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juushikaI've been meaning to post for ages, I swear, but my writing has consumed me, and when I'm not writing, I'm reading (and since I made another trip to the library during their front-step booksale, I'm doing even more of that). So there's no huge landmark to announce here—I passed 90k, and haven't quite yet hit 100k, but I'm pretty damn close. Either way, the novel is proceeding apace, if by apace we mean very rapidly indeed. I've reached the wolves section, which I wrote pretty early on in the progress of this novel and marks the change from the inside safe world to the outside dangerous world and, with it, heralds the read developments and the approaching end of the novel. It's also a huge chunk, and for a while I was uncertain where the story went after that, but an epiphany and a half later, I now know precise where the story goes next—and how it gets there, and what it means. All that's left after that is figuring out the what and how of the end of the book—I've known the why since the beginning.
And I am thrilled with the progress, and having one hell of a great time writing it, even it part of me is still itching to start that next novel.
I am constant pleased by how this novel exposes itself to me, and I'm not sure who to be impressed with—the novel, or myself. Looking ahead at the hugeness off the book, I've run into a number of points where I was no longer sure what happens next. I had a firm grasp on the concept, and knew what I wanted my final "moral message" (as such) to be, but everything from events to motivations escaped me. But one by one, those gaps have been filled. I get inspiration in the shower, or right before bed (late night "must record this now!" writing sessions are one of the reasons my sleep schedule is shot to all hell), or when writing a current section of the novel.
It's wonderful to see the themes tie together and the characters grow, and I'm not quite sure how it happens. Listening to authors talk about how they just "discover" the story—how they serve no greater role than that of recorder—has always bothered me. An author should be more than a medium, repeating the spirit of the novel in a way that the rest of us can understand. Elsewise, where is the brilliance, the skill? where is the author? who takes the accolades, or the blame? Authors that take only a passive role in their own occupations irritate me. Part of a story is inspiration, part is skill, but part is also hard, dedicated work.
So it's a bit strange to find so much of this story coming from outside of me, or coming from within but subconsciously. It's when I look at the story in my peripheral vision that those pieces come to me. It's like chasing ghosts. My mind draws a blank when I look straight at it—the ideas flee, disappear. But if I do something else, or half-think, or work on a different section of the story, suddenly I know where (into the snow-bound woods), why (banishment), and to what purpose (to meet the old hag witch). I don't know if someone else could write this story, or how much of it is mine, and I wish I did. And there's a thrill in discovering pieces of the story, but I wonder if I've built them and misplaced them—or if someone else did.
Worries like that sure won't keep me from writing it, though.
I've finally named another character: Adora, the vampire. I've been playing with two names for a while, but finally decided on one because, um—to be honest, the boy likes it more, and I've been at a draw, so that's a good enough reason for me. I was considering the name Delilah (Hebrew: languishing, lovelorn, seductive) for the story of Samson and Delilah, but went instead with Adora (Greek, Old German and Latin: a gift; beloved; adored) for the Leanan Sidhe, the fairy lovers and muses of artists with, as popularized by Yeats, vampiric tendencies. Leanan means sweetheart, as does Adora, and is a fitting name for the character and her role in the story. Plus: it sounds pretty.
This leaves me with just the protagonist (currently NAME) who is in dire need of a name. She's a cat-hybrid, apprentice witch, and is (self-)isolated, insecure, somewhat haughty, and afraid to admit her mistakes. The whole story revolves around her, so her role is wide and varied, but basically: she must go to the palace, untrained and uninformed, to discover the threat to her kingdom and how to save it. And (as I'm sure you've been expecting): name suggestions for the protagonist are more than welcome. Any language root, any length, any meaning, any sound—I just need starting places.
In non-novel related news, I'm in love. This is no new big thing because I'm just in love with the same boy I've been in love with for years now, and it's not a huge revelation, and things aren't perfect. But, lately, they've been good, and that's enough for me.
Wordcount: 94,223 typed (377 pages), 3,400 handwritten.
Previous Accomplishments: Reached the wolves, which means that the first two thirds are now officially and completely written and typed. Figured out where the story goes after the wolves, and how to get there; began writing it.
Upcoming Challenges: Figure out how the book ends, and try to write the final third in fewer than 5k words.
Currently Reading: The Rose and the Beast, Francesca Lia Block; War of the Worlds, H.G. Wells, Tales of the Witch House and Other Weird Stories, H.P. Lovecraft.
And I am thrilled with the progress, and having one hell of a great time writing it, even it part of me is still itching to start that next novel.
I am constant pleased by how this novel exposes itself to me, and I'm not sure who to be impressed with—the novel, or myself. Looking ahead at the hugeness off the book, I've run into a number of points where I was no longer sure what happens next. I had a firm grasp on the concept, and knew what I wanted my final "moral message" (as such) to be, but everything from events to motivations escaped me. But one by one, those gaps have been filled. I get inspiration in the shower, or right before bed (late night "must record this now!" writing sessions are one of the reasons my sleep schedule is shot to all hell), or when writing a current section of the novel.
It's wonderful to see the themes tie together and the characters grow, and I'm not quite sure how it happens. Listening to authors talk about how they just "discover" the story—how they serve no greater role than that of recorder—has always bothered me. An author should be more than a medium, repeating the spirit of the novel in a way that the rest of us can understand. Elsewise, where is the brilliance, the skill? where is the author? who takes the accolades, or the blame? Authors that take only a passive role in their own occupations irritate me. Part of a story is inspiration, part is skill, but part is also hard, dedicated work.
So it's a bit strange to find so much of this story coming from outside of me, or coming from within but subconsciously. It's when I look at the story in my peripheral vision that those pieces come to me. It's like chasing ghosts. My mind draws a blank when I look straight at it—the ideas flee, disappear. But if I do something else, or half-think, or work on a different section of the story, suddenly I know where (into the snow-bound woods), why (banishment), and to what purpose (to meet the old hag witch). I don't know if someone else could write this story, or how much of it is mine, and I wish I did. And there's a thrill in discovering pieces of the story, but I wonder if I've built them and misplaced them—or if someone else did.
Worries like that sure won't keep me from writing it, though.
I've finally named another character: Adora, the vampire. I've been playing with two names for a while, but finally decided on one because, um—to be honest, the boy likes it more, and I've been at a draw, so that's a good enough reason for me. I was considering the name Delilah (Hebrew: languishing, lovelorn, seductive) for the story of Samson and Delilah, but went instead with Adora (Greek, Old German and Latin: a gift; beloved; adored) for the Leanan Sidhe, the fairy lovers and muses of artists with, as popularized by Yeats, vampiric tendencies. Leanan means sweetheart, as does Adora, and is a fitting name for the character and her role in the story. Plus: it sounds pretty.
This leaves me with just the protagonist (currently NAME) who is in dire need of a name. She's a cat-hybrid, apprentice witch, and is (self-)isolated, insecure, somewhat haughty, and afraid to admit her mistakes. The whole story revolves around her, so her role is wide and varied, but basically: she must go to the palace, untrained and uninformed, to discover the threat to her kingdom and how to save it. And (as I'm sure you've been expecting): name suggestions for the protagonist are more than welcome. Any language root, any length, any meaning, any sound—I just need starting places.
In non-novel related news, I'm in love. This is no new big thing because I'm just in love with the same boy I've been in love with for years now, and it's not a huge revelation, and things aren't perfect. But, lately, they've been good, and that's enough for me.
Wordcount: 94,223 typed (377 pages), 3,400 handwritten.
Previous Accomplishments: Reached the wolves, which means that the first two thirds are now officially and completely written and typed. Figured out where the story goes after the wolves, and how to get there; began writing it.
Upcoming Challenges: Figure out how the book ends, and try to write the final third in fewer than 5k words.
Currently Reading: The Rose and the Beast, Francesca Lia Block; War of the Worlds, H.G. Wells, Tales of the Witch House and Other Weird Stories, H.P. Lovecraft.
