On Words, Notes, and Maps

[jpskewedthrone]

So after my little gripe session about all the little things a writer does besides write that take away from the writing itself yesterday, I managed to get down to writing. I only produced about 1000 new words on the current WIP (still untitled). Good words I think. Not that great for an afternoon of writing though. But this is because I ALSO spent a good portion of time writing out a bunch of notes about the plot and characters and such that the hindbrain had revealed the day before while driving home from school. This isn't even close to a plot synopsis. It's mainly just a bunch of short notes of . . . possibilities. Things I thought might be interesting directions for the book or the characters to take. In my experience, about half of these ideas pan out during the course of the novel. The rest just don't fit in the end, when I reach the part of the book where I think those pieces are supposed to go. So while I don't count these words in my progress meter, I do count them as progress on the WIP.

Another thing that I count toward progress is the creation of a map. No maps appear in the Throne books although I did have maps to help me along the way. A map gives me a center and helps me keep organized, but for some reason when I create a map it . . . sets me free. The world starts coming alive because I start thinking about what's over here, and what's there, and what makes that city unique . . . all of these types of questions start spilling forth and it's these types of things that make the world feel real to me.

Unfortunately, one of the consequences of making the map yesterday is that I realized I need to make the world seem more . . . populated. I mean, it's set in the middle of a city and the first scene is early, early in the morning, before most people are out and about, but I need to get across how many people there are, how large the cities, how connected they are with trade and commerce and all that. It doesn't have that closed-in feel yet, so something to work into the new chapter once those characters get to the city. I need it to feel like there are tons of other cities out there, and that people aren't focused on their own little chunk of the world but have a more worldy perspective.

Plus, I need to make the city much more unique and cool. *grin*

So a productive day yesterday on the writing front. Chapter 1 is done, and chapter 2 started. Hopefully I can get chapter 2 finished this coming Friday, and chapter 3 done over Thanksgiving week. Then work on the synopsis.

Comments

[suelder.livejournal.com]

In a city, someone is always awake. It might be the street walker or the street sweeper. It could be maids on thier way to work. It could be some friends trying to get someone home after a literal all-nighter.

I've *never* been in a city when someone wasn't around and I've lived in New York City and Philadelphia.

Suelder

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, I realize this. I have the main character mention some of the people she does see out and about even though it is early--bakers, messengers, travelers, street urchins huddled in corners, etc--but the majority of the people aren't out and about.

[suelder.livejournal.com]

Oh my, that comment came out much more snarky that I meant it to. I was mostly reminiscing. Honest. :P

sorry 'bout that.

Sue