A friend lent me a series of books a few weeks ago. I got sidetracked with other things and other books (namely HP) and only started reading the first book last night. Ironically, it's not that disimilar from the plot of my NaNo 2010 novel.
The really interesting part - and useful I hope - is the names in the book. I've been thinking a lot about what to call the four countries, and getting more and more stumped while trying to come up with original and pleasant sounding names. There's nothing I hate more than to dig into a really good book and not be able to pronounce the place name (or character name) or to have it be a very awkward word. Country names should flow off the tongue. Yes, many of the country names in the real world don't, but I am certain they sound wonderful in their native language. But since this story will be written in English, they need to sound good in English...without ending in things like 'shire' or 'ton'.
In the book I'm reading there are two countries (so far). The main story takes place in Ixia. This is a short word, and has no meaning in the context of the book, but it flows well. It's obvious to pronounce and the 'a' ending gives it a nice sound. It flows off the tongue easily. The second country name is Sitia, which is a country only ever mentioned in passing. It is a country that is continuously represented as a place of peace and freedom where people flee to escape the horror and punishment in Ixia. Now, 'Sitia' reminds me of Sicily, a place I see as an escape; lovely and warm and a good place to live. Whether this connotations was intentional by the author, doesn't matter. The point is 'Sitia' evokes a nice image, the country is supposed to be. 'Ixia' could go both ways. In the book, it was once a Kingdom with a bad monarchy, which was then liberated by a military leader who now acts as governor. It is routinely mentioned that he has made things better. 'Ixia' could evoke good images, but with the 'x' in there, it also sounds a bit more militaristic.
The character names are also well thought. The main character is Yelena. This is a nice sounding name, but the foreign aspect of it lends more layers to the character. And she does have layers. As the book starts she is in prison for murder awaiting her execution. But a quirk of fate she is saved and employed by the military governor, but her sins are not forgiven, marely delayed. We know, therefore, she is a murderer, though no undefuteable proof is given. Other characters also have this dual aspect to them, and their names are suitably foreign but easy to pronounce. Valek, for instance, another main character, is the commander's assistant and is referenced as having played a large part in the military coup, but is kind enough for a man in his position. The minor characters are also well named. Dilana, the seamstress is sweet and generous, as her name evokes. The maid, Margg is a b***h. The cook, Rand seems sweet, but many don't trust him. A name like 'Rand' could go either way. He could be a brigand or just a sweet boy.
I'm going to continue reading the book (and the others in the series), because so far I think the names are really helping. They are giving me ideas of how to create place and character names that work well with English, but also sound foreign. It's a good mix.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
T-8 Months and Counting
It's difficult to think about November when it's only March. I have so many other things to think about that are going to happen much sooner, that wasting time on something nearly eight months away is more than my brain can tolerate. But since eight months isn't that long, and November will be here before I know it, it's time to get started.
I'm starting with a new world. NaNo 2009 was set in this world, or near enough, but I want to start from scratch in 2010. The hardest thing, I find, about creating a new world is naming things. Original names aren't easy to come up with, but you need multiple names and place names and they need to sound like they go together - if not in a whole language - than at least in a partial idea of one. I'm horrible at naming things. I always end up creating something that is part a character in a favourite book and part a very butchered version of English. This year, I want to do better.
Here's what I have to start with. Comments are appreciated.
I want a conflict between nations, because the plot I need envisions two countries with very different ideologies that spur two of the main characters into doing what they do. Alright, so to start off with I need two countries. They need to be different. I think I'll make one a kingdom, ingrained in tradition and outdated views of the ruling class and one a republic, with freedom and democracy at the core. But that's not very interesting. Let's through in another couple of countries. Another republic, very similar to country #2 and maybe a fourth country that is part democracy, part monarchy. I'll work out those details of how that works later.
Now, there's the issue of geography. Ilove maps. I have no doubt I will draw a map for NaNo 2010, because it's just easier to write a story when you have the geographical layout of the journey your characters are taking already there in front of you. It ensures you aren't going to screw up. I think Country #1 and Country #2 should have a pretty definite border. Maybe a mountain range with very few passes. Hense the reason Country #1 (hereafter called The Kingdom) is so seperate and backwards. Alright, so let's make country #2 inland. The Kingdom is on the coast. And country #3 is also coastal, just south of the Kingdom. Country four can be mostly mountains to the north east, maybe. Quite cut off as well, but still with a definitive trading route with Country #2, since they have lots of farming land. See, we've got a world already. I'll name them later and it will be less confusing.
I already have my main character. She's fifteen, headstrong, very independent, and very sheltered from the realities of the world. Her father works for Country #2's government. He's a scientist. They live well. She knows a lot about science, but has no interest in it. She has an older brother who left home when he was fifteen, and has been gone for years. The brother and father had a falling out after....ooo, after the mother died! Unexpectantly. Father was devistated, turned away from the kids, brother couldn't stand it anymore, so left. Still writes his sister the occasional letter. She longs to go off and find him and have all the adventures she dreams he has. So, her father is rarely around, she's pretty much been left to fend for herself. Learned a lot of things on her own, but never been in a position to use them practically. She doesn't have many 'friends'. Doesn't go to school. Her mother, like all rich, home schooled her, but since she died, the girl has been getting most of her education from books and the occasional lessons her father has time for. She doesn't really have an understanding of the world at large though.
Alright, we have a background. See, that's the easy part. We want the girl to be a heroin, though maybe unintentioned. She loves her father (as daughters do) despite the fact he's never around. She feels like she needs to do something important to impress him and make up for her disinterest in science. She doesn't understand politics or country relations. Out of the streets she hears something. Maybe misinterprets it? She thinks her father is in danger. How? Don't know, I'll work on that. She would want to help; to save her father. But she's a fifteen year old girl without friends. Solution: find her brother. She has a letter from a few months before that says he was in The Kingdom. She decides to travel there and find him and get him to return with her to Country #2 and help their father out of trouble. Her brother is now (19? 20?) and well connected - she thinks.
See, now we have a harrowing journey in unfamiliar countryside, of a young girl on her own to find her lost brother. That's drama, that is.
Let's make it Autumn, just to add to the mix. The mountain passes are starting to close in as winter approaches. She doesn't have a clue. So, she sets out in the Autumn (this is another world, so months will not be important so much as season - 4 season, 3 months long each). She knows what direction to head in, but that's about it. Has some money she took from her father's study. She has a few adventures on her own, enough that she realises her trip was a stupid idea and that she's in way over her head. Just as she's thinking about turning back, and bemoaning that she's failed her father, she happens upon a young boy. Maybe he's ten or eleven, but he's been on his own a while and managed to figure out how to survive. He thinks she's funny because she doesn't know anything. He annoys her. But he's young, and even though he can look after himself better than she can, she just can't bring herself to leave him on his own. He's travelling himself, trying to find a good place to stay. He's intregued when she says she's going to cross the mountains into The Kingdom. He doesn't know anything about it, but it's new and it sounds like a good place. She doesn't want to turn back now and make it look like she's retreating to his face. She soldiers on, and the boy follows. They have more adventures, manage to cross a pass just as a storm is setting in; barely make it to the other side. More adventures as they make for the capital city where the girl thinks her brother is.
See, it's just flowing off the keyboard! The plot, of course, is always the easy part. Anyone can write a plot. It's writing the dialogue and fleshing out the description where most people (myself included) lose it.
Let's make that the first half of the story. The second half is her and the boy's adventures in the capital city, until she finds her brother, who knows more than she thought and explains it to her. A whole underground movement to overthrow the monarchy. Her brother's in the middle of it. Country #2 knows all about it and their father's been in on it from the beginning. Brother wants her to go home, as The Kingdom might soon be a war zone, but she's come this far, wants to help. Falls in with the local kids gang of thieves, who prove very useful as the rebellion errupts. Thinks her brother is dead at one point. Weeks pass, finally monarchy is overthrown and the rebels leader put up as governor. Things calm down. Finds her brother again. He wants to stay and help out, but he wants her to go back home. Puts her on a ship to the port nearest her home city. She's surprised when her father meets her at the docks to take her home. Explains a lot to her, but is very proud of her bravery (admonishes her stupidity). Apologises for being so distant. Promises they will be a family again, her brother will come back. They go home; her father takes a bigger interest in her life, desides she should go to school, have friends. The end of the story is when the brother returns and the girl starts her schooling, deciding she wants to get into politics (?).
Done and done.
I wonder how many times I'll change it in the coming months? Working title will be The Kingdom.
I'm starting with a new world. NaNo 2009 was set in this world, or near enough, but I want to start from scratch in 2010. The hardest thing, I find, about creating a new world is naming things. Original names aren't easy to come up with, but you need multiple names and place names and they need to sound like they go together - if not in a whole language - than at least in a partial idea of one. I'm horrible at naming things. I always end up creating something that is part a character in a favourite book and part a very butchered version of English. This year, I want to do better.
Here's what I have to start with. Comments are appreciated.
I want a conflict between nations, because the plot I need envisions two countries with very different ideologies that spur two of the main characters into doing what they do. Alright, so to start off with I need two countries. They need to be different. I think I'll make one a kingdom, ingrained in tradition and outdated views of the ruling class and one a republic, with freedom and democracy at the core. But that's not very interesting. Let's through in another couple of countries. Another republic, very similar to country #2 and maybe a fourth country that is part democracy, part monarchy. I'll work out those details of how that works later.
Now, there's the issue of geography. Ilove maps. I have no doubt I will draw a map for NaNo 2010, because it's just easier to write a story when you have the geographical layout of the journey your characters are taking already there in front of you. It ensures you aren't going to screw up. I think Country #1 and Country #2 should have a pretty definite border. Maybe a mountain range with very few passes. Hense the reason Country #1 (hereafter called The Kingdom) is so seperate and backwards. Alright, so let's make country #2 inland. The Kingdom is on the coast. And country #3 is also coastal, just south of the Kingdom. Country four can be mostly mountains to the north east, maybe. Quite cut off as well, but still with a definitive trading route with Country #2, since they have lots of farming land. See, we've got a world already. I'll name them later and it will be less confusing.
I already have my main character. She's fifteen, headstrong, very independent, and very sheltered from the realities of the world. Her father works for Country #2's government. He's a scientist. They live well. She knows a lot about science, but has no interest in it. She has an older brother who left home when he was fifteen, and has been gone for years. The brother and father had a falling out after....ooo, after the mother died! Unexpectantly. Father was devistated, turned away from the kids, brother couldn't stand it anymore, so left. Still writes his sister the occasional letter. She longs to go off and find him and have all the adventures she dreams he has. So, her father is rarely around, she's pretty much been left to fend for herself. Learned a lot of things on her own, but never been in a position to use them practically. She doesn't have many 'friends'. Doesn't go to school. Her mother, like all rich, home schooled her, but since she died, the girl has been getting most of her education from books and the occasional lessons her father has time for. She doesn't really have an understanding of the world at large though.
Alright, we have a background. See, that's the easy part. We want the girl to be a heroin, though maybe unintentioned. She loves her father (as daughters do) despite the fact he's never around. She feels like she needs to do something important to impress him and make up for her disinterest in science. She doesn't understand politics or country relations. Out of the streets she hears something. Maybe misinterprets it? She thinks her father is in danger. How? Don't know, I'll work on that. She would want to help; to save her father. But she's a fifteen year old girl without friends. Solution: find her brother. She has a letter from a few months before that says he was in The Kingdom. She decides to travel there and find him and get him to return with her to Country #2 and help their father out of trouble. Her brother is now (19? 20?) and well connected - she thinks.
See, now we have a harrowing journey in unfamiliar countryside, of a young girl on her own to find her lost brother. That's drama, that is.
Let's make it Autumn, just to add to the mix. The mountain passes are starting to close in as winter approaches. She doesn't have a clue. So, she sets out in the Autumn (this is another world, so months will not be important so much as season - 4 season, 3 months long each). She knows what direction to head in, but that's about it. Has some money she took from her father's study. She has a few adventures on her own, enough that she realises her trip was a stupid idea and that she's in way over her head. Just as she's thinking about turning back, and bemoaning that she's failed her father, she happens upon a young boy. Maybe he's ten or eleven, but he's been on his own a while and managed to figure out how to survive. He thinks she's funny because she doesn't know anything. He annoys her. But he's young, and even though he can look after himself better than she can, she just can't bring herself to leave him on his own. He's travelling himself, trying to find a good place to stay. He's intregued when she says she's going to cross the mountains into The Kingdom. He doesn't know anything about it, but it's new and it sounds like a good place. She doesn't want to turn back now and make it look like she's retreating to his face. She soldiers on, and the boy follows. They have more adventures, manage to cross a pass just as a storm is setting in; barely make it to the other side. More adventures as they make for the capital city where the girl thinks her brother is.
See, it's just flowing off the keyboard! The plot, of course, is always the easy part. Anyone can write a plot. It's writing the dialogue and fleshing out the description where most people (myself included) lose it.
Let's make that the first half of the story. The second half is her and the boy's adventures in the capital city, until she finds her brother, who knows more than she thought and explains it to her. A whole underground movement to overthrow the monarchy. Her brother's in the middle of it. Country #2 knows all about it and their father's been in on it from the beginning. Brother wants her to go home, as The Kingdom might soon be a war zone, but she's come this far, wants to help. Falls in with the local kids gang of thieves, who prove very useful as the rebellion errupts. Thinks her brother is dead at one point. Weeks pass, finally monarchy is overthrown and the rebels leader put up as governor. Things calm down. Finds her brother again. He wants to stay and help out, but he wants her to go back home. Puts her on a ship to the port nearest her home city. She's surprised when her father meets her at the docks to take her home. Explains a lot to her, but is very proud of her bravery (admonishes her stupidity). Apologises for being so distant. Promises they will be a family again, her brother will come back. They go home; her father takes a bigger interest in her life, desides she should go to school, have friends. The end of the story is when the brother returns and the girl starts her schooling, deciding she wants to get into politics (?).
Done and done.
I wonder how many times I'll change it in the coming months? Working title will be The Kingdom.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Language
I watched an interesting segment on the morning news. For one, it was Good Morning America, which I normally avoid for obvious reasons, but happened to catch this while channel flipping.
The segment was about the made up language of Avatar. I find this incredibly interesting for many reasons. It's not the first movie universe to create it's own language or the first literary one either. Today, it's quite popular for fans to 'learn a new fantasy language'. I've done it myself with Tolkien's languages before (I have a basic ability to understand both Quenya and Sindarin, which is useful...you know for fanfiction writing). What I find interesting is how quickly this Avatar language developed. It's only been around, as a language with grammar and vocab, for about three months, and the news station managed to find half a dozen people who could sit down and have a conversation.
Cleary, made up languages are popular. But why? Is it the ability to say to the geek sitting next to you 'Well I speek such-and-such, don't you?'. Is it really just bragging rights, or is it something more? I think it is.
The greatest books of the past 1000 years have been those that have created a complete universe. By this I mean books written by the likes of Tolkien and Lewis and even Rowling; not your run of the mill fantasy series. People love these books for a lot of reasons. Some of the simple ones are because it's a good story and they're well written. Some of the more complex reasons are because these books are entire worlds so unlike our own. People read fantasy to get lost in it; to have a break from the real world. The more complete that fantasy world is, the more they can get into it. I've done it myself on more than one occasion. It's the only reason I re-read LOTR every single year.
But what makes a fantasy world complete? Is it the fact that it's set on it's own planet? Is it a whole range of people that fulfill all the appropriate roles and leave no gaps? Is it a world where you can write your own gap-fillers? Is it a universe with it's own politics, religion, language, social customes? I think it's closest to that last sentence. The best fantasy worlds are the ones that are entirely complete. We fall into them because everything is there for us for the believing and we only have to enjoy.
Which brings me back to language. It's part of our world. It's part of what makes us who we are. It's just as important to most people as their political views and their religion. So, to have a fantasy language makes a fantasy world complete. It allows the reader to immerse themselves completely in that world and then bring that world back into our own, for a little while. You see this at fan conventions where people go around dressed in character, speaking in language. I've done it myself. (Yes, I have). Language allows for that extra little step, which explains why it's so popular.
And it's becoming more and more common. Tolkien was not the first to create languages; though he's definitely the most well known, having more than four languages that contain vocab lists and grammar in his books (though some are more developed than others). But is it becoming easier? How do you create a language from scratch? I tried one; I gave up. It's so hard to be original these days. So my congratulations to the people who spent the time and effort to create Na'vi, specially as it already contains 1000 words after only 3 months.
The segment was about the made up language of Avatar. I find this incredibly interesting for many reasons. It's not the first movie universe to create it's own language or the first literary one either. Today, it's quite popular for fans to 'learn a new fantasy language'. I've done it myself with Tolkien's languages before (I have a basic ability to understand both Quenya and Sindarin, which is useful...you know for fanfiction writing). What I find interesting is how quickly this Avatar language developed. It's only been around, as a language with grammar and vocab, for about three months, and the news station managed to find half a dozen people who could sit down and have a conversation.
Cleary, made up languages are popular. But why? Is it the ability to say to the geek sitting next to you 'Well I speek such-and-such, don't you?'. Is it really just bragging rights, or is it something more? I think it is.
The greatest books of the past 1000 years have been those that have created a complete universe. By this I mean books written by the likes of Tolkien and Lewis and even Rowling; not your run of the mill fantasy series. People love these books for a lot of reasons. Some of the simple ones are because it's a good story and they're well written. Some of the more complex reasons are because these books are entire worlds so unlike our own. People read fantasy to get lost in it; to have a break from the real world. The more complete that fantasy world is, the more they can get into it. I've done it myself on more than one occasion. It's the only reason I re-read LOTR every single year.
But what makes a fantasy world complete? Is it the fact that it's set on it's own planet? Is it a whole range of people that fulfill all the appropriate roles and leave no gaps? Is it a world where you can write your own gap-fillers? Is it a universe with it's own politics, religion, language, social customes? I think it's closest to that last sentence. The best fantasy worlds are the ones that are entirely complete. We fall into them because everything is there for us for the believing and we only have to enjoy.
Which brings me back to language. It's part of our world. It's part of what makes us who we are. It's just as important to most people as their political views and their religion. So, to have a fantasy language makes a fantasy world complete. It allows the reader to immerse themselves completely in that world and then bring that world back into our own, for a little while. You see this at fan conventions where people go around dressed in character, speaking in language. I've done it myself. (Yes, I have). Language allows for that extra little step, which explains why it's so popular.
And it's becoming more and more common. Tolkien was not the first to create languages; though he's definitely the most well known, having more than four languages that contain vocab lists and grammar in his books (though some are more developed than others). But is it becoming easier? How do you create a language from scratch? I tried one; I gave up. It's so hard to be original these days. So my congratulations to the people who spent the time and effort to create Na'vi, specially as it already contains 1000 words after only 3 months.
Friday, February 26, 2010
To She or Not to She
How do you create an original character? I find many authors create characters that they can relate too, because they better understand them. It's easier to write about something you understand. I find I, usually, write female leads with strong personalities who's lives aren't going well for one reason or another. I do this because I can get that point of view.
But that's just a start. There's backstory required to give reasons for things, and the character has to fit the plot. They have to react reasonably and believably to situations. This takes a lot of careful consideration.
For instance, the last novel I wrote my female character was in her teens (at the start of the story, she grew through her twenties by the end); she was a bit shy and introverted; she liked her own company and didn't mind not having friends - good, because for most of the story people shun her thinking she's weird - but should could also have a strong personality. She wasn't afraid to stand up for her beliefs - important since she found herself often in situations unusual for a young single woman - but she would never go so far as to change the status quo. Basically, she fit the plot of the story well, while still have a definitive backstory before the plot began. She reacted to things as you would expect someone in that situation to react. She also thought and spoke very much like I do. It made her easy to write. I could look at things through her eyes.
I find I don't create characters the same way twice. Sometimes I have an entire plot of a story before I have the lead. Other times, I have a lead and no story for them. Usually it's somewhere in between. You need the character to fit the situation and vice versa. Even more than that, you need a character that can act with other characters. Whether it's against or with, doesn't really matter, but they have to be able to interact. The character I mentioned above, for instance, likes being on her own, but does interact with others. Some of them she doesn't get along with so she goes to others for help and understanding, which progresses the plot.
It's so much harder than that. I'm going to talk a great deal about the character I'm creating for this years NaNo. I'm going to do that because, beyond a name and a few general background characteristics, I have no concept of her. So, you can watch her unfold as we go and hopefully by November she'll be a fully rounded character within the larger plot.
I hope.
But that's just a start. There's backstory required to give reasons for things, and the character has to fit the plot. They have to react reasonably and believably to situations. This takes a lot of careful consideration.
For instance, the last novel I wrote my female character was in her teens (at the start of the story, she grew through her twenties by the end); she was a bit shy and introverted; she liked her own company and didn't mind not having friends - good, because for most of the story people shun her thinking she's weird - but should could also have a strong personality. She wasn't afraid to stand up for her beliefs - important since she found herself often in situations unusual for a young single woman - but she would never go so far as to change the status quo. Basically, she fit the plot of the story well, while still have a definitive backstory before the plot began. She reacted to things as you would expect someone in that situation to react. She also thought and spoke very much like I do. It made her easy to write. I could look at things through her eyes.
I find I don't create characters the same way twice. Sometimes I have an entire plot of a story before I have the lead. Other times, I have a lead and no story for them. Usually it's somewhere in between. You need the character to fit the situation and vice versa. Even more than that, you need a character that can act with other characters. Whether it's against or with, doesn't really matter, but they have to be able to interact. The character I mentioned above, for instance, likes being on her own, but does interact with others. Some of them she doesn't get along with so she goes to others for help and understanding, which progresses the plot.
It's so much harder than that. I'm going to talk a great deal about the character I'm creating for this years NaNo. I'm going to do that because, beyond a name and a few general background characteristics, I have no concept of her. So, you can watch her unfold as we go and hopefully by November she'll be a fully rounded character within the larger plot.
I hope.
Friday, February 19, 2010
The Wonderful World of Editing
This is not a post about NaNo 2010. Rather, it's all about the lingering joys of 2009.
I should, at this venture, point out that in the month of November last year I wrote the required 50,000 words, plus 3000. Between November 30th and December 31st, I wrote a grand total of 2000 words. In January I did slightly better, but I did not complete the story until the first week of February 2010. It bugged me all through December, because I had so many hours of work and it was the Christmas season. I just came home exhausted at the end of the day and couldn't face writing the hardest part of the novel. Interestingly, it bugged me for different reasons than I would have thought. Mainly, not being able to write in December made me irritable because I wanted to finish the story and was unable to. Unfortunately, by January, the drive that had pushed me all through November was waning, and I attribute that to why it took another five weeks after Christmas to punch out the last 12,000 words.
I really have to be fair with myself, though; 12,000 words is an achievement all on it's own. That is roughly the word count of my last dissertation, which was written last summer. Which means, ignoring everything else I wrote, that between the novel and the thesis alone, I spewed out 67,000 words (ironically, the total word count of the novel as of now). I feel that that's a pretty large accomplishment. And they are 67k good words. At least, I am assured the 12k of the dissertation is, by my mark alone. But I felt, over 2009, that writing was becoming easier for me. It wasn't such a challenge when I hit the rough patches to keep going. And more than that, especially during November, I found I could force myself to write even when I woke up with no interest in writing. For many years I have only written on days I felt inclined, whether creatively or for school, but I know it's a personal achievement that I can do it at anytime now. And that it's honestly worthwhile writing.
But this post was intended to be more about editing than writing, wasn't it? To have the need to edit is something new to me, as I mentioned in the previous blog. I am usually quite happy with what I turn out the first time. The exceptions to this have been the two dissertations over the last 24 months. The first one, which clocked in at just shy of 20k was a bitch, to be honest. It was my first massive work in such a short period of time and I just sat down and wrote. Usually, I pick away at it, and therefore edit - to an extent - as I go. No so with that one. Because of that, there was a painful three weeks of intense editing with an actual editor. It was a learning curve, to be sure. I pride myself on being both a good speller and marginally better than the average person at grammar. It was a wake up call to be told, almost point blank, that I'm horrible at the grammar part. However, it was a good learning experience and paid off well this past year on the second dissertation. I felt that it was easier to write and easier to edit on my own. It also required a great deal less editing to start with, which I hope is the greatest sign of improvement.
I also believe it's held me in good stead for NaNo '09. I won't talk much about that novel in this blog, because I want to concentrate on the next one, but I have just finished editing last year's still untitled work. Most of the changes were for continuity's sake. I shouldn't be greatly surprised by this because in a 65k+ work, it's inevitable that you forget a name here or an order of events there. Or you realise you've written the same scene twice, just at different moments. I now know that I need to keep better track of what I've written for 2010. Maybe a diary or a list of points? I'm not sure, but I have time to think on it and decide what will work best for me. I don't want to create too much extra work during November beyond the novel itself, but I do need some way to ensure plot continuity.
What I found the most difficult was tense. I've written a variety of stories using different tenses, and I've dabbled in time travel before, but this was even harder. The story took place in nearly a dozen different times, and jumped around in no particular order through them. However, two sub-plots did take place on a lateral time line, throughout the main story. I had to ensure that these remained in the same tense, but that they routinely linked up with the tenses that were jumping around. A right nightmare! No more time travel, that's my lesson learned. Still, I think I've done an admirable job of editing on my own. Now, I can slowly funnel it off to other people who will be in charge of telling me how bad it is, how confused they are, and how I should just give up now.
I won't listen.
I should, at this venture, point out that in the month of November last year I wrote the required 50,000 words, plus 3000. Between November 30th and December 31st, I wrote a grand total of 2000 words. In January I did slightly better, but I did not complete the story until the first week of February 2010. It bugged me all through December, because I had so many hours of work and it was the Christmas season. I just came home exhausted at the end of the day and couldn't face writing the hardest part of the novel. Interestingly, it bugged me for different reasons than I would have thought. Mainly, not being able to write in December made me irritable because I wanted to finish the story and was unable to. Unfortunately, by January, the drive that had pushed me all through November was waning, and I attribute that to why it took another five weeks after Christmas to punch out the last 12,000 words.
I really have to be fair with myself, though; 12,000 words is an achievement all on it's own. That is roughly the word count of my last dissertation, which was written last summer. Which means, ignoring everything else I wrote, that between the novel and the thesis alone, I spewed out 67,000 words (ironically, the total word count of the novel as of now). I feel that that's a pretty large accomplishment. And they are 67k good words. At least, I am assured the 12k of the dissertation is, by my mark alone. But I felt, over 2009, that writing was becoming easier for me. It wasn't such a challenge when I hit the rough patches to keep going. And more than that, especially during November, I found I could force myself to write even when I woke up with no interest in writing. For many years I have only written on days I felt inclined, whether creatively or for school, but I know it's a personal achievement that I can do it at anytime now. And that it's honestly worthwhile writing.
But this post was intended to be more about editing than writing, wasn't it? To have the need to edit is something new to me, as I mentioned in the previous blog. I am usually quite happy with what I turn out the first time. The exceptions to this have been the two dissertations over the last 24 months. The first one, which clocked in at just shy of 20k was a bitch, to be honest. It was my first massive work in such a short period of time and I just sat down and wrote. Usually, I pick away at it, and therefore edit - to an extent - as I go. No so with that one. Because of that, there was a painful three weeks of intense editing with an actual editor. It was a learning curve, to be sure. I pride myself on being both a good speller and marginally better than the average person at grammar. It was a wake up call to be told, almost point blank, that I'm horrible at the grammar part. However, it was a good learning experience and paid off well this past year on the second dissertation. I felt that it was easier to write and easier to edit on my own. It also required a great deal less editing to start with, which I hope is the greatest sign of improvement.
I also believe it's held me in good stead for NaNo '09. I won't talk much about that novel in this blog, because I want to concentrate on the next one, but I have just finished editing last year's still untitled work. Most of the changes were for continuity's sake. I shouldn't be greatly surprised by this because in a 65k+ work, it's inevitable that you forget a name here or an order of events there. Or you realise you've written the same scene twice, just at different moments. I now know that I need to keep better track of what I've written for 2010. Maybe a diary or a list of points? I'm not sure, but I have time to think on it and decide what will work best for me. I don't want to create too much extra work during November beyond the novel itself, but I do need some way to ensure plot continuity.
What I found the most difficult was tense. I've written a variety of stories using different tenses, and I've dabbled in time travel before, but this was even harder. The story took place in nearly a dozen different times, and jumped around in no particular order through them. However, two sub-plots did take place on a lateral time line, throughout the main story. I had to ensure that these remained in the same tense, but that they routinely linked up with the tenses that were jumping around. A right nightmare! No more time travel, that's my lesson learned. Still, I think I've done an admirable job of editing on my own. Now, I can slowly funnel it off to other people who will be in charge of telling me how bad it is, how confused they are, and how I should just give up now.
I won't listen.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
A Writer's Introduction
It seems to me that there is no advisable way to begin a blog. I mean, everyone uses a blog for different purposes, so deciding on one set format defeats the purpose. As such, I am at something of a loss of how to begin, so please bear with me.
I am one of the older members of Generation Y. I remember - though it's hard to believe - a time before the internet existed in every home and the average eight-year-old carried an iPhone. I remember those days with longing you have to understand, because life was a great deal less...public than it is now. So why create a public blog? Despite the fact that I remember DOS based programs and that some of my earliest technological memories were fiddling with ancient Mac computers in the days before Microsoft owned the world, I love technology. I adore the simple fact that I can interact -in real time - with my friends half way around the world. I'm obsessed with online MBs and social media sites. I am, there can be no doubt, a TwitterHolic. I have embraced the modern digital age with all the energy of today's eight-year-old iPhoners.
For example, I have had a blog in the form of a LiveJournal for the better part of eight years. I was heavily involved in message boards at the tender age of twelve before the parental terror of child pornos and kidnappers lurking in the background ever became an issue. I tweet from my phone. I update my Facebook profile more than once a day. And, having attempted on more than one occasion to do without the internet for a few days, have ultimately concluded I'd rather die. Like the rest of Generation Y, the lack of internet is, in a sense, a loss of part of our indentity and we never feel completely whole until we have it back again.
So, this morning I woke up with the hairbrained scheme of creating a proper blog for some purpose or other. At first, that purpose altogether escaped me. I have an LJ, which is used for such childish purposes as ranting about work, school and those friends who are not on LJ. I have an FB profile to tell all of my friends who could care less that I am still unemployed. And I have a Twitter account in order to regale my very small corner of the Twitterverse with museum related posts and - currently - an endless stream of declarations of tears over the 2010 Olympic Games. I should, at this juncture, point out that the tears are those of happiness over being a proud Canadian.
But, after a few hours of careful (not) consideration, I have decided to use this blog for one main purpose; which is to write about writing. As a currently unemployed-in-my field graduate, housesitting for my parents, and spending my evenings bemoaning the fact that I left my entire social life in England four months ago, I have reached a point in my life where I have time to write. I've been writing since I was twelve. I have dabbled (and plunged) into multiple fictional universes almost entirely not of my own creation and have emerged on the other side fifteenish years later with the ability to type 75 words a minute and write an entire essay on virtually no research. These are the two most useful skills for a person who survived seven years of university education and a rough estimate of fourty 2K+ essays and two 13K+ dissertations.
The following sentence is my only explanation for why, in October 2009, faced with no essays for the first time in memory, that I attempted and completed NaNo. That is, for the uninitiated, National Writing Month. It is an international challange to creative writers to write a 50,000+ novel within the thirty days of November. Last year, nearly 150,000 people participated. To win, all you have to do is reach 50K by the end of November 30th. At a total, on the last day, of 53,000 words I can count the adventure a success. The fact that the completed novel is now 67,000 words and still counting (editing) seems only an added mark of congratulations. But, having succeeded once I am determinted to do so again.
This year, I am beginning from scratch. NaNo 2009 was written with a complete novel idea that had been running around in my brain fully formed for the better part of two years and all I had to do was allow my fast typing fingers to dictate from my brain to the laptop in the span of four weeks. This year, I find myself devoid of any idea of any level of interest. The ultimate purpose of this blog is to work through the bad ideas for short stories to arrive - by October 2010 - at a good idea for a novel. It is also a way for me to document how I write, having never paid much attention at all to this topic before. I am one of those people who just writes - as this blog will have so far told you - and, if in the mood, deals with the editing later. More often then not, most things never get edited. I believe that a person does everything best the first time and further repetition will not make it better. Do it right the first time, yes?
Therefore, my project for this year, in the eight and a half months until NaNo 2010, is to document the creation of an idea; the planning of chapters and plot; and finally, to document how I write at the end of it.
Interspersed with these artistic ramblings will probably be the occasion career furthering project and - hopefully - a document of my own endevours to make my local museum a place worth visiting, just to keep things interesting.
I hope you join me for the ride.
I am one of the older members of Generation Y. I remember - though it's hard to believe - a time before the internet existed in every home and the average eight-year-old carried an iPhone. I remember those days with longing you have to understand, because life was a great deal less...public than it is now. So why create a public blog? Despite the fact that I remember DOS based programs and that some of my earliest technological memories were fiddling with ancient Mac computers in the days before Microsoft owned the world, I love technology. I adore the simple fact that I can interact -in real time - with my friends half way around the world. I'm obsessed with online MBs and social media sites. I am, there can be no doubt, a TwitterHolic. I have embraced the modern digital age with all the energy of today's eight-year-old iPhoners.
For example, I have had a blog in the form of a LiveJournal for the better part of eight years. I was heavily involved in message boards at the tender age of twelve before the parental terror of child pornos and kidnappers lurking in the background ever became an issue. I tweet from my phone. I update my Facebook profile more than once a day. And, having attempted on more than one occasion to do without the internet for a few days, have ultimately concluded I'd rather die. Like the rest of Generation Y, the lack of internet is, in a sense, a loss of part of our indentity and we never feel completely whole until we have it back again.
So, this morning I woke up with the hairbrained scheme of creating a proper blog for some purpose or other. At first, that purpose altogether escaped me. I have an LJ, which is used for such childish purposes as ranting about work, school and those friends who are not on LJ. I have an FB profile to tell all of my friends who could care less that I am still unemployed. And I have a Twitter account in order to regale my very small corner of the Twitterverse with museum related posts and - currently - an endless stream of declarations of tears over the 2010 Olympic Games. I should, at this juncture, point out that the tears are those of happiness over being a proud Canadian.
But, after a few hours of careful (not) consideration, I have decided to use this blog for one main purpose; which is to write about writing. As a currently unemployed-in-my field graduate, housesitting for my parents, and spending my evenings bemoaning the fact that I left my entire social life in England four months ago, I have reached a point in my life where I have time to write. I've been writing since I was twelve. I have dabbled (and plunged) into multiple fictional universes almost entirely not of my own creation and have emerged on the other side fifteenish years later with the ability to type 75 words a minute and write an entire essay on virtually no research. These are the two most useful skills for a person who survived seven years of university education and a rough estimate of fourty 2K+ essays and two 13K+ dissertations.
The following sentence is my only explanation for why, in October 2009, faced with no essays for the first time in memory, that I attempted and completed NaNo. That is, for the uninitiated, National Writing Month. It is an international challange to creative writers to write a 50,000+ novel within the thirty days of November. Last year, nearly 150,000 people participated. To win, all you have to do is reach 50K by the end of November 30th. At a total, on the last day, of 53,000 words I can count the adventure a success. The fact that the completed novel is now 67,000 words and still counting (editing) seems only an added mark of congratulations. But, having succeeded once I am determinted to do so again.
This year, I am beginning from scratch. NaNo 2009 was written with a complete novel idea that had been running around in my brain fully formed for the better part of two years and all I had to do was allow my fast typing fingers to dictate from my brain to the laptop in the span of four weeks. This year, I find myself devoid of any idea of any level of interest. The ultimate purpose of this blog is to work through the bad ideas for short stories to arrive - by October 2010 - at a good idea for a novel. It is also a way for me to document how I write, having never paid much attention at all to this topic before. I am one of those people who just writes - as this blog will have so far told you - and, if in the mood, deals with the editing later. More often then not, most things never get edited. I believe that a person does everything best the first time and further repetition will not make it better. Do it right the first time, yes?
Therefore, my project for this year, in the eight and a half months until NaNo 2010, is to document the creation of an idea; the planning of chapters and plot; and finally, to document how I write at the end of it.
Interspersed with these artistic ramblings will probably be the occasion career furthering project and - hopefully - a document of my own endevours to make my local museum a place worth visiting, just to keep things interesting.
I hope you join me for the ride.
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