Book Openings and that terrible habit of not moving forward.

[paragraphs]

My Nano novel is going to be my fantasy novel - not THE fantasy novel but the prequel that that Tor editor suggested in an offhand way (oh so many years ago) that she thought I should write. It is outlined like a big boss, beautifully-scrivenerized, and though I intend to start from scratch with it, I was a bit bored at work and since I have to at least pretend like I am working I decided to poke around on my dropbox and see what I had out there already written on it. To my amusement (and dismay), I found no less than seven different openings to this story. SEVEN!!!

Obviously, I didn't know what to do with this story, just a vague idea of the issues I wanted to explore. I changed my mind soooo many times on how to approach the opening to the story. Soft opening, with KAPOW after a few paragraphs? Starting with high action? I could not (for the longest time) figure out who the MC should be - male or female, Jax or Maiya, or sometimes Naiya. I also changed POV several times. The result of that is a gem like this:

Naiya came to, bound and gagged. Naiyan a cramped cart, alone, on his side. My face
hurt where She’d been struck, his ribs stabbed him with each breath.

Search and replace disasters!!! BWA HA HA HA HA.... OMG.

Oh, me....

This evening while watching the rest of Firefly (damn them for cancelling that show way before its time!) I decided I needed to organized all my little tidbits of writing, and my messy dropbox which was way too full. I now have a nice little list of books I want to write, have wanted to write for ages, and found some things I'd forgotten about, too - old bits and bobs of short stories (Caeru! I forgot about him! there is another one I need to find too from that world), LOL two Torchwood fics, the start of Drake's Island I'd totally forgotten that I'd started.

I am so looking forward to this Nano!! Mostly I think because I have so many friends here locally now who are also doing it, but also because I am so looking forward to writing this story finally. I love having a writing community (even though I honestly could invest more physical time to it). Hopefully my desk of awesome will make it easier to be productive. The only bad thing about it is I keep hurting myself on it. My toes hit the ends, my knees the pull out drawer that I am not using. I may end up pulling the drawer off. Ouch.


List of Books I Want to Write/Finish:
(this list is too long)

1. Wayward (the sci fi - still haven't decided whether to expand this or make it three separate parts - working on it)
2. Wild Magic - the Nano novel - multiple POV
3. Blackthumb - spinoff, after a fashion - takes place in same world as Wild Magic but is in first - can I do that? (the book I am currently reading is Very Much Inspiring me to tackle this story soon) - have had plans for this story for a good six, seven years
4. Altered Fates - sequel to the Nano novel (and there are 2 more parts - these 3 are my 'omg have had forever like 15 yrs' novels) (hopefully it won't be another 15 years before they are finished)
5. Wolfhunter - sort of an urban fantasy except it is rural - another one I've had floating around forever, since about 2008
6. Drake's Island - m/m, found the start to it buried in my dropbox. I liked the opening. This one will get written eventually - been hovering around since 2011
7. Tattered Leaves - m/m, 'older/younger' love, inspired by Cheese.

Too long, too many, most of which should've been written already! Dang it!

Comments

[catsintheattic.livejournal.com]

That's a long list of books to write.

But I hear you. I have so much I want to write. Sometimes I panic at the thought that there might not be enough time. But then I tell myself that I'm getting into the habit of actually writing on a regular/daily basis, and that I will make the time, I will write all I need to write.

[dayari.livejournal.com]

I am so happy that you'll be doing NaNoWriMo this year too!! We can commiserate & kick each other's asses on twitter :D Is your username still the same? I just created a new account, so if you find yourself being added by a new person, that's most likely me! :D

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

Oh yay! Um, LOL I better look that up. I should go do that right now and will tweet at you if it is changed. :>:)

Yes, I haven't done it seriously in a few years but sold that one at least? LOL! I learned I was supposed to notify nanowrimo of that so I guess I will do that also. :)

What are you going to write?

[dayari.livejournal.com]

Yayay! You do that, I'll be here poised to add whichever username you give me! :D

And oooh that is awesome about you actually selling a NaNo novel--you're right, the Office of Letters and Light should definitely hear about that! They might contact you to write a pep talk for them--I'm sure you'd give the best pep talks! :D ♥

I'm fairly sure I'm going to continue working on the story I started last April, the Steampunk fantasy. I haven't worked on it in about 2 months, but I'm still really excited about it & keep getting new ideas, and right now I'm actually drawing some of my characters so I hope to add some serious plot development this November! :D

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

It's so weird to find old stories, isn't it?

Have fun with Nano!

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

It is! The 'did I really write that?' moment. :)

Slowest reader in the world here but Lhind has discovered the truth of the necklace and the bone whistle! Also, I want to pet Lhind. LOLOL.

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

:-)

[jealousofstars.livejournal.com]

Nothing wrong with multiple openings. Untouchable had about 7-8 before I settled with one, remember?

I'm excited for NaNo this year, too. I wish I could be there with yall, but I am there in spirit. We may have to do a Skype/Google Hang out Write In...

Also you reminded me I should probably remove SWMNBN from my NaNo friends...lol

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

I saw her and wondered if that were possible.

[jealousofstars.livejournal.com]

Yep! Go under My NaNoWriMo and click on Writing Buddies. Click her name, and at the top, to the left of her picture is the option to remove them as a buddy.

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

KEWL!!!

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

Oh cool there are a few I would like to kick off.

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

And don't worry you will be our Japanese member! So to speak!

[pir8fancier.livejournal.com]

You're going to be a busy bee...

[sisik.livejournal.com]

I remember you writing a lot of those beginnings, actually. You had a lot going on back then.

I'm totally excited for Nano this year. It's the first year in a while that I don't feel bogged down with Stuff.

We're going to rock this year.