A long and difficult journey ahead

By Speedy · Aug 31, 2009 · ·
  1. (Forgive me, I’m just spilling my brain)

    Well as some of you know, after struggling with procrastination for almost a year, I stepped up to the plate recently over the past six months, not only finishing my first draft of my novel (part one of a larger story bound to me by an over the top imagination) I have written something near 200k words (Yes, yes, YES, for god sake I know). Which means either A) Cut 100,000 words or Cut/add another 20,000 and split the book into two (which is plenty enough to add further conflict/crisis and resolution, development and so fourth).

    One thing i have almost learned (As apposed to years ago with my early attempts) is pacing (even though you wouldn’t think so with 200k words so far and in my head, it only feels like the prologue to the main story. Anyway;

    What does bother me though was the first part of the story was somewhat of an introduction to the main characters (Protagonists) where the reader was to discover that each had their own weakness (Moral) which was to be resolved by books end, or at least truly rooted out and left bare to the wind (Like Alice in wonderland, while on the way to their ultimate destination). The Antagonists only were going to be in the Prologue and Epilogue (Again I know, but it was no info dump trust me) Building it up so a Major crisis could be born in book two (Which was to be predominantly more of the Antagonists side, creating the crisis). So now that I’m going to have to split what I thought was book one into two, its screwing with my brain how to deal with these Protagonists who I really don’t know yet. Which is the point of this.

    The thing is, even though I consider the first draft the most vital stage of writing (I mean if you don’t write a first draft your story can never exists, right)? It just 99.7% self conscious writing. I mean I know where and what I want, I truly do, but I never put much effort into the whole thing; I just trust my brain with its imagination and let loose. But I never figured that the second d draft would be so daunting. On one hand I have so much to do, I actually have to be conscious of every move I make now and it actually scares me, because deep down I love, hate and enjoy being with what I have created, so every move now effects everything in a million different shades. But on the other hand, I can do whatever I want, I can turn him into her, I can turn her into a dog or that stupid donkey into a Ninja pirate monkey who will save the world etc., which even though I’m scared crapless, I’m more excited then a junkie about to shoot up.

    Anyway I’ve only written about 10,000 words from the Antagonists side, and lick my lips in anticipation to go back their (I wrote the Prologue and Epilogue first, and the main chunk of the story last) So I have not touched them for over a year (Though I think I know them better then my main characters, who have only just discovered who they are themselves through circumstance).

    A year ago I wanted my Antagonists to be really awful, careless individuals hell bend in protection what they have and spilling blood to get what they needed, but now I don’t know. I’ve changed as a person over the past year, and I know its not nice but I have discovered I have a lot of hate within me, and I no longer see evil as evil and good as good. I mean its not like what I see change in my life as nothing new to everyone else, its just lovely how the difference between evil and good is only a matter of opinion, and today, as of 2009, what is off opinion anymore?

    Anyway from now until i finish my second draft and write my second proper book (Book 3) it should take another year to eighteen months and it’ll be somewhat interesting to see if my Good and bad mutate into the same horde, or pass each other by and become their opposites..

    At the moment, if I could create something, I would love for my villains to have a romantic evil nature, one that is not of Hollywood illusion, but of true evil, the evil we see every passing day on the television, internet and so forth. I’d like my villains to actually have a soul, an opinion, morals and I hope that as “bad’ as they are, I hope that they can not just “develop” but become something that makes people question themselves and say, “You know what, his a bad arse mother, but I see where his coming from, maybe his not the man I think he is”. I want them to make the wrong decisions that break their loyalty to the dark side even if its for one moment, only to have a loneliness to take over and force them to do what they think is right, yet morally wrong and know it and feel sad for themselves. Indecisiveness’

    Yet I would love for my Protagonists to come across decent, doing all the rights one would expect of such, yet somehow corrupt themselves into making wrong reckless decisions, and I don’t want them to know this at all!, I want them to fall into the pits of hell only to realise they walked the wrong path only to discover this when its too late to save themselves.

    If I can have my “hero’s” fall from grace to never redeem themselves and have my villain see a spark of white light for only one moment yet use that too forever chance the face of the humanity for good, then I myself would be pleased.

    I have a feeling its going to be a difficult, long journey. But I will attempt it nonelessless.

Comments

  1. becca
    Congratz on getting so much writing done. Good luck in your endevore to revise and continue on with your adventure/journey. I hope you can pull off all that you wish. Sometimes those characters won't always co-operate. ;)
  2. The-Joker
    Well Done.

    You remind me of me. In which case accept my deepest sympathies. Making a split isn't easy. Especially when you've seen your characters start out in one guise, then develop into something else entirely at the end. This transformation that you have either subconsciously or actively crafted was always meant to occur through the events that enfold in your one book.

    To split that book doesn't just break your plot in half. It cleaves your characters in two, leaving them without purpose.They're only half evolved. Off course you can give them a new purpose or a new endpoint to their development, but those events were always only meant to take them so far, and you just know that your story could be so much better if it was left whole.

    Which is why if I've learnt one thing from all of this, its the fallacy of this one simple statement: "Write what's in your head and edit it later."

    It's a very bad idea for a first novel if you ever want to see it published. If a 300k tome is in your head, don't write that first, because if you wrote as a complete story, you'll never be able to get 3 complete smaller stories from it. Rather rethink your plan from the very beginning and conjure up a conclusion that occurs at 100k before you start. That way you will have a break-in novel, instead of something that only an established author could make work.

    Anywayz Speedy, I'm not sure how you wrote your book, so maybe all of this doesn't apply to you.

    Just as a matter of interest, how are you planning to execute this split?
  3. soujiroseta
    Congrats on getting to 200k, the most i've ever written is 50k and it was for Nanowrimo:p

    I can't say that i fully understand what you're going through but I feel as though i am going through this stage of procrastination at the moment. I haven't written anything of any substance since November. I've also been trying to work on making the reader wonder about the intentions of the antagonist. In fact in my "perfect" fictional work, i would prefer to have readers divided in their loyalty to the protagonist and the antagonist, although im yet to try and figure out if the characters are in agreement with this plan. i've always wanted my antagonists to be fiercely motivated by something we see everyday, something so seemingly normal that it's almost questionable if he's the bad guy. But what spills forth from your brain is very insightful indeed, wonder what stays inside:p
  4. Speedy
    Joker - You remind me, of me, so it’s all well ;)

    The thing is my story is long, before I started word up I figured I could space the story into six book (now seven, though still doable in six) And I knew to do that id had to have a decent character development arc going on throughout (with a story of events arc being just as decent), so if I need to split it into two I believe I have the space to be able to bed my characters into nice featherbeds for that part of the journey. They should be nice and comfortable during it (The writer on the other hand has to sleep on stones for a while).

    Whereas book one was their "self discovery" of who they are (What they REALLY want to know, discover about themselves, the world, morals, values etc) I could easily further add to this in a second book, maybe twist the blade in on one or two and make them thing hang on, by believing in this, what have i know become) When it comes to characters questioning themselves its easy to develop that with unlimited choice. I would just have to consciously add it though.

    The hard bit is to add events, cause I’m going to have too. Which when i think a little on it, i think its not going to be TOO hard. I mean it feels a little like Alice in Wonderland so far, and I’m sure a lot more (Well not a LOT) be placed into the story to mould whatever I want.

    That said if its another book, it has to have another different crisis and resolution. (Though so far I have a lot of **** happening, which actually is a lot more than the books I have read recently, so maybe its not as bad as I think).

    Oh, in terms of books and publishing, i agree with you 100%. I have learnt enough to know and not tell anyone about this book (Agents and the likes). If I ever wanted THIS story published id go write a complete one off and one of the side quest I have in it (Easily Shadowfall). Which could stand well on it’s own. Than if (00.0001%) I got lucky I would write or hope to write half a dozen stand alone books before even talking to my editor/agent and stuff. I would neve risk harming my oversized "baby"

    How am i going to execute the split?

    good question. I have three months before I look at the first draft. But I think It’ll be a massive amount of edits first, probably like

    1) Edit fix what stands out as poor/bad, possibly fixable (Normal edit)
    2) Take out what is complete fodder (If its fodder to me, what’s it to a reader other than disgusting)
    3) Insert new material (If there is flow issues and something I like)


    So far I have no idea where id make the split, though I’m feeling I’ll strengthen the story around the ¾ mark and put in some other growth/development point via some momentum of crisis (And then just strength the ending to cope with the added material.


    Maybe I’ll go build a house in the meantime and learn about building proper structures ;)

    Sorry for the randomness of this, like everything I just type what I think. Rather than think too much and type!
  5. Speedy
    Thanks Soujiroseta (Darn Nanowrimo seem like its just arond the corner now, though still some time to go).

    Dont worry much about the procrastination. If its going to be written it'll eventually be done.

    I feel if the Antag and Protag change somewhat, you should always get a split audience. Or i would hope you world, otherwise it would be an odd and borin reader base(Though we all know its not the character shift thats going to do that, rather the style the writer does it in. His or her execution).
  6. becca
    I have a suggestion for your spliting/reorganizing. Just remember it's just a suggestion.

    Get a couple packs of index cards. On each one write the chapter name/number, and what happens each chapter. (I know you already know, but wait....) Look at what happens in the like the middle/semi middle chapters, and see where you could end book 1 at a decent point where something is resolved. Although you may still have to add/change things a bit.

    Then seperate the cards into two piles. One for book one, and one for book two. Then go back through the cards for the first book, and make sure you are getting all the progression you want to lead to book 1's new ending. This will enable you to tweak certain sections without having to read through the whole thing ever time. It will also make sure that you can make the needed changes to reach the new ending.

    Do the same with book 2, going thourgh each card, making sure the characters are doing what you want them to do, and getting to the ending you have devised.

    It might seem like a bunch of BS work, but it will help you 'visualize' what is going on where, etc.

    Like I said, just a suggest. If you don't like it, don't do it. :p
  7. Speedy
    Interesting (had to read what you said a few times), but yeah i guess i could go down that route.

    I think i'll probably spilit it somewhere in the middle where everyone is becoming aware of everyones needs ad inner demons, and add in something major (rather then minor like i was preparing) that will ether A)Strengthen their neeeds or B) PUsh their inner demon (Which pushes theire questioning desires).

    Whie attempting these index cards. Quiet doable actually, and will help with my endevour of my OP and the Ant-Hero/Fallen from grace (Though only signs).

    Cheers.
  8. becca
    I just thought it might be the quickest way to organize without having to go through everything lots and lots. You would know where to go back to to add hints, etc.

    Twists and tweaks sometimes make a story better. ;)
  9. The-Joker


    You did lose me there a bit:cool:

    I thought you do want to publish this current book of yours. If you don't then why are you splitting it?
  10. Speedy
    Becca - I have a good memory, i dont ever write notes for anything, writing wise, its all in my head. I mean i could write down a few notes, recapping major events but i know where it is and whats what and where (lol). When i look at my story in a few months i will realise how right you are though.

    Joker - I do, but right now im playing the game, as if its a retarted stupid, stupid dumb story lamearse hopeless dream/story. Thus i wont play the game of "Getting it published. When i have it 100% to my liking and half a dozen close people have read the final product (what im capable of) then trust me, i'll try and publush it. But im a person who takes EVERY step, and as many times as possible until i know i'll not fall over (Much)

    Even if i didnt, i would still like to be as business-like as possible. In case i self published it (though only if i HAVE too). Its sets a good trend thinking about smartly (splitting) even if i wasent thinking of poper publication (in my opinion)

    I just realise that if i wont to ever get published (that small ray of light) it would have t be another story, not this one. Nobody with a brain would touch a story thats seven books, with the events it has and y name ;) Not in a million million parallel universes.
  11. The-Joker
    Oh okay, you gave me the impression that you were planning to write a standalone book first, before you try getting this series published.

    In that case you wouldn't need to split it...
  12. Speedy
    Edit - Oh i get you (if i was to be published i could then keep my story large as is as they'd than publish the 200k word as an epic maybe?)

    Yeah, the thing is (maybe you understand) when you spend SOOO much time with you story, the thought of writing another book, thats not our "true story" can sound or feel really far away and difficult, thus why if i wrote a stand alone id write a story/novel basedon something to do with my Big story (though you wouldnt need know it). It seems a LOT of fantasy writers do ths, write either a stand lone novel (usually to do with the past) or Short stories.

    I have been thinking alot about other stories though, and im actually in the proceess of starting one now while i let the other sit (a stand alone).
  13. The-Joker
    Well you never know...

    Now that you've written 200k, a 90k standalone will be much quicker to write than say a year ago. So you just might have something to break into the market with and thus preserve your original vision for your current book.

    But i know, it's not easy focusing your energy on something completely different when you haven't given the first project its due
  14. Speedy
    Age brings one annoying aspect of life. The ability to hate "change" or to stay with something a little to long (As apposed to being a kid and having the attentio span of a wasp)

    Your rigt, writing a stand alone story should be easier and fun actually (COnsidering a few drafts and it would be done in 12 months). Easier to motivate myself at 9am if i know im writing a 300 page book, then a 4,000 page epic that could turn out any colour it choices at this stage.

    I still would question if a publisher (knowing your series is gong to be say 7 novels) would really "like" to invest your first book into a 700 page novel? Now i as one, LOVE HUGE HUGE tomes, but they must think that people in numbers think if your new and not heard of and they see your book, and its 700 pages and at the back "Part one of epic fantasy adventure" that most these people would put it down....

    Every epic these days seems to be the samesize from the book begining to the last book. (Reading Song of Ice and Fire and the first is 800 pages!)

    Like alwaysi think i go to far into thought and lose my sense of eality.
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