I guess I'm having trouble going back to three-time-per-week posting, because here I am with an extra post already. I just had to share that I've finished the rough (and I do mean rough) draft of my latest novel, a middle-grade humorous fantasy called (for the time being at least), Halitor the Hero. In my usual wrong-way-first manner, I'm now ready to spend some time drawing maps, imagining histories, and generally doing the world-building that a normal person would have done before starting to write.
How did I end up this way? I just got all excited with the story, and did the writing without any real plan. It's probably more work to do it this way round, but I'm willing to bet it's more fun, too.
On other fronts: still struggling with my cover issues (if anyone knows a good artist who wouldn't break the bank, I'm listening), and working on formatting and writing pitches, blurbs, and press-releases for Return to Skunk Corners. And Murder Stalks the PTA will, I hope, go out to an editor soon. My hope is to bring RSC out by the end of June, and the PTA murder, if it passes muster, by the end of the year.
This leaves me in an odd place, where I have nothing new to write but short stories--so I may concentrate on those for a while. I'm thinking there'll be an anthology in my future, so I may as well enjoy the quick writes, and build up a stock to revise and polish. Plus there's that thing of having promised a weekly short on Flash Fiction Fridays!
Hey! I'm not the only one that does this backwards! I'm working on my second book that takes place in the same fantasy setting and I am just now trying to figure out all the maps and histories. I had a vague idea of them when I started writing but that was it. I'm just starting revisions on the first book and it will probably take a lot of them but I agree. It was fun this way! I hope everything works out with your cover issues and have fun with the short stories.
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah. I'm trying to take inspiration from my 15-year-old son, who had developed an amazingly complex world, with maps, history, languages (!) and everything. He's evens written maybe 100 pages of a novel about it (I'm not sure; he doesn't let me see it). That degree of world-building would be over-kill for the story I'm doing, but I can certainly see the fun of the thing! If all else fails, I guess I can get him to draw me some maps :0
ReplyDeleteI love having multiple projects to work on, just to keep the writing sharp. Congrats on being so far along and good luck finding a cover artist-- that seems very exciting.
ReplyDeleteMultiple projects are especially important when in the editing stage, because doing nothing but editing depresses the heck out of me!
DeleteVERY cool! It all sounds so very exciting :) Keep up the good work and I look forward to reading all the new fun stuff! :D
ReplyDeleteThat's the other nice thing about doing short stuff and putting it on the blog--it gets shared right away! Meanwhile, my editor is stalled, trying to get a draft of her own book done, not to mention all the mom-stuff.
DeleteI didnt know you had to do the maps and write the history before you wrote the story. Sounds a bit backwards myself. I mean, how do you know what you want on the map if you havent written the story?
ReplyDeleteYou could ask my cover illustrator if she's interested if you have an idea of what you'd like. Dani at http://kanizo.co.uk
Well, you have a point there. I certainly was making up the landscape in my new book as I went. Oh, I need a mountain range. Hmm. Where do dragons live? I'm pretty sure some people plan both story and world before they start, though.
DeleteI will ask your illustrator. The style of your covers is pretty different, but she might be able to do what I'm looking for. One thing about messing around so long--I've got a much better idea what I want, and what might work. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Rebecca. I can pass on my illustrator too if you like. I am revealing my cover next week in the hop so you can see what it's like as a reference. I know Sally was very happy with hers and it didn't break the bank. I start my books with a name of a character so I guess that's even more ridiculous. Lol cheers Julie Grasso
ReplyDeleteThat would be great, Julie! I'd love to be able to use someone personally recommended! I'll watch for your reveal.
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