Words/Time: 30 minutes doing preliminary work for the new outline of “Vin.”
As much as I’ve enjoyed the free writing lately, I decided to go right to the real work today. It was going to involve writing anyway, since I continued the character interview I started yesterday. He’s had some interesting things to say.
Words/Time: 1 hour, 17 minutes doing preliminary work for the new outline of “Vin” as well as some free writing with a prompt.
I again started out with the writing practice, which took about 50 minutes. I may have to try to write shorter bits for the writing practice, if I want to keep starting my writing time with it every day, because while writing practice is always good, it doesn’t help as much with the actual moving forward toward producing books as the real work does. And this one was a doozy. I didn’t even really write that much. I haven’t counted it, but it didn’t look like 50 minutes-worth of writing. Granted, it was handwritten, but still.
It’s possible that the lengthy free writing lately is just a reflection of how much I miss the actual writing when I’m doing a lot of work in other phases of writing, like now. Today’s prompt was almost too easy though–“The first time falling in love, years after the death of your soulmate.” It allowed me to explore the beginnings of a relationship that I have really only so far written about after the couple is established. Maybe that’s also why it went so long.
The rest of the time was spent starting a new character interview in the hopes of understanding some of the main plot of “Vin.” This one should be interesting, as I will be talking with a character who has so far only been in “Pithea.” The very first time I ever thought about trying to talk with my characters, it was with this character, discussing “Pithea.” But it was all in my head while I worked in my dad’s blacksmith shop. It produced some brilliant insight, but when I tried to re-create the conversation on paper later, it just wasn’t the same. Then I didn’t really try anything like this again for about 3 years.
I’ve brought him into character interviews since then, but there were always other characters. As strange as it might be for me to say this (I’m aware this is all a bit strange), I’m looking forward to a one-on-one conversation with him after all this time.
Words/Time: 57 minutes doing preliminary work for the new outline of “Vin” as well as some free writing with a prompt.
I again started out with the writing practice, which took about 35 minutes. The writing practice I’ve been doing lately have been really interesting, bringing up some brand new ideas for a book I know is past the 7 I already have planned, but haven’t thought much about yet. Today’s prompt led me to write a little scene from near the end of “Unexpectedly” though, and it just solidified one of my plans for that book, because it was incredible. I know there is so much work ahead of me, but I just can’t wait until these books are done and can be read by others.
The rest of the time was spent making some broad notes on how I want to proceed with the outline for “Vin.” I’m struggling a bit with where to go from here though, and from past experience, that usually means it’s time to have a talk with one or more of my characters. It’s just a matter of figuring out who that should be. I do have an idea though, so I’ll start with that tomorrow.
Words/Time: 1 hour, 17 minutes doing preliminary work for the new outline of “Vin” as well as some free writing with a prompt.
I again started out with the writing practice, which took about 25 minutes. I find it interesting that for the last 4 days, the prompts I’m pulling are leading me to write about events that are more related to “Protector” or its aftermath than anything else. Maybe that’s only because “Protector” is at the end of the books, chronologically, at least in terms of what I have much planned for, so what happens past that is still a lot more open. Maybe it’s just because I like “Protector” so much. Or maybe it’s just the prompts.
The majority of the time was spent putting broad scenes into Scrivener and marking some that will likely be cut completely, or just partially cut. I finished putting in the rest of the story today, and tomorrow will start to look at what I need to do next.
With how close I was to losing Camp NaNoWriMo last month, I’m really surprised I’ve picked up the pace so much this month. I set a goal at the beginning of the month to work for an average of 30 minutes per day this month, and I’ve far exceeded that. I hope a crash isn’t coming, and that this is just a great month!
Words/Time: 1 hour, 16 minutes doing preliminary work for the new outline of “Vin” as well as some free writing with a prompt.
I started out with the writing practice, a practice that I used to try to keep up with, so I could not get so bogged down by revision (or in this case planning work) that I lost the joy of the actual writing. I have found myself really wanting to do a little free writing, rather than having to push myself to do it, so that’s a good thing. And the ideas it can generate for the stories I still need to outline are pretty surprising.
The majority of the time was spent putting broad scenes into Scrivener and marking some that will likely be cut completely, or just partially cut. I also added in a couple of new scenes I already know I want to include, but I’m trying not to start making big changes like that until the current draft is at least outlined. I’m less concerned than I was even a week ago that it will be difficult to come up with new ideas to flesh out the plot.
Todd grasped his wife’s upper arms. “You must take the magistrate’s fastest horse and warn everyone in and around the village that they need to escape before it’s too late.”
Tears streamed down Rachel’s face. “Would it not be wiser to ride straight to Northbay and ask them to send an army?”
“You know we don’t have time for that. We’ve all heard the tales—once Antios’s men show up outside the village, it’s only a matter of time before Antios himself arrives and destroys the village. Our town only has hours left. If we can warn enough people, maybe someone will survive to tell our story too.”
She nodded and took a deep breath. “I will warn who I can.” Then she pulled her husband into a quick embrace.
“We’ll keep Antios’s men engaged as long as we can to allow those escaping to get away. As soon as you have sounded sufficient alarm, make for the nearest town.”
She pulled back and looked him in the eye. “I won’t leave without you.” Her jaw was set and eyes unwavering.
“Rachel, my love, you know that those of us staying to fight will leave before Antios arrives if we can. We must stay as long as we can, to give the rest of you a chance. But listen to me—if I do not make it, it would be better for Laura and Joshua to lose one parent, and for Shanna to lose one grandparent, than two. They will need you.”
Prompt used: After a powerful enemy destroys 2 major cities, they arrive at your main character’s city
Words/Time: 54 minutes doing preliminary work for the new outline of “Vin” as well as some free writing with a prompt.
Over half of this time was spent finishing reading through the first draft. I then used a prompt for some free writing for 10-15 minutes, which will be tomorrow’s Monday Moment.
And for the last few minutes, I got Scrivener set up to start putting broad scenes into it, to start outlining the first draft of “Vin,” so I can see what I’m starting with at a glance, figure out what needs cut and what can be kept, and decide where to go from there. I’ll work on that tomorrow, because I’m pretty beat right now.
Words/Time: 3 hours, 42 minutes doing preliminary work for the new outline of “Vin” as well as some free writing with a prompt.
3 hours were spent reading through the first draft of “Vin,” which was written in November of 2017 for NaNoWriMo. I’m now on page 109 out of 137, deep in the climax scene. This time was spent throughout the day, coming back to reading whenever I could, because I just enjoyed it that much.
When I got to my normal writing time in the evening, I decided that with so much time already on the clock for the day, it was a good day to get some writing practice in, so I pulled a prompt. It ended up leading me to a scene that involves a story I have barely even thought about yet–book 3 of the “Pursuit of Power” trilogy*. It actually led to some small ideas for a story that intimidates me, because it’s been in such darkness for so long. It’s invigorating to have some light shed onto it out of nowhere like this.
I also had a crazy, out-of-nowhere idea for the story I’m currently outlining, “Vin,” that solves one big issue I had, and also adds some serious drama and intrigue. After the free writing, I took some time to write that idea down so I didn’t forget it, and then decided that I had plenty of time in for today.
I don’t know if any of these ideas today will make it anywhere, but I’m really enjoying the organic discovery that’s been happening, after weeks of coaxing ideas for “The Seeger Book.” I know both ways of arriving at a story are valid, and it doesn’t make the plot & outline for “The Seeger Book” any less good or worth writing, just because it took more work to shape it to what it is. But the random, out-of-nowhere ideas are just so much more fun and exhilarating. And considering how light on plot “Vin” is, it’s going to take a lot of new ideas to shape it into a story anyway.
*I’m still guessing it’s going to be a trilogy. I haven’t figured out what the 3rd book will entail yet, or if it will be too much for just 1 more book after the 2 I have planned.
“So, can you do me a favor?”
“A favor?” he scoffed. “You must be joking!”
I stared at him, trying so hard to keep my face as stoic as possible.
“Don’t think of it as a favor for me then. Think of it as a favor for your homeland. For your friends and family there. For you, even.” I could see his jaw jumping as he clenched and unclenched it over and over. He was angry. He had every right to be. Still, he had come to see me.
“If this has anything to do with Linus, you can save your breath. He’s not getting out any time soon. And neither are you.”
“I don’t want him to get out. I don’t care if I’m released either. But he can still do a lot from prison.”
“Not from prison in Pithea,” he countered.
“You don’t think so? Do you know anything about the operation he was running back home? About the operation he was running here?”
For as cold as he had been, his tone turned to ice when he replied, “I think I know enough.”
I lowered my gaze for a moment. I would have apologized for my part in all this, but I was pretty sure it wouldn’t have made a difference.
“I’m only saying that Linus is very connected, very smart, and very determined. I wanted him caught here in Pithea, but the truth is—”
“Wait, what?”
I looked back up at him to see narrowed eyes.
“You wanted him caught? Don’t you work for him? And you got yourself arrested too.”
“I’m well aware of that, thank you. But if you haven’t noticed, they don’t have much in the way of charges against me. My guess is the worst they’ll do is keep me here for a bit, and then send me back. I can’t go back—not after getting Linus thrown in jail.”
“I’m supposed to feel bad that they’ll hate you back home after what you’ve done?”
“They won’t just hate me.” I searched his face for the slightest hint of the compassion or kindness I once knew. “They’ll kill me.”
Prompt used: favor
Natos had specifically chosen to spend that day alone, not wanting to get caught up in his brother’s chaos for once. He figured Jaffna would be safe, because he’d heard Acronis discuss heading to Taellyn with some of the others. As soon as he heard the giggle right behind him, he knew he should have gone to Qulu instead. His brother and the others would never bother with that remote location.
Despite hearing her coming, he wasn’t expecting the arms to wrap around his body from behind. He let out a startled yelp and pulled away, turning around quickly.
“Inanna!” he said with a gasp.
“Oh!” Her face turned bright red and she covered her cheeks with her hands. “I thought you were Acronis!”
“I gathered,” he muttered.
“I’m so sorry!”
“Right…well, it’s not a big deal.”
“Maybe not for you,” she said breathlessly. “You’re…Natos, right?”
He refrained from rolling his eyes as he nodded his head. It wasn’t that he minded that this rather attractive young woman preferred his brother to him. But despite how little he cared to hang out with his Acronis and the others, he had been around a lot when Acronis was in Jaffna and spent time with Inanna. Was it that hard to remember his name?
“Is Acronis here too?” she asked, looking around the area.
“I don’t think so. I heard them talking about going to Taellyn today.”
She stuck her bottom lip out. “What’s in Taellyn? Who is in Taellyn?”
Natos only shrugged. He couldn’t tell her what he was thinking. I couldn’t even begin to care. Why on earth do you want anything to do with my brother or those others that he spends all of his time with? What must be wrong with you that this is the kind of attention you want?
The truth was, he had always seen signs that Inanna’s family was not much better than his own. He felt bad for the girl, but on the other hand, at least her life was better than his. At least she wouldn’t be expected to become a mercenary and assassin, living in the shadows for the rest of her life, never having the chance to have real connections with others. He could only hope that she didn’t waste her freedom—that she would outgrow this fascination with his brothers and find some better friends.
Prompt used: What if your character was mistaken for someone else?
A Journey of Words 