A1iens and A1rwaves [Archived] • Page 1343

Also you seem encouraged to write a second so at least you haven't given up and that's what matters

 

and have a third outlined. i don't know. i can't see myself doing anything else than telling stories that make people feel less alone. gotta believe that counts for something.

 

There are still a few things I want to work out before diving into it. The problem is I've had this series in the works for so long that I've grown paranoid of actually starting something that isn't just a barebones draft.

 

I know you've already seen it, but @iCarly Rae Jepsen do you love this? I always thought The Wire sounded like Shania.

 

Right there with you, buddy.

 

barebones drafts can be fleshed out. in the words of (i think) stephen king: write the damn book! but seriously. of my initial 78000 word draft of novel #1, less than 250 words made it into the final draft. i understand the panic.

 

i want to write the novel that makes me feel like this song, tbh:

 

Look at how I'm having to watch this on Youtube.

 

holy shit

 

Eddie Murphy looks different than I remember.

 

On Writing is a great book and it's actually my favorite thing King has ever done. It's always been a passion project of mine. Most things I've written/have planned aren't in the same realm. It's kind of a reaction to problems I've had with the fantasy genre. So there's just a lot of paranoia for me with this one. What if I haven't read enough? What if it doesn't come across how I intend? Etc...etc... Write the damn book haha.

Discuss your project if you'd like haha.

 

I would love a sample ch of garretts novel.

 

Ooooh, fantasy. Novel #2 or mine is (YA) fantasy, mainly because I'm terrified of ever attempting high fantasy, despite it being my favorite genre. My advice in that regard is keep reading widely and just keep drafting. No one gets to see it until you're happy with it. Until then, it remains your passion project... but it's gotta be drafted first. I wish I could explain how different it becomes when that first draft is done, but I didn't understand until I was there with a monster, now entirely useless manuscript. My top beta reader even joked that the draft I'm currently querying is technically Novel #2 because #1 will never be seen now, haha.

You discover so much about your characters, your plotting style, and your writing ability in that first draft. Revisiting it is fun, and an entirely unexpected form of self-discovery. And trusted betas will increase the attempt, especially when you can say, "Is it doing this?" and they can give in-depth answers.

The one I'm currently querying is very personal to me in a lot of ways. I've got a pretty intense bout of depression going for a few years now, but I'm still chasing dreams and trying to live and be good friends and do things. And I wanted a book character that showed that same drive. I also wanted to deal with all the weird nitty-gritty details of growing up in your early 20s no one prepares you for post-college and what that looks like with friends super succeeding and others super failing and families falling apart and others coming together. I'm super proud of it, but I'm also acutely aware there isn't much of a market for that story. I still had to write it for me.

 

One of my particular writer neuroses is that I'm convinced everyone hates it, but likes me as a person, so they're just being nice when they say they like the story. That being said, most of my favorite chapters are later in the draft, but I could probably be convinced to send you a couple from the beginning.

 

Do it!!!

 

the first rule of this is: if you hate it you say nothing k thx

 

Agreed. I'm sure I won't hate it, though.

 

Oh yeah, I'm definitely going to work on my first draft this year. I've done a whole lot of planning for this one haha. I've got folders of pictures of actors and just general people I have set up in my head as characters haha. I don't want to be a fantasy writer but I've had this vague framework in development for....ugh I'm old haha. A really long time. It initially started as a graphic novel. I wrote almost 500 chapters for it actually, so I do understand throwing things out. It's just weird having to come to terms with like...I'm 23. I don't view this as something just for me anymore haha. I want this to be a career. Which at 16 that's cool as shit but now it's like...hey....I need food...

I love how that sounds. I've got something in the works similar to that framework actually, though it's a screenplay. I'd love to see a sample of what you've been putting together.

My god the alcohol

 

That sounds awesome, and I'm 27, so the age and impending need of bills is all too real. Some of the scenes I've worked into the outline for my fantasy novel I've had in my head since I was 16 or 17. It's crazy how they stick with you until they're in the right story. I've even tried to write them before. But they appeared in this one organically and it's one of those "After all this time?" "always" type moments where so much just clicks into place.

So much alcohol.

 

of course I love it

 

Dude I completely feel that. I've got a few things I've had since I was a kid and I just kept tweaking. I save EVERYTHING. For some things that's great. For others I look back at like "oh god, burn it with fire." I just need to get into a routine, he says for the 100000th time.

I am going to hate myself in approximately seven hours.

 

With novel #2, I've been working my way in slowly. Week 1 was 500 words a day, M-F. Week 2 was 750. Week three was 1000. And now I'm on "write for an hour no matter what" and averaging just shy of 1500. Broke 20k this morning actually.

Ah yeah. I've only had two glasses of wine tonight to mourn, but mainly because we're out.

 

Niiice! There's a great web app for that, but I can't currently remember what it is haha.

I have had....more than that.

 

I used a shitload of adjectives in college papers to make them longer. I'm good at English/Lit but I couldn't write to save my life.

 

Syndicate is the best one tho