I was ill last week, so Chapter 8 was bumped to Chapter 9 in the 4th novel.
My volunteer reader (my mother) has also been ill and extremely busy so the 2nd Novel is currently in limbo.
A chronology of my attempts at creative writings, and my attempts to present those to the world at large (ie selling them)
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Novels and Stories
Right now there are two short stories I hope to finish before the end of the year, before I really kick it into high gear with a story a week. After talking with Jennifer, she has suggested I write short stories based in the Fulcrum world. That's fine though fantasy stories apparently don't sell as well, so I'll make 1/2 the short stories I write next year set in Fulcrum.
Right now, I've got one I need to rewrite from scratch called "Busking for Higher Stakes" and another that is nearly done in the first draft called...well...it doesn't have a name yet, but it is fantasy.
The Pre-Cyber novel with Ken has the first 7 of 40 chapters in their first draft. I'm working on 8, he's working on 6.
Right now, I've got one I need to rewrite from scratch called "Busking for Higher Stakes" and another that is nearly done in the first draft called...well...it doesn't have a name yet, but it is fantasy.
The Pre-Cyber novel with Ken has the first 7 of 40 chapters in their first draft. I'm working on 8, he's working on 6.
Friday, November 7, 2008
The Fantasy Novel
So the question is where to go from here. I mean to include notes, but if I'm going to keep working on it, I should probably still have a basic plot in mind. And I've come to learn that outlining the plot ahead of time makes a huge difference. Then again so does setting.
I need the setting to be rich in details, but so do the characters. Its the characters that make the story after all, but often it is what the characters do and why they do it that makes the character.
I mean, if I have 'the most evil guy in the world' I can't just SAY he is, he has to do things that are evil to the reader, and do really horrible despicable actions that make the reader sit up and take notice.
I need the setting to be rich in details, but so do the characters. Its the characters that make the story after all, but often it is what the characters do and why they do it that makes the character.
I mean, if I have 'the most evil guy in the world' I can't just SAY he is, he has to do things that are evil to the reader, and do really horrible despicable actions that make the reader sit up and take notice.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Pre-Cyber, Micronation and Pickle
Pre-Cyber: Ken has finished Chapter 4 and I have finished Chapter 5. We're now working on chapter 6 and 7 respectively. I will not count this one toward my 'seven novel limit' threshhold (after which I will vanity publish). It looks to be coming along nicely.
Micronation: This one is done and being edited by Mom. I'm hoping to start shopping this one around by the end of the year.
Pickle: The fantasy novel will be a late next year project. GMVZ taught me that it is better to write the thing in a short period of time (though this one will be from November to Feb of 2010.) I'll be working on notes until then. However, I'm also thinking I need to brainstorm the basic plot a bit more. The current story will be part of the world, but it might be a 'silmarillion' thing wherein it is in the background but not the actual novel I write.
Micronation: This one is done and being edited by Mom. I'm hoping to start shopping this one around by the end of the year.
Pickle: The fantasy novel will be a late next year project. GMVZ taught me that it is better to write the thing in a short period of time (though this one will be from November to Feb of 2010.) I'll be working on notes until then. However, I'm also thinking I need to brainstorm the basic plot a bit more. The current story will be part of the world, but it might be a 'silmarillion' thing wherein it is in the background but not the actual novel I write.