Three days left until NaNo ...
... And I haven't finished the prewriting yet. Although I spent almost all of last month researching, character-building and plotting for Evil's True Form, I never worked out the last quarter of the plot ... and then I got sidetracked with this revision of Cold Witness, promising myself I'd find time to finish ETF's prewriting before November the 1st.
I think I can just about make it, if I dedicate every moment of my spare time to writing from now until Monday. Since last year, NaNo has become very important to me as a month of "holiday time" from everyday writing. I don't want to start late (or worse, unprepared) unless I can absolutely avoid it.
The great news is that I'm still feeling enthusiastic about ETF's story. You may remember me talking about another fantasy novel I'd prewritten, and had actually started: The Riven Path. I abruptly lost interest in that one as soon as the idea for ETF arose. Luckily, PCW's rewrites haven't deadened my enthusiasm for this new project.
(Don't worry: I daresay that, someday, I will write The Riven Path ... possibly during NaNo '05. I like the story, and I like the world, but I have two novels with higher priority right now, plus another three which are begging for my attention.)
The basic ideas for the resolution of ETF's storyline are already in place as hazy, nebulous concepts. I am certain that I can pull together a decent (if a little rough) outline before Monday. It will need some working on before I get to the end, but the important thing is that I know what direction the story and characters are taking. The basic dramatic promise--that Botulf will have his dying wish, and hence save Ikanho from the ravening Gastatha--has to be fulfilled for the story to work. Likewise, the unhappy characters of Redstan and Brynach have to find a satisfying end to their own individual stories. There are lots of questions in this plot: Will Brynach save his family from the destructive power of his father? Will Redstan finally find his niche in life? Perhaps most important of all, will Llewyn gain his wish in attaining the power to save his home valley, thus leaving Ikanho--which Brynach has grown to know and love--exposed to spiritual attack?
I've been very careful to create my characters accurately this time. Llewyn isn't a clear-cut villain, for example. He may be selfish and arrogant, but his motives are understandable. Brynach, his son, is driven by love for his family to do the things he does. And all those greedy kings, warlords and monks who want to get their claws into Saint Botulf's relics are doing so out of genuine desire to help others. I think it's safe to say that I've covered every angle I possibly can in this regard.
I hope all this intensive planning will pay up ... otherwise I may abandon prewriting altogether and become an organic writer. I'd be able to write another full book every year on the surplus time.
... And I haven't finished the prewriting yet. Although I spent almost all of last month researching, character-building and plotting for Evil's True Form, I never worked out the last quarter of the plot ... and then I got sidetracked with this revision of Cold Witness, promising myself I'd find time to finish ETF's prewriting before November the 1st.
I think I can just about make it, if I dedicate every moment of my spare time to writing from now until Monday. Since last year, NaNo has become very important to me as a month of "holiday time" from everyday writing. I don't want to start late (or worse, unprepared) unless I can absolutely avoid it.
The great news is that I'm still feeling enthusiastic about ETF's story. You may remember me talking about another fantasy novel I'd prewritten, and had actually started: The Riven Path. I abruptly lost interest in that one as soon as the idea for ETF arose. Luckily, PCW's rewrites haven't deadened my enthusiasm for this new project.
(Don't worry: I daresay that, someday, I will write The Riven Path ... possibly during NaNo '05. I like the story, and I like the world, but I have two novels with higher priority right now, plus another three which are begging for my attention.)
The basic ideas for the resolution of ETF's storyline are already in place as hazy, nebulous concepts. I am certain that I can pull together a decent (if a little rough) outline before Monday. It will need some working on before I get to the end, but the important thing is that I know what direction the story and characters are taking. The basic dramatic promise--that Botulf will have his dying wish, and hence save Ikanho from the ravening Gastatha--has to be fulfilled for the story to work. Likewise, the unhappy characters of Redstan and Brynach have to find a satisfying end to their own individual stories. There are lots of questions in this plot: Will Brynach save his family from the destructive power of his father? Will Redstan finally find his niche in life? Perhaps most important of all, will Llewyn gain his wish in attaining the power to save his home valley, thus leaving Ikanho--which Brynach has grown to know and love--exposed to spiritual attack?
I've been very careful to create my characters accurately this time. Llewyn isn't a clear-cut villain, for example. He may be selfish and arrogant, but his motives are understandable. Brynach, his son, is driven by love for his family to do the things he does. And all those greedy kings, warlords and monks who want to get their claws into Saint Botulf's relics are doing so out of genuine desire to help others. I think it's safe to say that I've covered every angle I possibly can in this regard.
I hope all this intensive planning will pay up ... otherwise I may abandon prewriting altogether and become an organic writer. I'd be able to write another full book every year on the surplus time.
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