I’ve been working on my novel for three days now. Okay, I cheated a little and had 20 pages written before the 1st. I’d like to say that I got a little excited, but in reality, I tried this once before and fizzled out after the first week. That’s why I decided to blog about it. I figure you guys will keep me honest. But today puts me @ 9,000 words, or about 41 pages. And I’m pretty happy with what I have so far. And I can either finish 20 pages ahead of my goal, or use them as a cushion for those days I just can seem to get it done.
I’m writing in first person, just because I’ve never done it before, and I’ve created a Microsoft Project file to keep track of my progress. I’m a nut for detail and visual progress, so each day I can check off my 1,750 word progress (about 7 pages), and all the other little housekeeping items I need to flesh out my story—like character and scene development. My book will be divided into three acts, so I need to define and develop each act, which will help me ensure that every chapter I write will help get me where I want to be. It’s easy to get stuck spiraling down a dead end if you don’t have focus.
I’ve never written in such a structured way before. My last novel took me three years to complete, and it was a very fluid process. I did create color-coded note cards for each of my characters with details like their birth dates, family members, important events, fears and favorites. I taped them to my wall and left them there until I was finished, so I could refer to them for consistency. But I didn’t outline at all, and I never really mapped the story out until I was almost done. 104,000 words later, I feel like I have a damn good novel, but I don’t want to wait another three years for damn good to happen. It seems like improbable probability when something like that pans out—infinite monkeys typing, you know? I have several other stories in the works, but I’m such a perfectionist, I tend to write and rewrite the beginning so many times that I have an awesome beginning, and an absent ending. Having a map of, not only where my story is supposed to go, but when it is supposed to get there, is kind of exhilarating.
Wish me luck!
You are amazing and need no luck!! GO GORGEOUS, GO!!
ReplyDeleteAwww J. I'm so glad I have a you.
ReplyDeleteSweet. I'm a fan of first person. Keep it up, peep.
ReplyDeleteThanks Matt! Tomorrow I want to watch your video.
ReplyDelete