Words/Time: 52 minutes doing preliminary work for the new outline of “Protector” and 239 words of writing practice with a prompt.
I continued reading the first draft, making a few small changes along the way. I’m on page 154 out of 170 of this read-through. I’ve also been writing down notes of things that will need revised later, when I get to that point. But first, I’ll have to decide what to keep and what needs to go…and before that, I just need to get through the first draft.
Words/Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes working on the outline for “Outcast.”
There are 2 distinctly different, yet related story lines in “Outcast.” When I wrote the first version of this story, I wrote the story lines separately, and then intertwined them. The method worked perfectly, so that’s what I plan to do again. As such, I have outlined just 1 story line so far (which I just finished today). Tomorrow, I’ll start on outlining the 2nd.
I’ve come across an interesting conundrum that I will have to seriously consider. At one time, I thought I could just revise the fanfiction version of “Outcast” to fit into my current story world. It would be heavy revision, sure, but a lot of the story isn’t dependent on the setting or mechanics of the story world. But later, I realized I wouldn’t be able to do that, because it would just be too much change. And why would I want to, when I’ve grown so much as a writer since I wrote it?
However, in writing this outline, I noticed just how much really is the same from before. And while I have grown as a writer in the 10 years since I wrote it, it was also what I would consider a turning point in my writing ability when I wrote it. It was the best writing I’d done up to that point. So to save some time, and frankly to avoid making the writing process super hard by trying to re-write it without either consciously or sub-consciously trying to state things the same way, it still might be better to revise, but with heavy focus on re-writing any sections that are weak, not as well written as I feel it could be, or of course needs to change because of the different story world. There are definitely sections of the outline that are just completely different because the game mechanics that just don’t translate to the more real-world setting I’ve created.
In the end, it might just be laziness. I see a lot of writers talking about re-drafting stories, sometimes more than once, but I don’t like the idea of writing something, then writing it again (from scratch) unless the original just did not work at all. So after I finish the outline, I will set it aside, because my current long-term writing goals don’t include re-drafting or revising “Outcast” yet, but when that time comes (which might be before the long-term goals are finished, if I decide to work on this for Camp NaNoWriMo), I will most likely start with revising, and see how it goes.
This was a long explanation, I know. I often overthink things.
Go here for an explanation for this post.
This book introduces the island country of Pithea and its citizens’ dependency on Power, as well as their eternal struggle against the Madness. Our narrator, Drear, tells us about his friend Missy and his brother, Naolin, as they attempt to find their places in society, but are met with the harsh realities of life in a series of unlikely events, menacing villains, and both triumph and tragedy. (For a full synopsis, go here.)
Current status: Available for purchase!
In this book, Drear introduces us to some people who are important to future events and shows us how they are connected. Natos Morano is forced to choose between the only family he’s ever known, and his true family that is long gone. Remiel Azrael finds himself caught between family and his own morality as he attempts to help a woman who is in desperate need. (For a full synopsis, go here.)
Current status: Available for purchase!
Drear introduces us to Alexander Surett, a man with a tendency toward obsession if given the right target. Alexander’s desire to learn more about some questionable circumstances in his dad’s past leads him down a dangerous path. In doing so, he attracts the attention of the leader of the Class of Morano, who wants to recruit him. When he refuses, she takes it personally, and he has to set aside his search for answers about his dad’s past to defend against Rusalki’s revenge. (For a full synopsis, go here.)
Current status: Publishing pending
The small island nation of Pithea has been at peace with its neighbors for hundreds of years. However, when a destructive force rises up from within, the rest of the country has to decide whether to choose sides or remain neutral. What follows is a civil war with a high body count. In this book, Drear tells us about some of the men and women who fought in the battle, on both sides, and the effect the battle had on their lives afterward.
Current status: First draft finished
Jonathan has been given an amazing gift in the form of exclusive access to a highly desired instruction manual written by a master blade smith. When it comes to light that someone has been making copies of the priceless book, tensions rise between Jonathan and the friend who owns the book. The mystery deepens with the death of someone involves, and Jonathan becomes the prime suspect. Drear shares this tale of intrigue in which no one is who they seem to be, and years of trust will be shattered.
Current status: First draft re-write done, needs heavy revision
There was a time when Missy was plagued by mysterious men who seemed to wish her harm. They spoke to her as if they knew her, and seemed to be connected in some way, but she had no idea how. In this culmination of smaller events from previous books, Drear tells us of the shocking events around the revelation of the mystery that these men created around themselves. He shares glimpses into the mind of a dark, twisted, lost soul, and the final outcome won’t be what anyone expected.
Current status: New outline completed for re-draft
Drear takes us outside of Pithea and the union of nations it belongs to for the first time. Altmoor is a country that has never even heard of the Power, and certainly does not use it in any way. Altmoor and its king are entrenched in a centuries-long war with their northern neighbor, but suddenly learn that there is much more to fear than a mere border feud. When a single man wreaks havoc on the entire region with a sorcery that they cannot combat with swords and bows, it draws the attention of powerful people in Pithea who offer to help, but it also opens their eyes to a whole new world.
Current status: First draft done, at least first half will need rewritten (purpose of story changed by the end of the book)
The king of Altmoor has the daunting task of trying to bring peace to his region while rooting out the rogue faction that has kept the war going for hundreds of years. Even more difficult will be convincing his people–and himself–that their long-time enemy may not be the devils they always thought.
Current status: First draft finished
*All titles are subject to change up to publication, but this is specifically a working title.
Words/Time: 2 hours, 35 minutes working on various things in preparation of creating a new list of short term goals. I worked on a post that will go up tomorrow, details my 7 works in progress that all connect, and editing or creating mood boards for them. I also spent a decent amount of that time trying to decide the order in which 3 of those books should be released.
Several months ago I created a grid in Excel where I listed each story across the top, and along the side, and in the box where 2 stories met, I wrote out any ways that one story could spoil the other. Though I know not everyone reads books in order, I can at least make sure that, for those who do, the order avoids spoiling the things that are most important to each book.
However, 3 of these books are a bit too interconnected, and I’m not sure there’s going to be any way for them to completely avoid spoiling some things. So I have to decide what order would cause the least amount of spoilers for the biggest events or reveals. I’m settled on an order for now, though I’ll admit that the one of these 3 that comes first is a little strange, but I’m leaving it for now.
Words/Time: 49 minutes working on a new list of short-term writing goals. I also spent this time writing up short synopses for 7 different books that are in various stages of development, because I’d like to share a bit about them as I also share my goals related to them. My new list of goals will probably be posted tomorrow. If anyone is interested in the meantime, my story blog has some information that will likely make parts the synopses clearer.
Here is the official list of previous short-term goals, which are now all completed!
1. Remove NaNo fodder from 2018 NaNoNovel; put scenes into Scrivener while I still remember my ideas
2. Make Aeldrim not be dead in “Pithea”
3. Revise “Pursuit of Power” enough to be readable by a friend.
4. Read through “Pithea” for further necessary changes
Words/Time: 17 minutes finishing reading through “Pithea” for any changes that later-written stories may force in the book that started it all.
The final final draft of “Pithea” is now done, and I didn’t need to make very many large changes at all. I really did go into this thinking that other stories I’ve written since this first one would force some even small changes here and there. But there wasn’t much more than deleting a couple of scenes that fit better in “Pursuit of Power,” which was the 2nd book I wrote, so not even one of the more recent ones I thought might have caused a problem.
However, I don’t want to make too big of a deal out of calling this THE final draft, because I have pretty much decided that I need to have at least first drafts written of a couple more planned books before I call “Pithea” done enough to look into publishing again. I don’t want to cause trouble down the road or force a ret-con.
I cut my time short today, because I’ve been working heavy hours and need to go to bed early tonight. It’s possible I won’t do any work for the next few days, because it’s harder to get to it when I’m busy, and I don’t have a clear course of action. Because I’ve finished this draft and am not entirely sure what to work on next, it’s very possible I’ll put it off until I’m less busy (or if nothing else, Sunday, when I’m off work for sure).
Words/Time: 1 hour reading through “Pithea” for any changes that later-written stories may force in the book that started it all.
I got through about 54 pages, getting me to page 465 out of 482. The biggest change I made today was to move the narrator, Drear, from the city he lived in with his parents, to sharing an apartment with his brother. This makes much more sense, since his parents moved out of the country, and he’s been reconnecting with his brother since then.
There is very little left to read in this story. In the end, I won’t have made many changes due to later-written stories forcing change in this one, but it was important to be sure. Besides that, I wanted this more fresh in my mind as I go on to make revisions to later books.
I still don’t know what new goals I will set after I finish this draft. I don’t think I can attempt publishing again until I have a more solid idea of the books that will follow.
Words/Time: 1 hour, 17 minutes reading through “Pithea” for any changes that later-written stories may force in the book that started it all.
I got through about 68 pages, getting me to page 411 out of 482. If anyone is paying attention, they may notice that the book dropped 28 total pages from yesterday to today. This was a decision I made while doing some early revision of “Pursuit of Power” recently. I decided to look at the scenes that intersected these two books and decide which one of them the scene really needed to be in, rather than show the scene in both books, but from different perspectives. It was easier to do that with some of the other scenes, especially since some of them slowed “Pursuit of Power” down quite a bit.
However, I knew that also meant that a more exciting scene that really belonged in “Pursuit of Power” more than in “Pithea” needed to be removed from the latter book, even though it’s been a part of that book since before it was written. However, it will be stronger without that scene, because what happens in it is so far removed from the rest of the theme and focus of the book.
I am now into part 4 of 4, and should be done with this final final draft in a couple days. I just don’t know where I go from there.
Words/Time: 57 minutes reading through “Pithea” for any changes that later-written stories may force in the book that started it all.
I got through about 55 pages, getting me to page 343 out of 510. I just started into the 2nd to last chapter of part 3 of 4, and then I’ll be in the home stretch. This read-through has gone a lot faster than reading through “Pursuit of Power” recently, but then, I had more ongoing changes to make to “Pursuit of Power.”
When this is done, I don’t know what I will do. It will be time to evaluate anew where I should be going next with my writing.
Words/Time: 2 hours, 24 minutes reading through “Pithea” for any changes that later-written stories may force in the book that started it all.
I got through about 128 pages, getting me to page 288 out of 510. The pace was slower than it’s been in the past, but I did get distracted by some rabbit trails while reading. Still, I am solidly into part 3 of 4, heading into the exciting parts of an otherwise more drama-filled part of the book.
I am loving the fact that I don’t have to force myself to write most days, and in fact have been spending most of my free time working on this, rather than playing video games or something (I still do that some, but keep finding myself wanting to come back to this). I just don’t know what’s going to happen exactly when I get to the end of my current list of short-term goals, and when this book is once again finished being edited…and ready to attempt publishing again.
A Journey of Words 