I finished the first draft of the first novel in my series about dragons. I added a chapter showing one of the main characters during a time of happiness. It was actually meant to be part of another chapter but became its own chapter.
Now I think I'll read through the entire story and then start the first round of revisions.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
First Draft Almost Finished
I managed to write about 800 more words in my WIP. That was yesterday. All the week prior I managed to get distracted by various things including preparing to go camping, camping Friday to Saturday at Lake Anna, playing runescape, and now Eden Eternal.
There is only one more chapter I need to look at and then as long as I don't think up another chapter or two the first draft of my novel will be done. I wrote a much needed chapter to make things fit into place and took out a chapter place holder that was never going to get written.
This will be the first time I have ever finished a first draft of a novel length story. I did write a novel before this but decided to do a major rewrite before finishing the first draft and then the story never got finished. I keep reading that others say the first novel you ever write usually should never be published. Hopefully that was the one that I never finished. If the interest of my children in my current novel is any indication I would say that this novel is one that will be of interest to more people. Time, of course, will tell.
As long as Eden Eternal doesn't distract me too much, I should have the first draft done by the end of this week or at least before the 5th of July.
There is only one more chapter I need to look at and then as long as I don't think up another chapter or two the first draft of my novel will be done. I wrote a much needed chapter to make things fit into place and took out a chapter place holder that was never going to get written.
This will be the first time I have ever finished a first draft of a novel length story. I did write a novel before this but decided to do a major rewrite before finishing the first draft and then the story never got finished. I keep reading that others say the first novel you ever write usually should never be published. Hopefully that was the one that I never finished. If the interest of my children in my current novel is any indication I would say that this novel is one that will be of interest to more people. Time, of course, will tell.
As long as Eden Eternal doesn't distract me too much, I should have the first draft done by the end of this week or at least before the 5th of July.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
More details about my story
Right now the working title of my book is Dragon Claws Rage. I feel like I am getting closer and closer to finishing the first draft. The story is just over 73,000 words. I want it to be longer and believe it will be. The reason I think this way is because some of the chapters need to be fleshed out and do more showing than telling. Some chapters seem to be but an outline of what should happen in the chapter.
I'm not an expert and so perhaps saying that my first draft is finished inspite of these chapters may not be accurate. However, I wrote a chapter at the end of the book and then realized it was too sad to be the end and have figured out a way to end the book on a happy note, very happy one indeed.
I have been eliminating my place holders where I marked my story that I need to return. I use ~~~ and just search for that. There are only two or three of them left.
What I found surprising is that my story right now has 66 chapters. Since I know I am going to add one more it is going to at least have 67 chapters. I think it likely as I start the second draft that some of them may get combined into one. I tend to write short chapters. Each chapter either has a change of character point of view or some other logical end point.
I am a member of critiquecircle.com and plan to put up the first chapter there for critique either today or within a week so that I can start getting more feed back. I got very good information from the editor that I plan to have edit my book once it is ready for editing and so during my second draft I will make use of her very sage advice to improve my entire book watching for the things she pointed out. I am also planning to use the emotion thesaurus at http://thebookshelfmuse.blogspot.com/ since I believe that will help me show rather than tell. Such as show a character getting angry instead of simply saying he got angry.
More ideas are flowing about the second book and possibly the third. I've always wanted to make this a three book series and then after that write more stories in the same world. I have five or more short stories that I wrote over ten years ago that are in this world and I may expand one of them into a novel. But that is for later.
The main dragon creator was a wizard named Holvien. All the dragons he created he gave a weakness to ensure they did not turn against their creators. Another council member, Tedorlan, didn't see the need for such a weakness. After Holvien had created three different dragon types, Tedorlan created the largest, most intelligent dragons yet and did not give them a weakness. These are the red dragons. They inherited some of Tedorlan's attitude and soon turned against their creator and the nation that created dragons. So the next two dragons Holvien created were designed to meet that threat and so they have a natural protection from the red dragons psychic powers.
The dragons Holvien created followed his pattern for using safeguards when they created altered humans to help them. They gave these humans some of their own powers but limited the activation of that power. Only when three of the altered humans are touching each other will the power activate.
Well, I am off to work on my story now.
I'm not an expert and so perhaps saying that my first draft is finished inspite of these chapters may not be accurate. However, I wrote a chapter at the end of the book and then realized it was too sad to be the end and have figured out a way to end the book on a happy note, very happy one indeed.
I have been eliminating my place holders where I marked my story that I need to return. I use ~~~ and just search for that. There are only two or three of them left.
What I found surprising is that my story right now has 66 chapters. Since I know I am going to add one more it is going to at least have 67 chapters. I think it likely as I start the second draft that some of them may get combined into one. I tend to write short chapters. Each chapter either has a change of character point of view or some other logical end point.
I am a member of critiquecircle.com and plan to put up the first chapter there for critique either today or within a week so that I can start getting more feed back. I got very good information from the editor that I plan to have edit my book once it is ready for editing and so during my second draft I will make use of her very sage advice to improve my entire book watching for the things she pointed out. I am also planning to use the emotion thesaurus at http://thebookshelfmuse.blogspot.com/ since I believe that will help me show rather than tell. Such as show a character getting angry instead of simply saying he got angry.
More ideas are flowing about the second book and possibly the third. I've always wanted to make this a three book series and then after that write more stories in the same world. I have five or more short stories that I wrote over ten years ago that are in this world and I may expand one of them into a novel. But that is for later.
The main dragon creator was a wizard named Holvien. All the dragons he created he gave a weakness to ensure they did not turn against their creators. Another council member, Tedorlan, didn't see the need for such a weakness. After Holvien had created three different dragon types, Tedorlan created the largest, most intelligent dragons yet and did not give them a weakness. These are the red dragons. They inherited some of Tedorlan's attitude and soon turned against their creator and the nation that created dragons. So the next two dragons Holvien created were designed to meet that threat and so they have a natural protection from the red dragons psychic powers.
The dragons Holvien created followed his pattern for using safeguards when they created altered humans to help them. They gave these humans some of their own powers but limited the activation of that power. Only when three of the altered humans are touching each other will the power activate.
Well, I am off to work on my story now.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Book Progress - Blurb and Dragons
Well I don't seem to be doing to well as a blogger. Good thing I am finding time to work on my book and plan for the other things I need such as an editor and a cover designer. I contacted a designer today that draws well since I believe I will need someone to draw what I want for my books cover. I contacted an editor today too. I'm now waiting for replies.
As of now my plan is to self publish for the Kindle first. At some point after that I will get my book set up for printing on demand since I plan to print some copies for myself, my children, family, and friends.
Here is my most recent attempt at a book blurb. I expect it is still in need of much work but it is a starting point at giving anyone who reads my blog an idea of what my book is about:
For centuries the dragons hid while following a well crafted plan. They would initiate the final phase five years hence which would culminate in their retaking their land and founding a mighty nation.
In a day their enemies unravel the plan and threaten the dragons very existence. One of their magically augmented humans vanishes. Over half of the ruling dragons are slain along with their trained human leaders. Unstoppable trackers now hunt their remaining altered humans.
The dragons take swift and decisive action. They gather their magic altered humans and initiate the summoning that will bring the dragons to their land. Enemies spring into action against Maikel as the dragons groom him to lead the offensive to establish themselves as a nation.
The story has changed a lot from when I first started it. The main characters are both sixteen when the book starts. Another main character is fourteen. Then there are the dragons whose ages range from twenty to three hundred or more.
As a reader, I love reading books that have dragons and/or elves in them. I've put both in my book. As I think about my book I am surprised that elves are not more prominent in it; the dragons of course are.
In my book more than one thousand years ago their was a nation ruled by magicians. The nation was unique in that it was a mix of humans and elves living together. Using magic, the rulers created dragons as protectors of their nation. Neighboring nations feared these dragons and so rose up against the dragon creating nation and defeated it. They believed they killed all its leaders and all the dragons. They were wrong.
Before most of the ruling council was killed they gave the land to the dragons. The few surviving dragons went into hiding and waited for the right time to reclaim their land. During the first book the dragons begin the process to reclaim their land and attempt to establish a nation ruled by dragons. The color of the dragons that gather to form this nation are green, white, blue, silver, and gold.
Their land is a vast mountain range which they have kept free of most people by employing humans and elves as foresters who constantly roam the mountain range and use magic items to instill a fear in any who are not wanted so that they flee the mountain range and never return.
Of course the neighboring nations are less than pleased to learn that thousands of dragons are now living in these mountains and many battles follow.
That will give you an idea of some of what goes on in my book. I currently have written a little over 71,000 words. Right now I am thinking to end the first book at 80,000 or 90,000 words. My goal is to have the book on the Kindle in September or October. At the very least before Christmas. Some days I am able to type about 2,000 words. Other days I only manage a measly 151 (that would be yesterday). Weekly I often average about 3,000 or so words. I know there will be a second book in this series. I would like it to be a three book series but ideas for a third book haven't come to me yet. I plan to write most of my fantasy books in the same world with some minor characters becoming main characters and such.
Well, I think that's enough for now.
As of now my plan is to self publish for the Kindle first. At some point after that I will get my book set up for printing on demand since I plan to print some copies for myself, my children, family, and friends.
Here is my most recent attempt at a book blurb. I expect it is still in need of much work but it is a starting point at giving anyone who reads my blog an idea of what my book is about:
For centuries the dragons hid while following a well crafted plan. They would initiate the final phase five years hence which would culminate in their retaking their land and founding a mighty nation.
In a day their enemies unravel the plan and threaten the dragons very existence. One of their magically augmented humans vanishes. Over half of the ruling dragons are slain along with their trained human leaders. Unstoppable trackers now hunt their remaining altered humans.
The dragons take swift and decisive action. They gather their magic altered humans and initiate the summoning that will bring the dragons to their land. Enemies spring into action against Maikel as the dragons groom him to lead the offensive to establish themselves as a nation.
The story has changed a lot from when I first started it. The main characters are both sixteen when the book starts. Another main character is fourteen. Then there are the dragons whose ages range from twenty to three hundred or more.
As a reader, I love reading books that have dragons and/or elves in them. I've put both in my book. As I think about my book I am surprised that elves are not more prominent in it; the dragons of course are.
In my book more than one thousand years ago their was a nation ruled by magicians. The nation was unique in that it was a mix of humans and elves living together. Using magic, the rulers created dragons as protectors of their nation. Neighboring nations feared these dragons and so rose up against the dragon creating nation and defeated it. They believed they killed all its leaders and all the dragons. They were wrong.
Before most of the ruling council was killed they gave the land to the dragons. The few surviving dragons went into hiding and waited for the right time to reclaim their land. During the first book the dragons begin the process to reclaim their land and attempt to establish a nation ruled by dragons. The color of the dragons that gather to form this nation are green, white, blue, silver, and gold.
Their land is a vast mountain range which they have kept free of most people by employing humans and elves as foresters who constantly roam the mountain range and use magic items to instill a fear in any who are not wanted so that they flee the mountain range and never return.
Of course the neighboring nations are less than pleased to learn that thousands of dragons are now living in these mountains and many battles follow.
That will give you an idea of some of what goes on in my book. I currently have written a little over 71,000 words. Right now I am thinking to end the first book at 80,000 or 90,000 words. My goal is to have the book on the Kindle in September or October. At the very least before Christmas. Some days I am able to type about 2,000 words. Other days I only manage a measly 151 (that would be yesterday). Weekly I often average about 3,000 or so words. I know there will be a second book in this series. I would like it to be a three book series but ideas for a third book haven't come to me yet. I plan to write most of my fantasy books in the same world with some minor characters becoming main characters and such.
Well, I think that's enough for now.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Am I a Writer?
I consider myself a writer. I'm even a published one if you count the articles I wrote for SQLServerCentral.com. On their website they published twenty five articles I wrote. They also compiled the best articles and published them in printed books. Some of my articles appear in two of those books. Those articles are technical articles about SQL Server.
I count those articles. From my point of view I am a writer and not just because I wrote those articles but because I write. Other than that I don't have anything published. I am working on a fantasy novel right now which is very different from those technical articles I wrote.
All the above doesn't mean what I write is any good. I think it is. But of course, I'm biased. My children like portions of the novel I am writing; mostly the battle scenes and creative use of magic. The real test will come once I self publish this novel. I'll say more about the novel I am writing in an upcoming blog post.
The earliest story I can remember writing must have been when I was in elementary or middle school. It was about four Jawas who had crystal swords. I happen to still have those very four Jawa action figures from when the first Star Wars movie came out. Their swords were plastic semi-transparent things used for party snacks or something and they fit just nicely in those action figure Jawa hands. Those didn't survive and I have no idea what happened to them. I know I had that story when I moved to Virginia in 1997 but I don't know where that story is right now.
I was actively writing short stories from 1994 to 1996. I entered a story in a contest for a literary agent and it won first prize which meant they tried to find a magazine that would publish it. After a year or so they sent the story back saying they couldn't place it. I paid them for editing services. As I recall they didn't change too much which made me feel like I wasn't too bad of a writer.
I let many things get in my way and only wrote sporadically from 1997 until about 2008. And I wasn't doing anything to try and get anything published. I should have done more but didn't. One of my problems before 2008 was that I almost never could figure out how to turn a short story into a novel. I feel I wrote some good short stories. The one novel I started but never finished did not start out as a short story. The idea came to me and enough came that I wrote a good amount. It was never finished. The ideas and concepts in that book are not as uncommon as they were when I wrote it.
In August of 2008 I finally figured out how to expand one of my short stories into a novel and I've been working towards completing that novel ever since. Of course the specific events in that short story no longer appear in the novel. A few of the basic concepts have survived and been expanded. After writing this I just realized that about the only things that survived the original short story is the name of the main character and the concept of him being a forester and living on a mountain with lots of trees. That short story was one of the first that I wrote in 1994 if not the first one and was always one of my favorites.
Too me, I am a writer; a writer with no works of fiction published - yet. Time and the people who read my book once I publish it will tell if it is any good. As for me, I know it will be when I am through with it and I know that many will enjoy reading it.
I count those articles. From my point of view I am a writer and not just because I wrote those articles but because I write. Other than that I don't have anything published. I am working on a fantasy novel right now which is very different from those technical articles I wrote.
All the above doesn't mean what I write is any good. I think it is. But of course, I'm biased. My children like portions of the novel I am writing; mostly the battle scenes and creative use of magic. The real test will come once I self publish this novel. I'll say more about the novel I am writing in an upcoming blog post.
The earliest story I can remember writing must have been when I was in elementary or middle school. It was about four Jawas who had crystal swords. I happen to still have those very four Jawa action figures from when the first Star Wars movie came out. Their swords were plastic semi-transparent things used for party snacks or something and they fit just nicely in those action figure Jawa hands. Those didn't survive and I have no idea what happened to them. I know I had that story when I moved to Virginia in 1997 but I don't know where that story is right now.
I was actively writing short stories from 1994 to 1996. I entered a story in a contest for a literary agent and it won first prize which meant they tried to find a magazine that would publish it. After a year or so they sent the story back saying they couldn't place it. I paid them for editing services. As I recall they didn't change too much which made me feel like I wasn't too bad of a writer.
I let many things get in my way and only wrote sporadically from 1997 until about 2008. And I wasn't doing anything to try and get anything published. I should have done more but didn't. One of my problems before 2008 was that I almost never could figure out how to turn a short story into a novel. I feel I wrote some good short stories. The one novel I started but never finished did not start out as a short story. The idea came to me and enough came that I wrote a good amount. It was never finished. The ideas and concepts in that book are not as uncommon as they were when I wrote it.
In August of 2008 I finally figured out how to expand one of my short stories into a novel and I've been working towards completing that novel ever since. Of course the specific events in that short story no longer appear in the novel. A few of the basic concepts have survived and been expanded. After writing this I just realized that about the only things that survived the original short story is the name of the main character and the concept of him being a forester and living on a mountain with lots of trees. That short story was one of the first that I wrote in 1994 if not the first one and was always one of my favorites.
Too me, I am a writer; a writer with no works of fiction published - yet. Time and the people who read my book once I publish it will tell if it is any good. As for me, I know it will be when I am through with it and I know that many will enjoy reading it.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
I've thought on and off about this blog I set up and that I need to post again. Until today I never got around to it.
I've debated if I want to have a better focus for my blog, one that appeals to me is show casing books I like to read and don't have content I object to. I often read about these kind of books referred to as clean reads. I dislike books that have sex scenes in them and swearing of any kind. I am fine with some violence in the books I read. Of course the stories I write will qualify as clean reads as defined above.
None of my stories are published yet. I take my time about deciding what to do unless I get a feeling of urgency that tells me I need to decide now. And so it is that it took me a month or so just to decide to self publish once I have a story ready. I am working on a fantasy novel right now. The first draft is about half way done. It is shaping up nicely with each passing week.
Two weeks ago I had the best week of writing in a long time. From 20 to 26 February 2011 I typed 4,845 words. I wish every week were like that. Sadly every week is not. Many things much more important require my time now, such as raising my four children as a single father with primary custody. And then there are other distractions such as World of Warcraft, movies (I watched Star Wars 4 and Captains Courageous with some of my children recently), and chores to name a few.
I read and learn a lot on the kindle boards. Among the most recent thing I have been trying to decide is how much to charge for my first novel and what kind of strategy to use. Right now I am thinking the best pricing model/strategy to use is having my first novel be a loss leader and price it at 99 cents. Later novels in the same series would then be priced higher at $2.99 or $3.99. I still have time to decide and my decision could changed based on what I learn between now and when I publish my first novel.
Another thing I have been planning out is the sequence of events between now and when I publish. I am planning to find an editor, beta readers, cover designer, and to have my book critiqued at www.critiquecircle.com.
To finish off today's post I want to let everyone who read this know that there will be a smaller interval between my second and third post than there was between my first one and this second one.
I've debated if I want to have a better focus for my blog, one that appeals to me is show casing books I like to read and don't have content I object to. I often read about these kind of books referred to as clean reads. I dislike books that have sex scenes in them and swearing of any kind. I am fine with some violence in the books I read. Of course the stories I write will qualify as clean reads as defined above.
None of my stories are published yet. I take my time about deciding what to do unless I get a feeling of urgency that tells me I need to decide now. And so it is that it took me a month or so just to decide to self publish once I have a story ready. I am working on a fantasy novel right now. The first draft is about half way done. It is shaping up nicely with each passing week.
Two weeks ago I had the best week of writing in a long time. From 20 to 26 February 2011 I typed 4,845 words. I wish every week were like that. Sadly every week is not. Many things much more important require my time now, such as raising my four children as a single father with primary custody. And then there are other distractions such as World of Warcraft, movies (I watched Star Wars 4 and Captains Courageous with some of my children recently), and chores to name a few.
I read and learn a lot on the kindle boards. Among the most recent thing I have been trying to decide is how much to charge for my first novel and what kind of strategy to use. Right now I am thinking the best pricing model/strategy to use is having my first novel be a loss leader and price it at 99 cents. Later novels in the same series would then be priced higher at $2.99 or $3.99. I still have time to decide and my decision could changed based on what I learn between now and when I publish my first novel.
Another thing I have been planning out is the sequence of events between now and when I publish. I am planning to find an editor, beta readers, cover designer, and to have my book critiqued at www.critiquecircle.com.
To finish off today's post I want to let everyone who read this know that there will be a smaller interval between my second and third post than there was between my first one and this second one.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Predictably Unpredictable Infinite Experiences
If you took the time to analyze and understand my blog title then you have just had a predictably unpredictable experience. I often like to use terms that seem incompatible. I believe I am generally a predictable person with moments of unpredictability and hope that some of this comes out in this blog. The title was more chosen because of how much I can predict that unpredictable things will happen to me and I will be blogging about these events.
One such happened to me this past Saturday. I went to drop off my oldest son to play basketball on our churches young mens basketball team. I planned to stay long enough to be sure that the game was not canceled due to the snow. The coach of the team indicated to the boys there that they had to have five boys and one adult as coach in order to play. I was the only adult from my church there. So I stayed and became their coach.
And so I begin my blogging experience. I plan to blog about how my writing is going as well as about things in my life. I don't swear and plan to keep this blog a family friendly one. We all have negative and positive experiences in our lives, I plan to focus on the positive here and so the only real negative you will see me post is something that I feel I and others can learn from and these will even be portrayed in a positive way as much as possible.
So you know how little I know about basketball I had to confirm there were four periods and had to ask how many fouls a player could get before being out for the rest of the game. I am not a very vocal person so I was mostly just a figure head to allow them to play. We started with five boys. Another boy came later. At that point, one of the boys was trying to get my attention and during a brief break I was informed that I was the one that had to declare I was substituting a player. I told them that they would have to let me know when since I knew almost nothing about basketball. So they would tell me when and then I would substitute a player.
Later two other adults from my church came and they helped out with the coaching and one was more vocal than me and was giving them pointers while they were playing. I had to explain to him toward the end of the game when he didn't understand what they were doing is that they were purposely holding onto the ball and letting the clock run down. Our team did this after every period.
What surprised me more was that the boys would tell me I was doing a great job. I just sat there thinking that I wasn't doing anything. Maybe that is what they wanted.
I am happy to say that they won, the score was 23 to 35 and the only credit I take is that because I stayed as their coach they were able to play so that they could win.
One such happened to me this past Saturday. I went to drop off my oldest son to play basketball on our churches young mens basketball team. I planned to stay long enough to be sure that the game was not canceled due to the snow. The coach of the team indicated to the boys there that they had to have five boys and one adult as coach in order to play. I was the only adult from my church there. So I stayed and became their coach.
And so I begin my blogging experience. I plan to blog about how my writing is going as well as about things in my life. I don't swear and plan to keep this blog a family friendly one. We all have negative and positive experiences in our lives, I plan to focus on the positive here and so the only real negative you will see me post is something that I feel I and others can learn from and these will even be portrayed in a positive way as much as possible.
So you know how little I know about basketball I had to confirm there were four periods and had to ask how many fouls a player could get before being out for the rest of the game. I am not a very vocal person so I was mostly just a figure head to allow them to play. We started with five boys. Another boy came later. At that point, one of the boys was trying to get my attention and during a brief break I was informed that I was the one that had to declare I was substituting a player. I told them that they would have to let me know when since I knew almost nothing about basketball. So they would tell me when and then I would substitute a player.
Later two other adults from my church came and they helped out with the coaching and one was more vocal than me and was giving them pointers while they were playing. I had to explain to him toward the end of the game when he didn't understand what they were doing is that they were purposely holding onto the ball and letting the clock run down. Our team did this after every period.
What surprised me more was that the boys would tell me I was doing a great job. I just sat there thinking that I wasn't doing anything. Maybe that is what they wanted.
I am happy to say that they won, the score was 23 to 35 and the only credit I take is that because I stayed as their coach they were able to play so that they could win.
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