Oh the elation, oh the joy. I have only gone and done it. Last night I wrote the final words of my first draft. It comes in at just over 126,000 words, consists of 375 Microsoft word pages (once formatted in double spacing). It has 29 chapters and probably a zillion errors. Do I care? Not in the least. I have achieved my goal! I have written a God dam novel!!!
Sorry for the outward display of enthusiasm, but I feel pretty good right now. I am unbelievably tempted to edit it immediately, but am determined to take February off and get some perspective. This morning, I actually feel a little bit lost. I have been so use to thinking about the novel and motivating myself to write it, that now I don’t have anything left to write on it, I feel strangely empty.
Thank you for all your support and I will keep you posted on the editing front.
P.S. I will still be posting updates on here throughout February. They might not be so Ritual of the stones orientated.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Sunday, January 31, 2010
So close
Hello, hello, hello,
Yes I was hoping to be done by now, (I am turning into GRRM more every day). Unfortunately, I've been through a tough couple of weeks. The first week, my wife and I came done with the flu and this past week, our little boy got it as well.
On Monday we had exactly half an hours sleep. There was no consoling him and he had a raging temperature. We felt so sorry for him as although he was crying, it was not a whiney cry but more of a "I'm so ill, help me" type cry, that just breaks your heart. Monday night pretty much set the precedent for the rest of the week and although we managed to get a few hours of sleep on the other nights, we arrive at today seriously deprived of energy and a baby who is still ill. If I was a method writer (is there such a thing), then I could write a pretty dam good zombie novel right about now.
All has not been a total loss in terms of the novel though. I managed to write a scene in the final chapter. I am actually very pleased with it. I had a rough plan of what I wanted to write, but as soon as I began writing, the scene took on a life of its own. Before hand, I was concerned the scene would not have enough substance, but by the time I had finished it, it actually turned out to be one of the longest in the story. One for the editing process methinks.
I'm going to go now as I'm exhausted, excuse the errors in this post!!
Yes I was hoping to be done by now, (I am turning into GRRM more every day). Unfortunately, I've been through a tough couple of weeks. The first week, my wife and I came done with the flu and this past week, our little boy got it as well.
On Monday we had exactly half an hours sleep. There was no consoling him and he had a raging temperature. We felt so sorry for him as although he was crying, it was not a whiney cry but more of a "I'm so ill, help me" type cry, that just breaks your heart. Monday night pretty much set the precedent for the rest of the week and although we managed to get a few hours of sleep on the other nights, we arrive at today seriously deprived of energy and a baby who is still ill. If I was a method writer (is there such a thing), then I could write a pretty dam good zombie novel right about now.
All has not been a total loss in terms of the novel though. I managed to write a scene in the final chapter. I am actually very pleased with it. I had a rough plan of what I wanted to write, but as soon as I began writing, the scene took on a life of its own. Before hand, I was concerned the scene would not have enough substance, but by the time I had finished it, it actually turned out to be one of the longest in the story. One for the editing process methinks.
I'm going to go now as I'm exhausted, excuse the errors in this post!!
Friday, January 15, 2010
Clear map laid out
Hello, hello, hello.
I am especially pleased today as I have a clear plan of how I want to spend the first part of the year and when I want the book completed by. Before I get on to that, I will update you on the progress I have made (as I know that is why you tune in so regularly).
This week has been a good week. I finished the last chapter in which I had absolutely no notes planned for. The only thing I knew before I started the chapter was what had to happen by the end. It was surprisingly challenging, as I had not written a chapter like that in a while. Creatively, I came up with a few good ideas that mean I will have to go back and amend a few simple things earlier on. This is all part of the wonderful editing process I guess.
One thing I was not prepared for was by the end of it, I was actually quite sad. It was the last time (in this novel at least) that I would be writing about some characters and I found I was very reluctant to leave them. You hear about authors crying when writing scenes or leaving characters for the last time and I have never understood it. To be honest, on some level I still don't understand it, but I have to confess that I amazed how hard I fund it to leave the chapter alone. I kept wanting to go back and add a line in here and there.
Anyway, moving on, that chapter is completed, which means I have two more scenes to write (completing another chapter) before writing the final chapter of the book. I will then spend a week fixing a few glaring errors that I have come across when writing (there are three, the first requires a new scene and the other two can be fixed with one or two lines of dialogue).
I estimate that this will take me until the end of January (a comfortable estimation (man, I love my bracket usage in this post)). I will then abide by Stephen King's advice and step away from the book for a long period by taking February off before editing it in March.
April will see me sharing the novel for the first time with a few select friends and then depending on thier opinions, I will look for an Agent in May.
It's nice to have a plan!!
I am especially pleased today as I have a clear plan of how I want to spend the first part of the year and when I want the book completed by. Before I get on to that, I will update you on the progress I have made (as I know that is why you tune in so regularly).
This week has been a good week. I finished the last chapter in which I had absolutely no notes planned for. The only thing I knew before I started the chapter was what had to happen by the end. It was surprisingly challenging, as I had not written a chapter like that in a while. Creatively, I came up with a few good ideas that mean I will have to go back and amend a few simple things earlier on. This is all part of the wonderful editing process I guess.
One thing I was not prepared for was by the end of it, I was actually quite sad. It was the last time (in this novel at least) that I would be writing about some characters and I found I was very reluctant to leave them. You hear about authors crying when writing scenes or leaving characters for the last time and I have never understood it. To be honest, on some level I still don't understand it, but I have to confess that I amazed how hard I fund it to leave the chapter alone. I kept wanting to go back and add a line in here and there.
Anyway, moving on, that chapter is completed, which means I have two more scenes to write (completing another chapter) before writing the final chapter of the book. I will then spend a week fixing a few glaring errors that I have come across when writing (there are three, the first requires a new scene and the other two can be fixed with one or two lines of dialogue).
I estimate that this will take me until the end of January (a comfortable estimation (man, I love my bracket usage in this post)). I will then abide by Stephen King's advice and step away from the book for a long period by taking February off before editing it in March.
April will see me sharing the novel for the first time with a few select friends and then depending on thier opinions, I will look for an Agent in May.
It's nice to have a plan!!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
GRRM Updates
George has given a brief update on his not a blog, he has just finished a Tyrion chapter that has been bugging him for 6 months. He says that he will reread it today and hopes it will stand up to scrutiny. He is also nibbling away at the knot. Could 2010 be the year?
Monday, January 4, 2010
Happy New Year
The title says it all really.
I decided to do no writing over the festive period and so I return to the fold with three chapters still to write to complete my first draft. Today and tomorrow, I will spend taking stock of where I was before the break and then hopefully I will finish the book.
The good thing is, I already have several ideas about the next novel and recently thought of a good spin-off novel. I read a Patrick Rothfuss interview this morning (I recommend his blog by the way) and something he said really rang true with me. He was asked if there would be more books set in his fictional world beyond his planned trilogy. Pat replied,
"Absolutely. Growing up, I always hated it when an author created a world and characters for you to fall in love with, then walked away from it. My world is bigger than this single story. There are places on the map yet to be explored."
As much as I see myself venturing away from Frindoth, I agree with Pat 100%. There are so many stories I could write in that world and hopefully will do so.
There have been many blogs that have recapped 2009, as my blog is primarily about my writing I will not do that. Looking back, I can say that I am very pleased with the progress I have made. In terms of writing, I have nearly completed a first draft which is a major achievement for me, as well as drafting a short story and a flassh fiction piece which I am proud of. In personal terms, I have got married and become a Father. It just doesn't get any better than that.
My New Year's resolution is to get published. Whether it be in a magazine or a cream my pants dream scenario, get an agent. What are your resolutions?
I decided to do no writing over the festive period and so I return to the fold with three chapters still to write to complete my first draft. Today and tomorrow, I will spend taking stock of where I was before the break and then hopefully I will finish the book.
The good thing is, I already have several ideas about the next novel and recently thought of a good spin-off novel. I read a Patrick Rothfuss interview this morning (I recommend his blog by the way) and something he said really rang true with me. He was asked if there would be more books set in his fictional world beyond his planned trilogy. Pat replied,
"Absolutely. Growing up, I always hated it when an author created a world and characters for you to fall in love with, then walked away from it. My world is bigger than this single story. There are places on the map yet to be explored."
As much as I see myself venturing away from Frindoth, I agree with Pat 100%. There are so many stories I could write in that world and hopefully will do so.
There have been many blogs that have recapped 2009, as my blog is primarily about my writing I will not do that. Looking back, I can say that I am very pleased with the progress I have made. In terms of writing, I have nearly completed a first draft which is a major achievement for me, as well as drafting a short story and a flassh fiction piece which I am proud of. In personal terms, I have got married and become a Father. It just doesn't get any better than that.
My New Year's resolution is to get published. Whether it be in a magazine or a cream my pants dream scenario, get an agent. What are your resolutions?
Friday, December 25, 2009
Merry Chrimbo to all
Happy holidays to all. Hope you got everything you wanted and are all as stuffed and merry as myself. In terms of an update, I decided to put all work on hold and enjoy the break. I was just too busy, with family and friends and decided to come back fresh in a couple days.
The mode seems to be for bloggers to reflect on the year and decade. I might do something like that on New Year's eve in the meantime, love to all. Rob
The mode seems to be for bloggers to reflect on the year and decade. I might do something like that on New Year's eve in the meantime, love to all. Rob
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Pleasing progress!
Last week I spoke about how near I was to the end of my first draft. I doubted very much I would get it finished before Christmas, but I hoped I would. This week........nothing has changed. I still do not think I will finish in time for Christmas, but I have made far more progress than I ever thought I would.
After blogging last week, I mapped out rough deadlines of when I would finish various scenes / chapters. Today, I finished a scene that I did not think I would get done until Christmas Eve. It means that I only have 8 scenes left to write. 8!!! If I get one done tomorrow, one on Monday and a final one on Tuesday, than I will happily call it a day until the New Year. (Christmas is family time after all).
I will update you next Wednesday.
Word count: 111,000
After blogging last week, I mapped out rough deadlines of when I would finish various scenes / chapters. Today, I finished a scene that I did not think I would get done until Christmas Eve. It means that I only have 8 scenes left to write. 8!!! If I get one done tomorrow, one on Monday and a final one on Tuesday, than I will happily call it a day until the New Year. (Christmas is family time after all).
I will update you next Wednesday.
Word count: 111,000
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