This is not the entry I expected to write.
More important stuff first: I finished writing the book this past Sunday. And I don't like it at all. It was fun at first, and a real thrill to be writing again - I hadn't written a new book since I finished TAW last year. And there's always that rush of starting, of the infinite possibilities before you, when the book can be anything. Unfortunately, that didn't last. I grew disenchanted as I kept going - the characters felt flat, the settings felt lifeless, and I realized some major plot holes revolving around the ending that I somehow didn't discover with the dozen and more times I went over that plot.
This was a book that came from my head, not my heart. It was something I pushed ahead with writing because I was so bloody-minded in my determination to make an interplanar adventure work. And I should know better. I've written books before with concepts that I had failed to make work before but I was so sure, this time, I could get it right. It didn't work.
So I wrapped up the story with some decent explanations, and set it aside. I might go back to it later, I might not. But the day after I finished that book, something awesome happened.
I read this article, over at Fantasy Faction, about creating layered antagonists. From this article, I got the sudden idea of an antagonist for a story idea I've been working with for a while. I had nothing but setting ideas and character bits, not a real story. But once I knew who the antagonist was, the story started forming. On Tuesday, during one of my breaks at work, I pretty much pulled the entire book out of my head. I now have a rough plot, with plenty to flesh out and figure out. I love the new characters, the empire that both is and provides the much-needed antagonist has some great concepts for me to work with, and more than anything, it's something I haven't done before.
If nothing else, it's good to know that I haven't lost it. I just need to be sure that I'm really working with it, not just what I want it to be. Whatever 'it' is. You know what I mean. :P
So, yes. It's another learning experience, and another new plot. Par for the course, really. But at least now I know better what to watch for, and how much I have to listen to my heart about this, not just my head.
In other news, my computer completely died this morning. I'm typing this on a tiny and very slow netbook that's connected to my new mouse and keyboard. My computer-related stuff will be limited until I build a new machine. Fortunately, I have a friend who's one unbelievable guru for all things computer-related, and he'll be sending me a list of parts to build a new machine soon.
It's been a week of endings and beginnings, death and soon-to-be birth. Let the creative cycle continue. ^_^
Next entry: Liz Blocker flagged me to discuss my writing process. I'll be talking about music, sugar, and alcohol. :P
Oh man, I'm sorry about your computer. But on the other hand, well, sometimes it's good to get a new computer. I'm in that phase where I'm realizing that my computer has reached it's life expectancy (after giving up magic smoke, being declared a goner, living in the freezer, then being resurrected through an ancient ritual involving a moving truck and being bodily removed from the cursed area), so I'm cautiously watching it. I hope you didn't lose any data. Hmm, time to go back up...
ReplyDeleteThanks. As far as I know, this was a motherboard problem, so my hard drives and all their precious, precious data should be fine. Normally I'd have looked into a replacement motherboard, but that's twice this computer has betrayed me (the first time after two weeks, the second after nearly four years) so I'm not giving it a third chance. Already ordered the parts for a new one.
Delete...and yes, I'm going to be doing a ton more backups now. O_o
Oh, poor you. That means Windows 8, doesn't it? (unless you're into Mac) I'm so glad I got my laptop while Windows 7 was still around.
ReplyDeleteGood for you about the story. It may feel like it, but writing is never wasted time. If you learned something and got some practice in, it was worth it. Best of luck with this new story. :)
Nope! I build my computers from parts, so the new machine will still be using Win7. I'm a firm believer that if it's my computer, it should work how I want it to, so I won't use an OS that I don't want to.
DeleteAnd thanks. I try to look at this as a learning experience, and now I have this entry to go back to the next time I feel like trying to revive something that's failed before. The new story planning is going very well so far. ^_^
I love reading about the different processes writers use. My next stop is checking out the article. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from Shout with Emaginette
Liz runs a pretty nifty blog. And hmm, maybe I'll tag you when I do next week's entry... :P
DeleteSorry about the computer crash. That stinks. So, the first draft is supposed to be crap, right? That goes with the territory. Some of my favorite advice ever is: Give yourself permission to write crap.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on finishing! (A first draft anyway.)
Ehh... It's not writing crap that I have trouble with. It's going back to stuff that I know is crap. I have a really hard time with that, and several abandoned projects that I haven't looked at since I finished them. I don't know if I'll ever go back to any of them.
DeleteArgh how do I keep missing posts? I'm sorry! I'm here, though!
ReplyDeleteIt sucks, sucks to get all the way through a book only to realize that the whole damn thing is flawed. I'm sorry - that really stinks. I do admire you for being able to recognize that, and admit it to yourself. And I really admire how quickly you write. I really need to stop writing about the real world, don't I? ;)