Work In Progress update

I’ve turned what started out as a negative into a positive.

I recently decided that a work-in-progress I was working on had gotten ungainly. It was like that attractive person you always wanted to go out with: You finally get up the nerve to ask them out, have a wonderful few first dates, make a commitment, and then the flaws start popping up. You start to wonder why you ever wanted to be with that person in the first place. Finally, you realize that the problem is really not them, but you, your initial wants and needs were to shallow and you just went into the relationship for the wrong reasons.

That was what my big fantasy piece had turned into.

I still love it, and I will still finish it, but overall I was reaching out beyond the scope of my vision. What originally started as a short story about a business deal between dwarves and gnomes gone wrong ballooned out into a major undertaking involving racism and religion in a fantasy setting. Unfortunately, the road map I had brought with me to get from point A to point B did not have a clear path. I was starting to get lost, so it was time to ask for directions. I did that a few post back and got some great advice.

So for now, the big fantasy project is on the back burner while I take time to complete a World Bible. That process is time consuming because of the canvas I set up to start with. Deciding what races inhabit the world, are there “monsters”, how does magic work, what political standing are currently in place,  how do the races (if there are even multiple races) get along, etc. Most painful will be deciding what players will remain. I was nearly half way done before it spun out, I’ve developed a real attachment to some of those characters, but I know that not all of them will be in the story in its final form.

In the meantime I’ve been writing on another short that decided it had more to tell, and it is a subject that has been a darling of mine for a long time. The World Bible for this one is not as extensive, as it is more familiar. I’ve already gotten over a few hurtles that had threatened to trip me up, and the route to completion is pretty clear. Also, it is not strictly fantasy. A majority of the books I read are fantasy or space opera, and this genre, while not unfamiliar, is not one I am normally involved in. This genre’s minutia is not as ingrained in my head, so I am getting to try some different stuff. Been a blast, and I’ve gotten to write about some topics that have interested me for a while.

So, the word counts to the side will change, but I wll only update them once a week or with each post.

In the meantime, I am working on some articles for my old friends at Major Spoilers, hopefully the schedule will calm down enough to be able to tell you when to expect those soon.

Till next time, we will see what we will see.
Stacy

Shifting Gears or Listening To The Voices in Your Head

I’ve got this problem when I write; I constantly revise in my head. Well, that and I do a lot of stream of consciousness as I go, but that is a different issue. The revisions part is what bit me in the butt recently. My revisions are not normally a bad thing and often make the piece stronger. Sometimes, however, it can cause me a headache. That’s usually because the voices in my head get pushy and start telling me what I need to do and I don't listen.

In my post before last, I mentioned that I was starting to have a problem splitting time between a novel length work and a really long short. The novel was starting to have issues, and the short was turning into something more and was demanding more attention. I got some great advice from a few trusted sources and decided I needed to break my pattern and re-focus on the short.

Now, I’m not abandoning the novel. I did spend a couple of days re-reading it and think that part of the problem I was having pertained to the way I had built the world. I need to work on the background and society and have a more solid view of the setting I’m creating. The story works, but I’ve got some squares I forced into round holes that were are giving me problems, but now I have admitted it. I’ve got to learn to be more flexible; if that statement and the previous clash that is just part of how I’ve always written.

So, now I have shifted from a genre I am comfortable with to one that I know very little about and can be a little intimidating to work with, for me at least. But the story it there, and it is bigger than I thought it was. Luckily I have some voices in my head helping to guide me through it.

I’ll update word metrics and all soon, probably by Monday. This week is research and planning, and a writing marathon will hit this weekend.

Till next time, we will see what we will see.

Stacy

PSA: My new Doctor Who article is up

Major Spoilers (you do read them reguarly, don;t you?)  has just posted my article Four Theories Regarding Doctor Who! Go read it! Leave comments if you agree or disagree, or just say hi! :)

It is installment #3 of their Major Spoilers Classified series.

Its a little out there, but what pop culture theories aren't! :)

Check it out!

OPINIONS NEEDED: I have a dilemma

Back at the end of February I started writing that book I wanted to. My experince in writing involves short stories and non-fiction articles and reviews, and one really excellent scipt, if I do say so.  mostly. Now, I’m currently just about a third finished with it, and am already looking at what re-writes are going to have to happen. I am really forcing myself to stop from going back and just starting over with the re-writes now.

Then I had an idea for a new short story. Completely different genre, and different than anything I had written to date. I figured I could just work on the short during the down time from the big work.  It would give me a break from the large work and not take long since I had it all planned out.

The best laid plans…

The first time I noticed that this was going to be an issue was when I was writing the big project and realized I wanted to work on the short. It was not the day for the short, so there was no reason for the short to grab my attention, I thought. I persevered and kept schedule.

Then I realized that I had hit over seven thousand words on the short and was not where I wanted to be on it. This was supposed to be a short story; I figured by seven thousand words I would either be done with it or rolling toward the end. Needless to say, it has not worked out like that. I am approaching what one person called “novelette” territory and could see it running well into the “novella” range; beyond if I made a few plot adjustments.

Meanwhile, in the big project, I’ve been hitting pot holes. One part of it that I thought was solid now seems rather flimsy. A character that introduced herself early on may be plotting to take over the lead spot, and the lead character is not going where I originally thought he would. In fact, he is starting to look a little thin and annoying.  A whole sub-plot is giving me a fit and another character has introduced a different plot that works better than the original main one! I feel like I have possibly wasted a couple of months worth of writing time that could have been spent better!

While over is the short story, everyone is doing fine, no one is having a hissy-fit (yet) and the main character is whispering to me, “We’re fine. We understand you have responsibilities to the others, just get to us when you can.” In fact, just this morning while driving into work I realized I was setting myself up with a chapter about…

But that would be spoiling it.

That’s the issue. I’ve got one big project that I am no longer so enamored with, and another smaller story that is promising to take me to a unique place that I haven’t been before. 

Should I…

A.      Stop whining and finish the big project, then pick up the second

B.      Stop the big project and focus on the second for a while

C.      Continue to work on both and keep detailed notes for the crime scene investigator when I finally snap.

HELP!

Thanks for reading, any and all comments are appreciated.

Stacy

Quick Word Metric Update

Since the Novel and the Short? Story seem to be taking nearly equal time, I figured that I would go ahead and add another word metrics conter just for the short. They are both located on the right and I'llbe updating them when I can.  Work on the Novel slowed immensly this month, while the Short? Story shot through the room.

Although I have numbers for goals here, they are not solid. I'll stop when the story is done, be it before or after either goal.

And for other writers out there, I picked the graphic up at http://www.writertopia.com/toolbox , there are full instructions on how to customize them, just make sure you give them credit.

When characters revolt....

I really should never try and make myself get on a schedule with this blog, I always seem to shoot myself in the foot with it.

Right now, I have a full novel work-in-progress and a short story work-in-progress. Now, a novel being a work in progress most can understand, but a short story? Well, let's just say that the story is unfolding itself in ways I was not prepared to handle, i.e. some of the characters have decided that I needed to know more of the story.

It really is odd when that happens. I had written several small fiction pieces over the years, but the first time I had that happen was when I was writing on a western several years back. I thought I had a clear plan for a couple of characters, I was the one writing after all. But the scenes kept reading poorly, and the truth just wasn't ringing right. Finally, I sat and thought about it, and realized that there needed to be some changes made. I started doing stream of conscious writing then, just laying out the first thing that seemed to be happening and followed it. The characters were telling me that they were not happy in their roles, so I changed them, and suddenly it was flowing again, practically flying along. I ended up going back and doing a major re-write on the first act, and realized that I had been fighting against it the whole time, I needed to just let it happen and stop trying to control it.

I still hit some potholes, a good deal of them, while I am writing. Usually it's because I forgot someone or my characters point out a plot hole i missed, but the flow of my writing feels more natural. Eventually I will develop a process that allows more hours to be added to the day and get more writing done, but until then I have learned to listen to my characters.

Of course, doing that with my short story has thrown it far into the direction of a novella, but the story is done when the story is completely told.

Painting Mini's: Oron Lugrum, Evil Wizard

Back in the day when I was a teen, I played a bit of Dungeons and Dragons. AD&D 2nd Edition was my preference, and often I ended up as the Dungeon Master. I also ended up being the one who painted every one's miniatures.

I tried a year or so back to get into Warhammer 40K, mainly to have a chance to paint again. Unfortunately, I got in right before they did another price hike and it completely killed the budget I had for it. Still got a couple of squads of Necrons and Dark Angels that I had to abandon.

I while back I became aware or Reaper Miniatures (www.reapermini.com) and was taken back to the good old days of Ral Partha. A buddy of mine has talked me into DMing a solo AD&D 2ndEd. game, so I figured, what the hell, lets grab some mini's and paint.

So far I have picked up seven, but this is the first one I have had a chance to paint. The card says he is Orson Lugrum, Evil Wizard, 03638, from the Dark Heaven Legends line. Nice looking mini, last one I picked up. I loved the pose, it just screams, I'M EVIL! BWAHAHA!

Ironically, my five year old has been watching some old Dungeons and Dragons cartoons (and loving them), and we both enjoyed Episode 5, "Valley of the Unicorns", featuring the bad guy Kelek. I ended up not being able to get Kelek out of my head as I painted this mini, so he ended up being a good deal like him.



Orsun Lugrum, Evil Wizard 03205
painted by Stacy Baugher

That all being said, my eye sight is not were it was when I was a teen. Having taken the photo and uploaded it, I now see a good deal of touch up that needs to be done. Not sure how I am going to base him either, the current base is just a bit of concrete that was in my 'bit box. I may also add a staff or wand in his hand, not sure. Got to do the touch ups tomorrow, but I think he is presentable right now, all things considered.

The other six figures I have picked up are "heroes." I may be getting the them in the next week or so. Still got a good deal of writing to catch up on, but some sinus issues are starting to run through the household. Hopefully I can get a little free time again.

Stacy