The first round of edits continues.
I got up to the fourth chapter when I realized it was completely out of place. It was practically all exposition/background story, save for a short action sequence at the beginning, and it disrupted the flow of the novel. By this point in the book, the MC has already received his call to adventure, so I couldn't do a flashback.
What to do, what to do?
I tried moving the chapter up in line, but it just didn't make sense to do a flashback so early. The chapter explained a lot of things about the universe in which the story resides, but the MC hadn't yet been solidly introduced to the audience. It was a hard decision, but I had to slash the whole chapter. I guess thats a sign of mature writing, but it doesn't hurt any less.
I did comb through it, however, and pick out the vital pieces of background information to be worked into conversations in other chapters. The actual event that happened in that chapter... by the time its relevant to the story for this first book we'll be ready for Act 2. And I'm not slowing the pace of the middle part of the story for a flashback. It will likely be recycled for Book 2, as I planned on having a very similar scene to kick that book off anyway.
Something else that recently came up... apparently there's bias in the writing industry towards prologues. Unbeknownst to me. It puts me in a rough spot, because the "prologue" that I have is vital to the entire series. It has to be the first scene, but it takes place outside of the main story, so I'm not sure if I can recategorize it as "Chapter One." Either way, it will be the first scene in the book. It can't be helped.
Decisions.
UPDATE: Rowling's Chapter One of Harry Potter Numero Uno is essentially a prologue. But its her Chapter One. I guess I know what I'm doing, then. Now, about the epilogue...
Monday, May 20, 2013
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Setting Sail the Prairie
After a couple weeks off, I have begun molding my novel into a second draft. I am using Holly Lisle's One-Pass Manuscript Revision as my guide. I honestly don't anticipate finishing the novel after just one pass, but I hope to have everything related to how the characters should act, plot, etc. finalized after this go round. The only things that (I hope) will remain will be grammar and sentence structure improvement.
The prologue's first edit has been completed. It was a very quick process, but the chapter itself is relatively short and it has already received many unofficial edits over the generation of the novel's first draft.
But I'm on my way! :)
The prologue's first edit has been completed. It was a very quick process, but the chapter itself is relatively short and it has already received many unofficial edits over the generation of the novel's first draft.
But I'm on my way! :)
Thursday, April 4, 2013
I WROTE A BOOK
As of today, April 4th, 2013, I am officially an author. Not a published author. And not even an author of a publish-ready piece. But I have completed the first draft of my first novel, and in my mind that makes me an author.
HOLY CRAP I ACTUALLY DID IT!!
I'm about to reminisce; if you want to know more about the novel scroll down to the bottom.
This all started back in high school. Specifically, my sophomore year. There was an online contest for an AOL forum called Antagonist, INC. (ANT for short). For the contest, you had to submit a short story fiction. I submitted a story about a man working on a space station and, to my surprise, I actually won! (The prize was virtual tokens used to buy random things - I bought a custom-made drawing of Gohan from Dragonball Z.).
A few weeks or so later after winning the contest, my English teacher gave us an assignment to write a two-page piece of fiction. I happily turned in my contest submission as my paper. When he handed them back graded the next week, he looked me in the eye and said if he ever found that I had plagiarized my homework, that he would ensure I get suspended. He handed me back a paper with a big fat 100 on it.
That is the single most-cherished compliment I have ever received, and it stuck with me.
It was then I realized my creativity was badass. I began writing more short stories for fun. Eventually I decided I wanted to put my writing to use. Back then I wanted to be a game designer; specifically, the creative story designer. So I set out to write a story that I could later turn into the world for a videogame.
It was this "game" story that would eventually evolve into the universe which spawned this first novel. As I went into college, I realized my story needed backstory. I then set off to create another story, a prequel novel. I made a full outline and wrote about 8 or 9 chapters before the fatigue of writing brought everything to a halt.
Jump to November 2009. National Novel Writing Month. I was eager to write a novel again. Looking at what I had written, though, I realized I needed even MORE backstory. So that month I began writing yet another prequel. I only got a few chapters in before writing fatigue hit and I again gave up.
Summer 2010. That itch returned. Only this time I sat down and looked at the universe I was creating with a mature eye. Not only did I need even more backstory, but I needed an entire trilogy's worth. And so I set out to outline what eventually became the novel I finished drafting tonight. If you do the math, that's six novels worth of story, with the original idea being the sixth in the series.
From November 2010 to today, I have been writing the first entry in the series: How They Got Their Wings. It was a long and hard road, mostly because I really don't like to write. I like to fantasize. To create. Writing is the easiest outlet for me, albeit a boring one, but one in which I can fully realize my fictional universe without thousands of hours of digital media effort (we'll save that for Hollywood, yeah?)
The first draft clocks in at 21 chapters plus a Prologue/Epilogue. The word count is only at 52,581 words, which is 20K shy of the first Harry Potter novel (which, by the way, was the smallest novel in that series). The word count will go up with revision. There were lots of scenes that I rushed through without providing much detail. The chapter count is very likely to increase as well.
And before anyone asks, no, you can't read it (yet). My wife hasn't even read it, and I'm not letting her until I at least complete the first revision (because a lot of it is pretty unreadable). I have no idea how long that's going to take. It may be another few years before I'm ready to publish. But hey, I'm 50K+ words farther along than I was 3 years ago :)
As for what its about? Well, it is a supernatural fantasy set in a modern world with some sci-fi elements. And its called How They Got Their Wings. It would be safe to say that I want this story to do for angels what Harry Potter did for wizards or Twilight did for vampires. Only it will be more mature than Harry Potter and it won't suck (pun intended) like Twilight. As for anything specific about the story, you'll have to wait a little while longer. But know that this story/universe has been building in my mind for 13 years. This isn't something just slapped together. It's going to blow. your. minds.
The road to taking over the world continues...
HOLY CRAP I ACTUALLY DID IT!!
I'm about to reminisce; if you want to know more about the novel scroll down to the bottom.
This all started back in high school. Specifically, my sophomore year. There was an online contest for an AOL forum called Antagonist, INC. (ANT for short). For the contest, you had to submit a short story fiction. I submitted a story about a man working on a space station and, to my surprise, I actually won! (The prize was virtual tokens used to buy random things - I bought a custom-made drawing of Gohan from Dragonball Z.).
A few weeks or so later after winning the contest, my English teacher gave us an assignment to write a two-page piece of fiction. I happily turned in my contest submission as my paper. When he handed them back graded the next week, he looked me in the eye and said if he ever found that I had plagiarized my homework, that he would ensure I get suspended. He handed me back a paper with a big fat 100 on it.
That is the single most-cherished compliment I have ever received, and it stuck with me.
It was then I realized my creativity was badass. I began writing more short stories for fun. Eventually I decided I wanted to put my writing to use. Back then I wanted to be a game designer; specifically, the creative story designer. So I set out to write a story that I could later turn into the world for a videogame.
It was this "game" story that would eventually evolve into the universe which spawned this first novel. As I went into college, I realized my story needed backstory. I then set off to create another story, a prequel novel. I made a full outline and wrote about 8 or 9 chapters before the fatigue of writing brought everything to a halt.
Jump to November 2009. National Novel Writing Month. I was eager to write a novel again. Looking at what I had written, though, I realized I needed even MORE backstory. So that month I began writing yet another prequel. I only got a few chapters in before writing fatigue hit and I again gave up.
Summer 2010. That itch returned. Only this time I sat down and looked at the universe I was creating with a mature eye. Not only did I need even more backstory, but I needed an entire trilogy's worth. And so I set out to outline what eventually became the novel I finished drafting tonight. If you do the math, that's six novels worth of story, with the original idea being the sixth in the series.
From November 2010 to today, I have been writing the first entry in the series: How They Got Their Wings. It was a long and hard road, mostly because I really don't like to write. I like to fantasize. To create. Writing is the easiest outlet for me, albeit a boring one, but one in which I can fully realize my fictional universe without thousands of hours of digital media effort (we'll save that for Hollywood, yeah?)
The first draft clocks in at 21 chapters plus a Prologue/Epilogue. The word count is only at 52,581 words, which is 20K shy of the first Harry Potter novel (which, by the way, was the smallest novel in that series). The word count will go up with revision. There were lots of scenes that I rushed through without providing much detail. The chapter count is very likely to increase as well.
And before anyone asks, no, you can't read it (yet). My wife hasn't even read it, and I'm not letting her until I at least complete the first revision (because a lot of it is pretty unreadable). I have no idea how long that's going to take. It may be another few years before I'm ready to publish. But hey, I'm 50K+ words farther along than I was 3 years ago :)
As for what its about? Well, it is a supernatural fantasy set in a modern world with some sci-fi elements. And its called How They Got Their Wings. It would be safe to say that I want this story to do for angels what Harry Potter did for wizards or Twilight did for vampires. Only it will be more mature than Harry Potter and it won't suck (pun intended) like Twilight. As for anything specific about the story, you'll have to wait a little while longer. But know that this story/universe has been building in my mind for 13 years. This isn't something just slapped together. It's going to blow. your. minds.
The road to taking over the world continues...
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Time Table
Sitting at 46,828 words with just under three chapters to go, then the first draft of How They Got Their Wings will be complete. A very rough draft, but a complete one.
And already I'm looking to the future. I'm tempted to give Camp Nanowrimo 2013 a shot during the April session, but I don't have anything prepared for the untitled second book. I have a general synopsis in mind and the beginning/ending but the characters still have to figure out what happens in the middle.
Its scary, not knowing whats coming, but thats how it was for How They Got Their Wings. And man did that first book turn out to be awesome, even as a rough draft. Storywise it doesn't need too many changes. I'm very, very proud of what I accomplished with it.
I think thats why the emptiness of the second book is scary. I'm worried its going to suffer "middle book" syndrome as its the tent pole between the first book (which I know to be awesome) and the third and final book (in the first trilogy). And man, that third book... its going to be epic. Super epic.
The first book sets up the world. The second book needs to take this new world and run with it, all while setting up the third book where the payoff happens. But I don't want it to be just a tent pole. I want the second book to be looked at as a solid entry in the franchise that has its own story to tell outside of the support it lends to books one and three.
I guess I need to get on that outline.
Genesis - Time Table
And already I'm looking to the future. I'm tempted to give Camp Nanowrimo 2013 a shot during the April session, but I don't have anything prepared for the untitled second book. I have a general synopsis in mind and the beginning/ending but the characters still have to figure out what happens in the middle.
Its scary, not knowing whats coming, but thats how it was for How They Got Their Wings. And man did that first book turn out to be awesome, even as a rough draft. Storywise it doesn't need too many changes. I'm very, very proud of what I accomplished with it.
I think thats why the emptiness of the second book is scary. I'm worried its going to suffer "middle book" syndrome as its the tent pole between the first book (which I know to be awesome) and the third and final book (in the first trilogy). And man, that third book... its going to be epic. Super epic.
The first book sets up the world. The second book needs to take this new world and run with it, all while setting up the third book where the payoff happens. But I don't want it to be just a tent pole. I want the second book to be looked at as a solid entry in the franchise that has its own story to tell outside of the support it lends to books one and three.
I guess I need to get on that outline.
Genesis - Time Table
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Eres Tremulent
About two years ago I began creating an outline for a novel that I had planned on writing during November 2010's NaNoWriMo contest. I never finished the outline, but I did get a dozen or so chapters plotted down. And when the contest came, I managed to bang out 18,000+ words before I finally fell victim to work schedule, fatigue and videogames.
Last year I met and fell in love with my fiance Charlotte. I remember on our first date how I told her about my dreams of writing a series of books, and how I had fared the previous November during NaNoWriMo. My goal was to pick up where I left off during the 2011 NaNoWriMo contest, but I quit before the contest even began. Skyrim was coming out. My book would have to wait. We also were engaged that November, so there wasn't a whole lot of thought placed on writing 1667 words a day.
At the beginning of this year, I made a promise to Charlotte that I would finish my novel before we were married. To ensure I met that goal, I decided to write just enough words every day until our wedding day (November) to finish the book. My thought was that by writing 100 words a day, I wouldn't get overstressed coming home from work only to spend four hours writing. I could knock out 100 words in five minutes. Cake!
We also went and bought a cork board for me to use as a wall of encouragement. I filled it up with index cards: one for every chapter, and one for every 5000 word milestone. As I was writing the book, I would put big check marks over completed index cards with the date they were completed.
This lasted for a few weeks, but ultimately I couldn't keep up with the endurance of writing 100 words a day. "Oh, I'm pretty tired today. I can make up those words tomorrow." Five months later, and I've barely written anything else.
The good news is that during the first few weeks, I managed to increase my word count from 18K to 25K, so that's something. Also, the extra words all came in chapters I had already written. I'd expanded the word count (and the quality) of the chapters I'd already completed during that NaNoWriMo two years ago, giving my story a boost and giving me a solid shot at hitting 80K+ words with the final novel.
Now, with July on the horizon, I've decided to cut the crap and just get this book written. My first order of business is to finish my outline using this application called Storybook. It helps me keep everything organized, from chapters and scenes to characters and locations. I'm going to work on this outline from now until the end of July, assuming I need that long. Then, come August, I will begin my own version of NaNoWriMo. Being that my goal is 80K words, and I'm already at 25K, I just need 55K more. Thats 5K more than NaNoWriMo, so I'll need to write 1700 something words a day for the entire month of August.
But you know what? I'm ready for it. I'm sick and tired of starting and quitting and wishing I had finished, then starting and quitting and doing the whole cycle over and over and over again. Its been this way since high school with this novel. Well, not this novel particularly, but the whole group of novels together. I've got so much coming at me in my life. Im getting married. I have huge projects at work to complete. My adult life is REALLY going to be kicking into overdrive pretty soon, so if I want to ever get at least one novel written, then this is my last real chance.
So much for Diablo 3. :( Here we go!
Kaddisfly - Eres Tremulent
Last year I met and fell in love with my fiance Charlotte. I remember on our first date how I told her about my dreams of writing a series of books, and how I had fared the previous November during NaNoWriMo. My goal was to pick up where I left off during the 2011 NaNoWriMo contest, but I quit before the contest even began. Skyrim was coming out. My book would have to wait. We also were engaged that November, so there wasn't a whole lot of thought placed on writing 1667 words a day.
At the beginning of this year, I made a promise to Charlotte that I would finish my novel before we were married. To ensure I met that goal, I decided to write just enough words every day until our wedding day (November) to finish the book. My thought was that by writing 100 words a day, I wouldn't get overstressed coming home from work only to spend four hours writing. I could knock out 100 words in five minutes. Cake!
We also went and bought a cork board for me to use as a wall of encouragement. I filled it up with index cards: one for every chapter, and one for every 5000 word milestone. As I was writing the book, I would put big check marks over completed index cards with the date they were completed.
This lasted for a few weeks, but ultimately I couldn't keep up with the endurance of writing 100 words a day. "Oh, I'm pretty tired today. I can make up those words tomorrow." Five months later, and I've barely written anything else.
The good news is that during the first few weeks, I managed to increase my word count from 18K to 25K, so that's something. Also, the extra words all came in chapters I had already written. I'd expanded the word count (and the quality) of the chapters I'd already completed during that NaNoWriMo two years ago, giving my story a boost and giving me a solid shot at hitting 80K+ words with the final novel.
Now, with July on the horizon, I've decided to cut the crap and just get this book written. My first order of business is to finish my outline using this application called Storybook. It helps me keep everything organized, from chapters and scenes to characters and locations. I'm going to work on this outline from now until the end of July, assuming I need that long. Then, come August, I will begin my own version of NaNoWriMo. Being that my goal is 80K words, and I'm already at 25K, I just need 55K more. Thats 5K more than NaNoWriMo, so I'll need to write 1700 something words a day for the entire month of August.
But you know what? I'm ready for it. I'm sick and tired of starting and quitting and wishing I had finished, then starting and quitting and doing the whole cycle over and over and over again. Its been this way since high school with this novel. Well, not this novel particularly, but the whole group of novels together. I've got so much coming at me in my life. Im getting married. I have huge projects at work to complete. My adult life is REALLY going to be kicking into overdrive pretty soon, so if I want to ever get at least one novel written, then this is my last real chance.
So much for Diablo 3. :( Here we go!
Kaddisfly - Eres Tremulent
Sunday, October 31, 2010
On the first day, there was...
Here I sit, four hours away from the start of NaNoWriMo, dawdling away the rest of my evening. Unfortunately, I will not be sharing in the midnight celebrations with other Wrimos around the world. Why, oh why, did November 1st have to fall on a Monday?
No matter. After work tomorrow, I plan on starting and finishing the prologue, and then diving into Chapter 1. I have bags and bags of sugar at my disposal. I have a sweet new Samsung netbook arriving this week. I have three-day weekends for the rest of the month. I have my ambient post-rock station ready to go.
1667 words per day? Cake. Let's do this.
No matter. After work tomorrow, I plan on starting and finishing the prologue, and then diving into Chapter 1. I have bags and bags of sugar at my disposal. I have a sweet new Samsung netbook arriving this week. I have three-day weekends for the rest of the month. I have my ambient post-rock station ready to go.
1667 words per day? Cake. Let's do this.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
The Great Nothing
...nothing to do until November. Well, that's not true at all, but the anticipation has been steadily growing to write the draft. I'm going bonkers.
I never finished my outline. There's a solid three or four chapters I still need to bang out, possibly more. I purposefully left them unwritten until I had gone back through the outline again. I think I may leave them that way until I'm halfway through the first draft.
Ive been going back to the earlier chapter outlines and fleshing them out, bit by bit. An added scene here, some extended dialogue ideas there. Having finally seen what my characters will grow into by the end, I've had to go back and make sure that the seeds are planted early on. Its all about initial conflicts and making sure the characters slowly resolve them (and the successive conflicts) over the course of the book. Otherwise the reader will be bored and unsatisfied.
I'm pretty impressed with what I've come up with for the path my MC (that's "main character" for us Wrimos) has in front of him. Lots of great conflict, both on the inside and outside. The resolution of these conflicts wont be shared here (ie. positive or negative) but I'm happy with where he will be by the final page.
Man, is it November yet?
I never finished my outline. There's a solid three or four chapters I still need to bang out, possibly more. I purposefully left them unwritten until I had gone back through the outline again. I think I may leave them that way until I'm halfway through the first draft.
Ive been going back to the earlier chapter outlines and fleshing them out, bit by bit. An added scene here, some extended dialogue ideas there. Having finally seen what my characters will grow into by the end, I've had to go back and make sure that the seeds are planted early on. Its all about initial conflicts and making sure the characters slowly resolve them (and the successive conflicts) over the course of the book. Otherwise the reader will be bored and unsatisfied.
I'm pretty impressed with what I've come up with for the path my MC (that's "main character" for us Wrimos) has in front of him. Lots of great conflict, both on the inside and outside. The resolution of these conflicts wont be shared here (ie. positive or negative) but I'm happy with where he will be by the final page.
Man, is it November yet?
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