100k…
I’ve just about cracked it, 100k of words. It feels awesome and crazy all at the same time. I set out to craft a novel, something which I researched should be about 80k, give or take. Now I’m 100k, and I still have the conclusion to draft. Insane…
I plan things out, roughly. I like to see what’s coming and work off a cheat sheet, which is roughly one sentence per chapter. It was amazing to see how far I strayed from the cheat sheet writing this second half. A lot of stuff changed as the characters dictated the proceedings. It was kind of fun to observe. Nothing major went down, no chicks became dudes, but variations were spun on my little notes. Characters cannot be pigeon holed into always doing exactly what you want. It is very interesting indeed.
I have one chapter to write. It will carry me into 100k land, it will finish the second part of the story, then it shunts me into my next job. Planning the ending.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m flying by the seat of my pants in some parts, and very thin parts they may turn out to be, but I do have a plan. I know pretty much where I want every character to be on the final page. I know where I want them all to end. I know this, but I know that I am also happy to let the story tell itself a little and I will just be along for the ride. I like going along for the ride, it’s fun times. Like taking your hands off the wheel and seeing if the shitty lean to the left of your car can get you around the bend in the ride. Fun.
I will sit down this week, make my cheat sheet for the last part of the book, and then see how I can screw it up as I write it. I just hope it’s not too long. I have to bring this book in at some stage, and I don’t know how flash the market is for tomes like this one is looking to be.
But did I mention - 100k of words! I am pretty happy with that.
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I smashed The Blonde, by Duane Swierczynski, in two days. It was one bloody good read, fast paced, funny and kept me hooked the entire time. I was kinda sad to see it end.
I love reading a book that makes me want to sit down and hook into it at any time. It’s that kind of jeuvenile excitement that comes from an awesome book, and one that is well written too. Some books mean a lot, but it’s hard slog getting there. Others are easy to chew down, but there’s no aftertaste. The Blonde, man she was tasty as hell.
If only I could find any other Swierczynski books in this country…
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For anyone that has checked my Pulp List, to the right, as I’m sure all you kiddies do, you will see that I am following up my pulp crime nanotech read with something a little different. Melville’s Moby-Dick, or The Whale. I hear many different things, time to find out for myself. I hope I come out the other end alive.
Posted on January 20th, 2009 by ryan
Filed under: Writing, books
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