Time for a monthly update on how I’m doing with my WIP, Against All Odds, Book 3 of the Crossroads trilogy. After a lot of input from you-all, I decided on a variation of the first tagline suggested last month:
A friend must be killed. An enemy must be saved. Even if Xhosa does both, her people may not survive
Close… but I still have lots of time to tweak.
If you’ve ever played Vulcan Kal-toh, this month felt like that. Harry Kim (a primary character in Star Trek) describes Kal-toh this way:
“The object of the game is to turn this jumble of rods into a perfect sphere.”
In Kal-toh, you get nowhere until a seminal rod finds its spot and then everything snaps into place. Tuvok (another Star Trek character) says this about the strategy behind this quintessential Vulcan game:
“”Kal-toh is to chess as chess is to tic-tac-toe. [It is]…not about striving for balance but about finding the seeds of order even in the midst of profound chaos. [It is] as much a game of patience as it is of logic.”
Raise your hand if that’s what writing feels like–that if you can find the right placement of emotions, characters, and story, the balance between dialogue and narrative, the world will recognize the genius of your novel. Or maybe just you will–that’s not important. What matters is that you’ll know you’ve finished and done your best. Star Trek aficionados like me know this game doesn’t exist but I seem to channel it as I seek the perfect words and phrases. This month, so far, no seminal rods.
Here’s my rewrite of the summary for Against All Odds:
What should have been a long-awaited new home becomes a battle to survive. Despite Xhosa’s resolute refusal to quit, she may lose.
OK. I now realize that’s not really a summary. Back to work…
Here’s what I have done the past month:
- Wordsmithing as I channel Kal-toh strategy… Move words around, replace some, unreplace others. Umm, that’s it.
- The cover on this page is a placesaver. I’ll probably contact my cover folks in a month-ish.
- Still planning to do Diana Peach’s PowerPoint book trailer idea. I’ve also seen this done using the free Canva.
- Ideas for Book 2 in Dawn of Humanity keep bouncing around in my brain, as do ideas for the sequel to Crossroads. Hmm…
How are you doing on your latest? I’d love to hear!
More on Against All Odds
How I’m Doing on Against All Odds–3
How I’m Doing on Against All Odds–2
How I’m doing on Book 3 of my trilogy
Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy, the Rowe-Delamagente thrillers, and the Man vs. Nature saga. She is also the author/editor of over a hundred books on integrating tech into education, adjunct professor of technology in education, blog webmaster, an Amazon Vine Voice, a columnist for NEA Today, and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. Look for her next prehistoric fiction, Against All Odds, Fall 2020. You can find her tech ed books at her publisher’s website, Structured Learning
#StarTrek #Kal-toh #amwriting
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Sounds like you’re making progress, Jacqui! Never heard of Kal-toh; though I’m familiar with the whole Star Trek universe, I’m not a “Trekkie”. And I have Diana’s powerpoint trailer on my to-do list as well 😀 Keep writing!
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It’s from Tuvok, STV. That was always my favorite!
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Yes, an interesting way to describe writing. Mine is on a go slow as work is terribly busy at this time of your. I have been working all day since 6.30am.
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I often found my outside-the-home work gratifying so I can see that would be wonderful. It’s amazing how much you have written and published in such a short time.
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Your chess analogy for writing is spot on! And I really like your tagline. A friend killed and an enemy saved is so provocative. Well done!
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I didn’t think that one up–I think it was from Sandra Cox. As soon as I heard it, I knew she’d hit it. I love my online efriends!
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I’m raising my hand. Yes, writing and figuring out the setting/characters/plot/on and on is a lot like playing Kal-toh. I don’t usually have the patience for games like that, but am much more patient with myself and my stories, thank goodness. You are coming along so well, Jacqui.
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Thanks, Pam. I might be a Vulcan-in-training, not quite sure. How’s your next book going?
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Well, the Vulcans are certainly well-organized and intelligent beings, so you fit in well. I’m more like Kirk – jumping into chaos too often probably and thinking by the seat of my pants (or more likely by my heart).
My next book is going w a y t o o s l o w l y. I’m still recovering from publishing Molly Finds Her Purr and all the promotion (have been giving a number of presentations in the Boston area as well as the SF Bay area). Three more presentations to go in the next two months. Then… full steam ahead on my flash fiction anthology.
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Great tag line!
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Thank you, Jennie. It feels close!
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I’m so glad!
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Good luck in getting to the finish line – it’ll be awesome!
Love, light and glitter
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It is pretty awesome. Little feels as fulfilling as finishing a novel.
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Good news to know you’re progressing on your next book! Wow. Just a thought for your tagline, how about more active verbs? Kill a friend. Save an enemy. Even if Xhosa does both, her people may not survive. Santa brought me Office 365 for Christmas. Loving the PowerPoint. So much easier to narrate the slides than my old one. So much fun too even if there was a bit of a learning curve. Now get back to work!!
JQ Rose
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Thanks for that, Janet. I’m mulling it over as we speak! Office 365–love the constant updates. No more getting out of date with mass changes in the software.
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Jacqui, thanks for the update. I wish you well bringing this one to fruition and look forward to reading the continuing story of Xhosa. Great tagline too!
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Thanks for the tagline feedback! I seem to have wrastled that sentence to the ground!
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Taglines and blurbs can be so hard to nail down. I’m wrestling with my own right now. 😉
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I’m sure those puzzle pieces will fall into place, Jacqui, perhaps when you least expect them too. I can’t wait to find out more of Xhosa’s story. Must get more into book 2 before book 3 is out.
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I have been slogging for about a month but maybe, it’s getting close to fixing itself. I’m crossing my fingers.
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I wish you success!
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How interesting the comparison of your writing-editing style to Kal-toh strategy. I may have to try that – at least, I may have to find the Kal-toh game to play with. Can’t wait to see your official new cover art!
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It’s that magic wand, that fairy dust–maybe in 300 years (or more), I’ll find it.
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Jacqui, I admire your persistence and your sense of organization. Sounds like you’re on your way! 🙂 Wishing you lots of fun and success!
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I have a few more stories in me. After that, not sure! As do you–great getting Warning Signs out!
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Great summary, Jacqui! 🙂
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Thanks, Bette. Not a lot of progress but baby steps.
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Step by step… 🙂
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Kal-toh. I like that! It IS what writing feels like – a giant puzzle where the pieces have to fit together just right in about twelve different dimensions. Lol. You seem to be making progress, Jacqui, drilling down deeper into the nitty-gritty. Keep up the good work. 🙂
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Ever since I heard about Kal-toh, I knew it fit my writing style. Not that I ever want to play it!
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That was a nice post, Jacqui. I kept thinking of Spock’s philosophy, “If you eliminate every possibility, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”
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Spock and Sherlock Holmes. Logical, rational men! Thanks for dropping in, Ed. Hope all goes well with you.
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You too Jacqui!
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I’m a Trekkie from the old days and TNG days. I’m going to have to remember this comparison. It makes a lot of sense. Fingers crossed you find those seminal rods soon!
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You know what I mean then. I remember watching Tuvok plan in one of the Voyager episodes. Amazing.
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Your comparison to the game is right on about writing. Glad you’re moving forward. Can’t wait to see your cover.
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Kal-toh really fits my editing style. I’m looking for a magic wand.
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Jacqui, I have a small problem with the first sentence of your summary (What should have been a long-awaited new home becomes a battle to survive). Take it down to bare bones and it says “What should have been a new home becomes a battle.” It seems to need another noun, like “arrival” or “settling into” – What should have been arrival at a long-awaited new home becomes a battle to survive. I know that’s getting too long, but it’s not the home that becomes the battle.
This is always such a hard thing to sort out. You’re getting there. Just a bit more tweaking. Good luck with it.
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Oh that is much better. Thank you–bare bones is always an improvement. It’s also too short so I need to work on that.
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What I meant was that “new home” should have had a word or to before it like “arrival at” or “settling into” or “finding a.” Anyway, I know you’ll be working on it more.
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Thanks for sharing the progress, waiting for the book and the date announcement. All my best wishes Jacqui.
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Thanks, Balroop. I moved the finish date from Winter to Fall but that still gives me until December. Sigh.
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Great tagline, Jacqui! Glad you got some work done over the holidays and beyond! I got a little writing done myself!
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You-all helped a lot with this and then Sandra Cox kicked it up a notch. I’m pretty happy with it.
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Keep it going – you’ll be done before you know it.
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It is going faster than I expected but that could change in a blink.
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That’s a good logline though.
Writing is a game pf patience.
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I’m so glad to hear that–about the logline. I’ll let it marinate but so far, it feels good.
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Hi Jacqui. I’ve never written a novel. Have no plans to do so. I’m somewhat in awe of those who are able to create on such a large scale.
Enjoy the week. See ya.
Neil
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It’s all about time. It takes about a year, maybe longer, and really, what else do I have to do???
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I love the tagline. So much better. I too have not found the seminal rods these past two months. I am hoping that changes soon.
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I’m working the editing but it still seems to be a jumble. Thank goodness my writing group has patience with me.
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I love the tagline, Jacqui. It’s a terrific hook. Kal-toh would be far too daunting for me. LOL. Keep up the great work. Hugs!
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Tuvok didn’t find many opponents. But when you’re lost in space, what else was there to do? Nice shout-out on Terri’s blog–congrats!
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Love your comparison to Kal-toh! Clearly a true Trekkie ❤
And the new tagline is great, very enticing.
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I am and I wish Star Trek would get more movies out there. Sigh. Thanks for the feedback on the tagline!
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I read yesterday that the next movie might be started in 2021.
Have you watched ‘Discovery’? I binge watched series 1&2 over Christmas (first time I’ve ever done that, it was brilliant fun), and now eagerly awaiting season 3. And ‘Picard’ is due to start soon – it’s just so annoying to have to subscribe to different services to watch them all!
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I have! And can’t wait, either. We are a devoted fan base, aren’t we?
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Right from the start ❤ TOS was so revolutionary, it totally captured our hearts and imaginations. The first novel I tried to write, I abandoned it after a few pages when I realised I was writing Star Trek and had just changed the characters names!
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That’s pretty funny. No interest in fan fiction? Me either. There are too many of them on ST.
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I did start writing a short story about Picard when we discovered he kept his own saddle for riding on the holodeck. Entitled ‘Here be unicorns’, though I never finished it.
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My writing is a constant fight to quit sounding like a 5-year old wrote the story. 🙂
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Well, you are a non-fiction writer. I think if you published your blog as a book, it would be an amazing read, GP.
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You’re too kind.
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Your new tagline is great, Jacqui. Well done =)
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Thank you! Sandra Cox suggested changing ‘someone’ to ‘a friend’ and that snaps the pieces into place for me. A Kal-toh moment!
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We wish you great ideas for your next month’s writing.
All the best
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Thanks! Keep me inspired with your great posts over there.
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I love the tag line, Jacqui! Nice! My deadline is Wednesday…eek!
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Oooh that’s exciting. Go get ’em!
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I like that tag line, Jacqui! It’s got me worried:) I will be curious to see your powerpoint!
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Thanks, Denise. That change did it for me, too. Making that PowerPoint–that will be a labor of love. I’m pretty excited to try it out.
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Jacqui, it seems far less than a month since your latest update … when will time slow down! I love the new tag line and what a terrific analogy of Kal-toh with writing – I can relate to that feeling! Good luck with your next month’s work on the book!
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Thanks, Annika. It does seem fast. I schedule these posts so I think I’m on schedule but I did have a bunch of tech problems last month. I easily could have messed up the schedule.
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I love the tagline, sounds both sad, yet exciting. Good luck getting your current book finished and published. You sound like a terrific writer and I can’t to read your new book, but while waiting I’ll be sure to purchase the previous novels to get caught up. I’m so glad I didn’t miss you’re message update. I can’t wait to read all of them, as I love to read. I can’t lie though, I’m ashamed that I have not read them wired to now.
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Thanks for the positive thoughts! They are much appreciated, especially when editing is slow.
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