Progress on Stage (wip)

[paragraphs]

Okay so my project is hard to see, but I feel it deep in my bones that I am on the right track. No way will I be a 'nanowrimo winner' but that's not my goal anyway.

I didn't do much work today--gosh am kinda spacey and tired after going to see The Secret Life of Bees with my daughter--but I *thought* alot, and did outline out my gameplan for Stage: I have 20 chapters outlined (minimal outline--literally "X must happen in this chapter to move forward." I don't dare do more than that at this point--it is enough. I know my beginning, middle, and end, I know my climaxes and I hammered out my logline. I also know my chapter-length goal (roughly 16-19 pages per chapter, 20 chapters--that puts me between 95,000 and 100,000 for the first draft--rewrite will hopefully cut, chomp, polish, add to end up around 90,000). Though I'm not specifically targeting YA fantasy, I'm keeping the ms below 100,000. I know, I know--but I know I can do it.

I rather like my plot. It is a simple one really, but it is original enough and based on something I haven't been able to find much fiction on (just a MG book), so I am excited about that. And highly protective, lol.

I feel a little sad, deciding at this point to focus solely on this one thing. But my track record proves to me that working on different things at once is a recipe for failure. BIG failure. So, there you go. Nothing else but Stage is on the radar for the foreseeable future.

I found a way cool word count meter though that I intend to utilize...it is a very simple one from Writertopia:



Pretty nifty, I think. Here's the link to it: http://www.writertopia.com/toolbox/meters

Comments

[talekyn.livejournal.com]

Just imagine where my mind goes when there's no LJ to post to, like while I was driving today. I'd start thinking about Christmas Ghosts, and then suddenly realize I was thinking about how my friendship with someone has developed recently, or how I need to talk to someone about something ... and that's WITHOUT cds playing that require me to sing along!

Plenty of things mess with my head. It's easy to do.

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

LOL, we are alot alike. I've been fighting for four years to get my creative mind settled into place. It has been quite the chore--and ultimately have ended in a surprising place.

I have no advice in other words--other than to simplify simplify simplify life. HA HA!

[talekyn.livejournal.com]

I have no clue what that word "simplify" means.

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

LOl yeah, your life is pretty damn complicated, isn't it? For me it meant putting an end to all other writing projects, entertainments, fics, etc., allowing myself to only work one thing--only one. STill, it has taken some time to let that sink in...and to stop second-guessing that 'maybe I should work on this or that instead..." I'm such a mule, it has taken forever to decide that I really do want to pursue historical fantasy. Finding just the right storyline really helped of course--I have something nicely original, now just have to sharpen it so when I sit down to write it, I make it fly.

[talekyn.livejournal.com]

I just figured out today, regarding the new Christmas story for NaNo, that between the Beginning and the End .... Things Happen.

It's amazing when, without outlining, you suddenly see pretty much how the story is going to play out, and it makes sense and doesn't sound trite. At least in your head.

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

THAT IS ACTUlly oops sorry that is actually how I came up with Stage. I knew the beginning, and how I wanted it to end...over the course of several days/weeks it came to me, all the middle stuff.

That is when I plunked it all down on paper--voila, outline! When I did *that* I was able to see a few areas that I knew would be expandable to make the ending richer.

Whee on figuring that Things Happen! Isn't that awesome? You sound like you are really swinging into this story. Would this be a Middle Grade story?

[talekyn.livejournal.com]

Yeah. The main character is in 6th grade, and I'm writing it with an eye towards that age range -- enough depth to not make it a "kids story," but still light enough that it's not "adult" either.

Still, will be by turns scary and emotional. I took part in a NaNo "virtual word war" thing tonight on the North NJ group forum, and in two 15 minute blocks knocked out 1300 words or thereabouts. In that first block, I was actually crying a bit as I wrote. I really need to stop writing about losing someone important to you at some point ... I cried over Lisette's death, and now I'm crying over just the implication of Benny's death (which I haven't actually revealed in the book yet, but the dialogue addresses how people miss him without actually saying he's dead).

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

Oh gosh I love you Anthony--that is so awesome!!!!

Are you a future Newberry winner, per chance? Could be you know...

Another good source for just general what;s-going-on-in-the-MG/YA-world is www.absolutewrite.com. I've learned tons from there--good place to ask general questions too, should you have them and have nowhere else to ask. Lots of experienced people there.

Am sorry about Benny. It sounds like you are writing higher MG, early YA...and how the heck one decides that is...up to the publisher. LOL!

[talekyn.livejournal.com]

I figure I'll write it, then see where it fits!

Thanks for the resource ... will check it and bookmark it!

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

That's what I figure...with a young MC like I have in Gwion, it could be targeted for either. From what I see, in fantasy...I shouldnt' worry about it. Just write the darn book. :)

[talekyn.livejournal.com]

Right, for sure. Just write!

Yeah ... like I take my own advice.