The AH Coffee Shop and Reading Room 02: A Comma (is a Restful Pause)

[Hypoxia]

Don't like oregano? Sad. Rural bears just don't understand the finer things in life. We urbane types certainly do.

It's all the rednecks nearby with their low-rent White Trash Cooking leftovers, all that WalMart canned and bottled stuff, ruining the sensitive taste buds of our mountain bears, the poor babies.

Meanwhile, wild turkeys are here. I look out the window beside me and see a hen and eight hand-sized (if you have big hands) chicks dashing around our quarter-acre meadow, scooping bugs off the deer and bear poop. And big mantids have returned. Mid-summer is upon us. Time for iced coffee.

 

[NotWise]

My office partner brought figs from his tree. I'm stuffed.

 

[Handley_Page]

I have found the most wonderful bit of 'modern' jazz:
Jimmy Smith: Midnight special.
Best demo of Grady Tate and Kenny Burrel I've heard in ages.

 

[TxRad]

My first time in here I think. Was wondering if someone could help me out with an answer. What is a good amount of words per day to write?

I'm trying to hunker down and finish my Women's Studies series, but I'm already about 140k words in, and I think I'm only half way finished. I've been trying to set some daily goals for myself so I can keep myself motivated, but what I want to write a day is 10k words and I feel that is really pushing it... or maybe I'm just a slow writer.

TLDR: Looking for a word count sweet spot that won't burn me out. Trying to see how much you guys do a day on average.

Welcome to the AH and the Cafe. Words a day. Ogg gave you some good information. Daily word count can vary greatly because of many factors. Are you working? How great is your social life? Is the writing for fun or profit? Pick a number. Set a block of time. See how it goes.

When I just wrote for fun, it didn't seem to matter much. I wrote when I had extra time. Now that I write for money, it is a job and you have to treat it as such. I set hours to write but i still don't set a word count. I track the word count but I don't set it. I tried that once and found myself rushing to make the word count. I had to do a lot more rewrites.

Also, by set hours, I ain't talking eight hours at a whack. I usually write three hours in the morning and another two or so in the afternoon. I try to do so every day. When the story is flowing, I write longer. When the story is lagging, I might take a day off and then go back and see why.

Anywho, that's my take on the subject for what it is worth.

 

[TxRad]

Afternooner all,

No bears in the woods around here, although there are a lot of long tailed squirrels. Some of which live in trees.

The new boat is framed and skinned. Tonight is a tape and epoxy party. Things could get sticky.

I'm taking a day off from writing today, although I made the mistake of opening an old NANO novel. The house guest went nuts over it and now i have to finish it, it seems. It's already at 54k+ words and 167 Word pages. One or two more sex scenes and then a wrap up is the way I see it. It will be HEA if I stop it one way and hauntingly so if I go another way. She's voting for the latter as it comes more full circle.

Ok, fresh coffee for all while I see what is for supper. I could get fat with all the cooking that goes on around here.

 

[NotWise]

My wife had a political thing tonight and left me to cook my own dinner.

I'm such a pig.

I cooked my favorite burger; 1/3 pound of ground sirloin grilled to medium with beautiful grill marks and two slices of American cheese melted over the top, all on a large, toasted sesame seed bun. Lay the cooked patty on a thick layer of roasted and chopped green chile, top with crisp bacon and slices of my homegrown black krim tomatoes.

I had a roasted ear of bicolor corn to go with that. I'm full and there isn't that much to clean up.

 

[MagicaPractica]

My wife had a political thing tonight and left me to cook my own dinner.

I'm such a pig.

I cooked my favorite burger; 1/3 pound of ground sirloin grilled to medium with beautiful grill marks and two slices of American cheese melted over the top, all on a large, toasted sesame seed bun. Lay the cooked patty on a thick layer of roasted and chopped green chile, top with crisp bacon and slices of my homegrown black krim tomatoes.

I had a roasted ear of bicolor corn to go with that. I'm full and there isn't that much to clean up.

Would the green chile be hot or like the poblano they use in chile rellenos? I've always been a little gun shy of cooking with different types of peppers but I loved chile rellenos when I had them.

Just sucking down a zinc tablet tonight. Afraid a little cold coming on but I don't have time for it.

 

[NotWise]

Would the green chile be hot or like the poblano they use in chile rellenos? I've always been a little gun shy of cooking with different types of peppers but I loved chile rellenos when I had them.

Just sucking down a zinc tablet tonight. Afraid a little cold coming on but I don't have time for it.

Locally, "green chile" is what we use for rellenos. It's aka "New Mexico Chile" or "Hatch Green Chile" and the predominant variety is (originally) No. 9 or Anaheim. "No. 9" was the original name and dates from the late 1800's (as I recall). More recent commercial modifications are generally 7-10 inches in length, thick-fleshed, and the heat varies from little more than a green pepper to hotter than a jalapeno.

The crop is coming in now, and the scent of roasting green chiles is common. My daughter visited from the Chicago area last week and swooned over the aroma, which she grew up with as an annual event.

Regardless of whether they use Poblano, New Mexico, Pasilla or other chiles, the heat is mostly in the seeds and ribs. If a chile is cleaned of all it's seeds and ribs then it will be fairly mild.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

My wife had a political thing tonight and left me to cook my own dinner.

I'm such a pig.

I cooked my favorite burger; 1/3 pound of ground sirloin grilled to medium with beautiful grill marks and two slices of American cheese melted over the top, all on a large, toasted sesame seed bun. Lay the cooked patty on a thick layer of roasted and chopped green chile, top with crisp bacon and slices of my homegrown black krim tomatoes.

I had a roasted ear of bicolor corn to go with that. I'm full and there isn't that much to clean up.

Aww . . . I really sorry that you have to do penance with that. A real shame, that is.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Hatch chilis are only available a couple of months each year, up this way. And they are definitely worth the wait! Yum!

 

[Hypoxia]

When we resided in mountainous bordertown Bisbee AZ, the CostCo in Tucson carried gallon jugs of Hatch chiles. Haven't seen them elsewhere, even in Albuquerque NM. What we *did* find in Albo were local beers brewed in nearby Moriarty. Pecan (pronounced PEE-can, like a pisspot) beer, cactus beer, jalapeño beer, lotsa great stuff we can't get in California. I don't think Amazon drones will fly any to us up here in the Sierras.

Yes, a chile's heat is in her girly parts: placenta and seeds. She's naturally hot. Only a hysterectomy cools her off. Think of this as a culinary D&C job.

 

[Son_of_Battles]

Thank you for all the input on daily word count. I don't quite know if I'm of a caliber to be writing professionally yet, so for now it's just a hobby. It would be nice to eventually get there though. I think I'm going to try for 2k a day for now. I only worry about burning myself out. It has happened before. I wrote 36k words in a 24 hour period, and after that I didn't even want to see a word document page for a long while.

SoB

 

[Hypoxia]

Thank you for all the input on daily word count. I don't quite know if I'm of a caliber to be writing professionally yet, so for now it's just a hobby. It would be nice to eventually get there though. I think I'm going to try for 2k a day for now. I only worry about burning myself out. It has happened before. I wrote 36k words in a 24 hour period, and after that I didn't even want to see a word document page for a long while.

As suggested, not all writing is the same. Some of us who were or are paid to churn out words may spew vast amounts of verbiage, the more the merrier. Those of us writing for fun may barely tap-out some slight text. If you're not getting paid but you want to get serious, give yourself a goal of so many words or paragraphs per day, or lock yourself in a bare room with a keyboard for a few hours daily. Develop the habit and discipline.

No, not all writing is the same. I've carried a voice recorder for many years. Driving or hiking, I've dictated outlines and essays. Biking or running or lying abed, I've chanted songs. Falling asleep at night, a story idea may materialize, so I record that. Then comes the fun of transcription and editing and making it right. That takes time and effort. Oh bother...

 

[NotWise]

When we resided in mountainous bordertown Bisbee AZ, the CostCo in Tucson carried gallon jugs of Hatch chiles. Haven't seen them elsewhere, even in Albuquerque NM.

We have a diverse selection of chile year-round, but I've never seen a gallon size container of chile in a grocery store. Something that big would have to come from CostCo or a restaurant supplier.

What we *did* find in Albo were local beers brewed in nearby Moriarty. Pecan (pronounced PEE-can, like a pisspot) beer, cactus beer, jalapeño beer, lotsa great stuff we can't get in California. I don't think Amazon drones will fly any to us up here in the Sierras.

There are so many craft brewers around Abq now that I have to wonder who is drinking all that beer. There's an official brewery district, and the downtown area has multiple taprooms per block.

Summer brings out all the strange brews, most of which I prefer to ignore.

 

[MagicaPractica]

Locally, "green chile" is what we use for rellenos. It's aka "New Mexico Chile" or "Hatch Green Chile" and the predominant variety is (originally) No. 9 or Anaheim. "No. 9" was the original name and dates from the late 1800's (as I recall). More recent commercial modifications are generally 7-10 inches in length, thick-fleshed, and the heat varies from little more than a green pepper to hotter than a jalapeno.

The crop is coming in now, and the scent of roasting green chiles is common. My daughter visited from the Chicago area last week and swooned over the aroma, which she grew up with as an annual event.

Regardless of whether they use Poblano, New Mexico, Pasilla or other chiles, the heat is mostly in the seeds and ribs. If a chile is cleaned of all it's seeds and ribs then it will be fairly mild.

I'm just gonna have to play with them a bit. I've made salsa so I'm not a complete novice but I'm definitely more comfortable with bell peppers. Thanks!

 

[oggbashan]

Parking!

This weekend there will be two big events locally. the first is a free Air Show. A road is closed for two days. The first event starts at 11 am tomorrow but cars are banned from 10 pm tonight (Saturday) until 10 pm Sunday.

Around my house, at 7 pm Friday, there are two parking spaces left as far as I can see in any direction. I don't expect those to remain free for more than a quarter of an hour.

By 11 am tomorrow there will be no parking spaces, free or paid for, within a mile of the sea front, and traffic jams in all directions. I'm staying put. I have three off road spaces that have been booked by friends and family months ago.

We're expecting 100,000 visitors which is more than twice the local population. I will sit on my balcony to watch the event and the tourists.

One weekend a year is bearable. We have stocked up with supplies for the visiting families.

Any more such weekends? The town can't cope.

But we have enough coffee.

 

[Handley_Page]

This weekend there will be two big events locally. the first is a free Air Show. A road is closed for two days. The first event starts at 11 am tomorrow but cars are banned from 10 pm tonight (Saturday) until 10 pm Sunday.

Around my house, at 7 pm Friday, there are two parking spaces left as far as I can see in any direction. I don't expect those to remain free for more than a quarter of an hour.

By 11 am tomorrow there will be no parking spaces, free or paid for, within a mile of the sea front, and traffic jams in all directions. I'm staying put. I have three off road spaces that have been booked by friends and family months ago.

We're expecting 100,000 visitors which is more than twice the local population. I will sit on my balcony to watch the event and the tourists.

One weekend a year is bearable. We have stocked up with supplies for the visiting families.

Any more such weekends? The town can't cope.

But we have enough coffee.

Please keep your camera hand, Ogg. I'd like to see a bit of it.


In the interim, I've discovered that reliance on the Weather Forecast is not a good idea.
I put some shirts & Tees on the line earlier; And it has p1$$ed it down.
A wet & dripping Tee shirt is not quite what I had n mind.

Time, I think, for a coffee.

 

[_Lynn_]

Hello. No rain today but it was gloomy. Managed a bit of writing. I still have over five hundred words that I removed (but saved) and I still managed a word count of four thousand. I could have more if 1) stopped going back to tweak everything and 2) typed faster.

 

[NotWise]

Hello. No rain today but it was gloomy. Managed a bit of writing. I still have over five hundred words that I removed (but saved) and I still managed a word count of four thousand. I could have more if 1) stopped going back to tweak everything and 2) typed faster.

For me that would be a GREAT writing day.

 

[Son_of_Battles]

Hello. No rain today but it was gloomy. Managed a bit of writing. I still have over five hundred words that I removed (but saved) and I still managed a word count of four thousand. I could have more if 1) stopped going back to tweak everything and 2) typed faster.

I only type at about 30wpm, so I feel your pain on the slow typing front. Got a wonky index finger that doesn't cut it the way it should and it messes up the whole groove of my left hand. Congratz on the 4k! I only managed to come out about 1500 ahead after deleting an entire section of text. It sounded so great yesterday, but today it didn't have the same shine. One of the main reasons I don't go back and reread the stories I posted. I just know I'll be cringing.

SoB

 

[MagicaPractica]

Hello. No rain today but it was gloomy. Managed a bit of writing. I still have over five hundred words that I removed (but saved) and I still managed a word count of four thousand. I could have more if 1) stopped going back to tweak everything and 2) typed faster.

Wow! That's fantastic!

I'm a pretty fast typist but I didn't put many new words in today, mostly edited and smoothed out chapter 4 and 5 of the novel I'm working on. I'm pretty satisfied with the storyline but I need to add some atmosphere. Have a message out to someone who works where I'm setting it so I can get some info on that. I'm happy with what I got today.

 

[MagicaPractica]

I only type at about 30wpm, so I feel your pain on the slow typing front. Got a wonky index finger that doesn't cut it the way it should and it messes up the whole groove of my left hand. Congratz on the 4k! I only managed to come out about 1500 ahead after deleting an entire section of text. It sounded so great yesterday, but today it didn't have the same shine. One of the main reasons I don't go back and reread the stories I posted. I just know I'll be cringing.

SoB

I find that a couple things happen to me when I don't read something I've written for a while - either I'm surprised at how much I do like it, or I can pick out the problems and fix them.

 

[_Lynn_]

Nope, I meant a TOTAL of 4k, for the week. I'm tired and stressed and didn't express that right. Sorry.

 

[MagicaPractica]

Nope, I meant a TOTAL of 4k, for the week. I'm tired and stressed and didn't express that right. Sorry.

STILL runs laps around me.

 

[NotWise]

One of the main reasons I don't go back and reread the stories I posted. I just know I'll be cringing.

I reread my stuff over and over before it goes out. I think it's better to cringe over a story before it goes out than after.

A couple months ago I reread my most popular story, and despite the nice rating and the "W" in the listing, I found the same dialog repeated twice in the story. It made me unhappy.

As near as I can recall, I'd copied the conversation from an early part of the story to a later part of the story, then forgot to replace the early part. The story is fairly long, so I can only hope that few people noticed. Those folks who did comment found other things to comment about.