds like in spite of your going off-map, your story is heading right where it needs to be heading, though I'm now wondering if this means you'll go way beyond your estimated 15 parts for this series, which, you know, pretty awesome for us readers. Meanwhile, should we be sending out rescue parties? I should also note that your very vivid description actually sounds like it could spawn a fic...Oh dear, I'm not helping am I?

Urm. Uh. OH! Have you realised that Merlin and Arthur have been together for more than half of the series now?

[bookscrazygirl.livejournal.com]

... I haven't commented on this post yet have I?

Sorry, I follow but every time I want to comment, I get distracted with work >_<.

Now on to comments!

You really love playing with my count calculation, don't you? Although, with the way your word count's been climbing per part, I'd say you are about quarter of the way finished?

*Hand over compass*

Looks like this part will be a doozy tho...