And the panic sets in.

[jpskewedthrone]

I now believe this book is going to suck, suck, suck. This is typical at this stage for me. I haven't figured out what's going on yet. This is why I hate the beginning of the book. It's like I'm flailing around in the dark and I don't like that feeling AT ALL.

So today I flailed around and got a few more words written. See the Word Meter at the end of the post. In good news, I did figure out how I think it ends. Not the big climactic ending, but the very last final scene. Or perhaps not. It was good enough it got written down in my little Notebook O' Ideas(TM). In case I've never mentioned this before, I keep a little notebook by the computer so that when I'm writing, if an idea comes to me that doesn't happen until much later in the book I can jot it down. Half of these ideas end up going nowhere because something in the plot changes or I decide later that the idea just sucked or by the time I get there the characters have decided the idea sucks and they have a much better suggestion. I've already got about 10 ideas in the notebook for Vacant Throne.

Today, I wrote/finished 2 scenes. More establishing of what's happened before without (hopefully) doing an info dump. The interesting scene will be written tomorrow . . . or perhaps Monday. I have to talk to my agent tomorrow, so that may interrupt the writing schedule. I'm not sure I can pull the scene off well anyway. It's the first scene that's really all new--new character, new plotline that I feel can push Varis into new territory depending on how I handle it. Scary, yes?

Anyway, here's the Word Meter:

3,150 / 100,000 (3.1%)

The Vacant Throne

Comments

[storytellersjem.livejournal.com]

Pull yourself together, man!

:D

[jimhines.livejournal.com]

Man, I hate that part of the process. It's good to be able to recognize that it is a normal part of the process, and that you'll get past it and rediscover your own brilliance, but it still sucks donkey balls to be stuck there right now.

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

I'll try!

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

I know something will break and suddenly the story will work. I just hate the fact that right now it's not there and that most likely lots of what I'm writing right now will not end up in the book. I don't have the emotional plot lines yet, the regular plot lines, bah!

I'm just venting. *grin*

[coolmajaka.livejournal.com]

Hey, that's how you know you're a writer -- yu recognize everything you write sucks ;)

In all seriuosness, I'mm looking forward to hearing you describe your approach to knocking out your third novel. One would think it gets easier, but from what I've read on other pro writers' blogs, that ain't always the case.

Good luck, and just remember, in a pinch, you can always have someone puke ;)

[rugor.livejournal.com]

Still looking pretty good from where I sit :)

But seriously, there's that very important factor I am sure you remember. Get it out then fix it on the re-write. I just realized my last two chapters are going to need nearly full re-writes to be able to work properly.

I do understand the notebook. I keep one for when I'm not at home-- and when I'm writing I keep a notepad open on my secondary monitor so I can throw any odd notes in there beside the main file. It's a real mess-- but it's also the soul of just about anything I write.

Keep going, we all have faith in you.

[jimhines.livejournal.com]

Venting is good and healthy. This is usually the point in the process where I erect my mental sign that says, "It's okay to write crap!"

I hope you break something soon, though.

Um ... that didn't come out quite right. Hopefully you know what I meant :-)