No, I haven't stopped working on the book since August. Chapter 22 was the end of Graedin's section, so I figured it would be a good time to sit down and re-think my outline.
I've now completely finished rewriting the outline, from Chapter 22 all the way to the end (approx Chapter 60), and all of the cracks in the plot are filled in. Now it's a simple matter of writing forty more chapters! No big deal, right?
I sent out Chapter 23 tonight, and I hope it meets with everybody's approval.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Chapter 22 finished!
I've sent out Chapter 22, and it's another long one.
This is the conclusion of this "Graedin" section.
I'm taking a break from prose to re-craft the remainder of my outline. A lot has changed since my last revision so I need to line up my ducks.
This is the conclusion of this "Graedin" section.
I'm taking a break from prose to re-craft the remainder of my outline. A lot has changed since my last revision so I need to line up my ducks.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Catching up...Chapters 19 and 20
I sent out Chapter 19 last week, and it was a whopper. Thirty-Eight pages! I feel like this is my best chapter yet, and the story is beginning to roll forward on its own.
Tonight, I completed Chapter 20. Originally, I meant Chapter 20 to be two scenes, but after completing what I intended to be Scene 1, I realized that I had covered all the material I had mapped for Scene 2. It didn't take as many words as I originally had planned.
So instead of forcing the content of chapter 21 into Scene 2 of Chapter 20 (are you following me on this?), I decided to call this one a chapter.
Rereading, the last paragraph is a great cliffhanger ending for a chapter regardless of its length. So, here is Chapter 20, only 27 pages shorter than Chapter 19.
Tonight, I completed Chapter 20. Originally, I meant Chapter 20 to be two scenes, but after completing what I intended to be Scene 1, I realized that I had covered all the material I had mapped for Scene 2. It didn't take as many words as I originally had planned.
So instead of forcing the content of chapter 21 into Scene 2 of Chapter 20 (are you following me on this?), I decided to call this one a chapter.
Rereading, the last paragraph is a great cliffhanger ending for a chapter regardless of its length. So, here is Chapter 20, only 27 pages shorter than Chapter 19.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
CH 19 and 20 Outline
Finally. Finally. I'm getting to the part of the story I've been excited about since I started working on my original outline in early 2005.
I can honestly say that everything that has happened so far has been to set the table for the rest of the book. Not an "introduction" per se, but more like "Act 1". We're still on Graedin's point of view, but I am finally introducing the last MAJOR character in the book, and now things can start happening.
I've outlined the scenes of Chapters 19 and 20, and soon now, the furious writing can begin. I hope.
I can honestly say that everything that has happened so far has been to set the table for the rest of the book. Not an "introduction" per se, but more like "Act 1". We're still on Graedin's point of view, but I am finally introducing the last MAJOR character in the book, and now things can start happening.
I've outlined the scenes of Chapters 19 and 20, and soon now, the furious writing can begin. I hope.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Chapter 17 Delivered
Well I had a really nice plan for Chapter 17. Four scenes, spanning about a year and a half where Graedin's life could be developed to the point I needed it to be for the meat of the story (you know...the rest.). Chapter 17, and I feel like the story's only getting started, sheesh.
Anyway, it got long. 21 pages after Scene 2, and I realized that Scenes 3 and 4 were likely to be even longer than 1 and 2. So I ditched the idea, called 1 and 2 "Chapter 17" and moved Scenes 3 and 4 to a new chapter, pushing everything else back a notch.
To me, Graedin feels like a different character than Brand. I hope he comes across that way to other readers. I find myself writing deeper thoughts, using bigger words, and utilizing internal commentary when writing for Graedin. I did none of that for Brand, but honestly I don't feel like I've had to force that. I wondered if I would struggle with writing for multiple points of view, but I realized that I understand their characters so well by this point that my writing automatically adjusts to reflect how they would react to things. It almost is unconscious, other than to be interested by the phenomenon.
Anyway, it got long. 21 pages after Scene 2, and I realized that Scenes 3 and 4 were likely to be even longer than 1 and 2. So I ditched the idea, called 1 and 2 "Chapter 17" and moved Scenes 3 and 4 to a new chapter, pushing everything else back a notch.
To me, Graedin feels like a different character than Brand. I hope he comes across that way to other readers. I find myself writing deeper thoughts, using bigger words, and utilizing internal commentary when writing for Graedin. I did none of that for Brand, but honestly I don't feel like I've had to force that. I wondered if I would struggle with writing for multiple points of view, but I realized that I understand their characters so well by this point that my writing automatically adjusts to reflect how they would react to things. It almost is unconscious, other than to be interested by the phenomenon.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Wear Sunscreen, and Other Stuff
Wear sunscreen.
Tonight I inked some of my recently drawn map of the Greater Gladiator League complex. In typical fashion, I tried to make it more complicated than necessary. The end result should be good, but dang, I really could have approached it in an easier way. You'll see one of these days.
I also recently finished the blueprint of the MOP building first floor as promised, though I haven't scanned it or sent it. Frankly, it's not that interesting, but it did help me plan the setting of Chapter 16.
Speaking of "frankly", I completed Chapter 17 Scene 1 tonight. Chapter 17 is going to be four scenes, and it is a "time passing" chapter. I realized it was extremely difficult to make this type of chapter interesting, so it's taken some careful roadmapping and contemplating in the shower. After rereading Scene 1, I'm very pleased with the result, and I will try to make the other three scenes flow as well.
When you read the end of Ch 17, Scene 1, you'll understand the "frankly" comment.
Tonight I inked some of my recently drawn map of the Greater Gladiator League complex. In typical fashion, I tried to make it more complicated than necessary. The end result should be good, but dang, I really could have approached it in an easier way. You'll see one of these days.
I also recently finished the blueprint of the MOP building first floor as promised, though I haven't scanned it or sent it. Frankly, it's not that interesting, but it did help me plan the setting of Chapter 16.
Speaking of "frankly", I completed Chapter 17 Scene 1 tonight. Chapter 17 is going to be four scenes, and it is a "time passing" chapter. I realized it was extremely difficult to make this type of chapter interesting, so it's taken some careful roadmapping and contemplating in the shower. After rereading Scene 1, I'm very pleased with the result, and I will try to make the other three scenes flow as well.
When you read the end of Ch 17, Scene 1, you'll understand the "frankly" comment.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
M.O.P. Map coming soon!
Keep an eye out for a map of the first floor of the Ministry of Preclusion. I sketched it out a few days ago to help my brainstorming for Chapter 16, and it's worthy of distribution. After a little cleaning and scanning, I will send it on.
Chapters 15 and 16 Delivered!
Well I sent Chapter 15 out a couple weeks ago, pretty close to my deadline. Chapter 16 practically wrote itself soon thereafter.
Chapter 16 is a pretty important one, from a conceptual standpoint. It reveals more about the politics of Arland and the restrictions that have been placed on Graedin.
Chapter 16 is a pretty important one, from a conceptual standpoint. It reveals more about the politics of Arland and the restrictions that have been placed on Graedin.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
About Slavery
Mom and I have talked a LOT about this. For a while, i considered ditching it altogether because it's a difficult topic to sustain (how do I explain a large amount of "secret" slaves? Should I make it not secret? Should I ditch slavery altogether? Should I make it more vicious?). In the end, Mom really thinks the slavery angle is a strong, mysterious story line, and she convinced me to build it instead, and make it part of the central storyline. I already planned to have a future major character's central goal the fight against slavery, but hadn't taken it any further than that. From Mom's opinion and my half-formed plans for that character, I've decided to take her advice and incorporate the idea a little deeper into the storyline. I think there are ways i can do it that may be unusual but not so far-fetched that it's not believable. So read the slavery stuff in Ch 10-14 with a grain of salt, because I plan to do something with it that I haven't really hinted at up to this point. Look for more in later chapters, but for now it's mostly irrelevant until much later.
I still have a Blog?
I promise this is not a place where I bore you by spilling beans about my personal life. However, in the past 2 months, we have had three separate groups of company, we have renovated the interior of our house, including painting, new hardware, new rug, new fixtures, and a new kitchen sink. We have traveled to Dallas. I turned 30. I had 2 Fantasy Baseball drafts, along with all the preparation. Em had the flu once, and we both got real sick with allergies. Oliver learned to ride the unicycle.
Point being, I have had no time or energy to work on the book. But I am back on the horse! Tonight I will review four sets of chapter feedback I've received, and if that gets done at a reasonable hour (doubtful), I will continue with Chapter 15.
New Goal: Chapter 15 delivered by April 17th. It's half-written, so that should be a reachable goal.
Point being, I have had no time or energy to work on the book. But I am back on the horse! Tonight I will review four sets of chapter feedback I've received, and if that gets done at a reasonable hour (doubtful), I will continue with Chapter 15.
New Goal: Chapter 15 delivered by April 17th. It's half-written, so that should be a reachable goal.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Chapter 14 Delivered!
Wow. Chapters 13 and 14 finished in less than a week! I'm pleased I was able to deliver 14 so quickly, since it has renewed my faith that I can provide more than one chapter a month.
Hopefully I can keep the pace up, though the book is about to go in a different direction.
With Chapter 14, I have finished the first major section from Brand's point of view. I'd be interesting to get some feedback on the section as a whole.
Did it work? What made it good? What sucked about it? Any thoughts about where this storyline might be going? Let me know.
Hopefully I can keep the pace up, though the book is about to go in a different direction.
With Chapter 14, I have finished the first major section from Brand's point of view. I'd be interesting to get some feedback on the section as a whole.
Did it work? What made it good? What sucked about it? Any thoughts about where this storyline might be going? Let me know.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Chapter 14, Scene 1 complete
Well, one night after I wrote all of Chapter 13, Scene 3, I wrote all of Chapter 14, Scene 1 and began Scene 2. Chapter 14 is the conclusion of this section of Brand's point of view. It's about to switch back to Graedin. I think 14 ends strongly, with a good enough cliffhanger to keep the reader going into a new section of the book. Such fun!
There's a good quotable in Scene 2: "Reality is a dangerous beast, and she rarely cares for our intentions." I wonder who told Ezra that?
Ahem, that's called a "teaser".
There's a good quotable in Scene 2: "Reality is a dangerous beast, and she rarely cares for our intentions." I wonder who told Ezra that?
Ahem, that's called a "teaser".
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Chapter 13
Lucky Chapter 13 (which is actually the 9th chapter I've completed, since I started with number 5) is finally sent.
Sorry for the delay, the holidays were crazy busy. New job, lots of travelling and visiting with family (all good stuff), a bout of food poisoning (not so good), and plenty of other things to do.
I do have newfound resolve to increase my writing pace though. I hope to stick with it. Any encouragement would be...encouraging.
Cheerio!
Sorry for the delay, the holidays were crazy busy. New job, lots of travelling and visiting with family (all good stuff), a bout of food poisoning (not so good), and plenty of other things to do.
I do have newfound resolve to increase my writing pace though. I hope to stick with it. Any encouragement would be...encouraging.
Cheerio!
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