Well, I just posted the final chapter of Superstition - Book 1 - Something Wicked This Way Comes.
It feels like quite an accomplishment. It's easily the longest piece of original fiction I've ever written, and it clocks in at just under 17,000 words. That's about a third of a nanowrimo. I made a schedule and (largely) stuck to it. A couple of missed deadlines due to life in the real world, and a permanent shift from MF to Tu/Sat updates. But overall, I feel really proud that I accomplished this goal.
I also managed to start another novel, An Empire of Law, in the same time, and I'm 8 chapters and a foreword into that, with more to come. I've successfully updated that on time, MWF for the last two and a half weeks, and I plan to continue.
I will also be returning to the world of Superstition. I just want to take a couple weeks off, while I plot out the next novel. I wrote the first one fairly organically. I knew the basic plot - that it would be based on the witches' spell from MacBeth. And I knew I wanted to end in Arlington National. Beyond that, I basically wrote by the seat of my pants and the pacing suffered because of it. AEOL, on the other hand, was plotted from the beginning, all the way through, and already I've gotten compliments on how much tighter the writing is. So I want to take the time to plan out book 2. I think I know what the major hook will be (which of course, I can't reveal here - it IS a mystery, after all ;)), but I don't know how it's going to play out and how Dash is going to solve the case. I've given myself two weeks to figure it out. Or to come up with a whole new plot device and run from there.
I again want to thank all my readers who've stuck with me. You're the people I write for. I appreciate all the helpful comments and the sense of community many of us seem to have.
I hope you've enjoyed your time here, and I hope you'll stick around. I'm nowhere near done yet.
Thanks,
ATM
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
I am really proud of the effort you put in on Superstition. Each chapter is punchy and well-written. The arc of the whole might need tightening, but you're proving you can do that on Empire.
I'm really looking forward to the next Dash adventure. He needs a foxy secretary, some tension between her and Regina, and an arch-nemesis. (oh and a partner. I'm still available, if he wants one)
I frigging love the concept.
Empire is getting better and better. My only worry: you said the organic thing didn't work as well, and the planning is going better. Well, I meticulously planned NMaI and now I have to write Diggory (it looks like the winner) and I have no plan.
Okay, I know some things. But mostly I'm flying blind.
I think the organic thing worked fine, for me. After all, you enjoyed Superstition, and you want to see more.
You've also said Empire is tighter. The biggest difference between the two (besides the fact that I'd written 20 or so chapters of Superstition before moving onto AEOL) was that I have plotted out AEOL.
I think you can still write Diggory very well, as long as you know the set pieces. But like Superstition, it might need tightening down the road.
And, as with all writing advice, your mileage may vary. From what I've read, AE shoots entirely from the hip, every day. She knows the big stuff that's going to happen (the election, the date, etc), but she has indicated the individual chapters are written organically. So it works for her. It works somewhat for me.
Even with the extensive plotting I've done for AEOL, each chapter is written the day I post. I just find the writing is tighter because I know what happens next, and I'm as anxious to get there as you are.
On that note, I need to go write tonight's chapter. :)
Good luck! And I'm looking forward to Diggory.
Post a Comment