I am almost finished with my 5th full chapter not counting the prologue that could be a chapter unto itself. 33 typed, single spaced pages in courier font, 12 pt as per RealityChuck’s webpage. I won’t double space it or finish the manuscript format until I am finished with the writing. If you are an aspiring writer and haven’t seen it, he is very informative and an all around good guy.
I am basically 1/5 the way through the novel now. There will be 24 full chapters (not including the prologue still) and I have been sticking to the outline. It is much more work than I thought. When I wrote my memoir, it just flowed out since I simply wrote stories I tended to tell about myself, friends, and family. This one is taking a lot longer. I don’t work on it consistently.
I really do have to say that the outline has helped tremendously. I made the outline by writing the first event I wanted to happen and then the last event. I then filled in events in the outline. After I had a decent lead in I started filling in details within the outline and suddenly new chapters came aboard and I finally saw that the short story project would be a true novel.
It isn’t the same as writing a memoir. I have problems coming up with names. The problem is this novel is in the fantasy genre and I want the names to sound foreign enough but not too foreign. I don’t want to fall into RA Salvatore’s naming convention of awful names and spiteful cheeses.
I don’t write the character development into the outline unless it is an important point to tie in with something later. Epiphonic character development can be interesting. The characters are starting to take on a life of their own finally. I know how they will individually react to any situation.
I originally wanted the two characters to be overtly gay and possibly lovers; however, writing it that way turned it into porn. I didn’t want that since it detracted from the initial story. I would have read it as porn but I was looking for a larger audience. So I toned down their sexuality but am making them a pair of forever unrequited lovers. Well, maybe they will consumate their love eventually but it will be doomed once they do. Mwuahahahha…I actually have a part of the outline dedicated to that but it isn’t until near the end.
There are only 2 main characters at present but near the end they will have a small band of friends. I set the story up for at least one sequel and likely two since trilogies seem to be a staple of fantasy literature. I plan on trying to sell this one eventually. I don’t think I will do that until I have the sequels finished though.
I am not sure how long that will take. I figure it will take roughly 2 months to finish writing it since I don’t devote a lot of time to it. I write maybe an hour or two a day on weekday’s only. When I was writing the outline, I did that any time I felt inspired. Now it is like filling in all the details so it feels much more like writing a term paper that I am trying to keep interesting.
I am not sure how the computer page equates to a book page. I am guessing that the book pages are smaller thus you will have more pages when it is moved over.
Any of you other writer types out there have any writing experiences that you wish to share with me and or others? Please share them.