Wednesday, August 12, 2009

WIP Wednesday: still no title

No title yet, and no words written, but I did read over what I've already written on the new untitled project today. It's good! The first chapter needs work--I wasn't sure what tone the main character's voice would take, and I didn't settle into it until the second chapter. Then again, the first chapter is only 500 words long so it won't be hard to rewrite.

In the first five chapters that are already written, I've introduced all the main characters along with the first broad strokes of their personalities and interactions, I've introduced the main themes of the book, given the main character some issues to work through, and hinted at some plot complications that are going to show up real soon. At the end of chapter five, one of the characters has just shot a spy (with an arrow, and he's not dead).

I'm dangerously attracted to the title Adventures in Zoology. If I was browsing the SF/fantasy shelves in B&N and saw a paperback with that title, I know I'd pick it up.

Tomorrow I'm going to rough out an outline--just a sketchy one, not a jot-and-tiddle everything-plotted-out one. I think this book will work out best if I write it fast and throw in all the ideas that pop up as I write. It's got some serious themes, but I want it to be fast-paced, fun, light, and as inventive as I can manage. If I pre-plot too much, I'll lose the spontaneity.

Friday I'm going to start writing, whether or not the outline is done and whether or not I've settled on a title.

11 comments:

Alan W. Davidson said...

Wow, I'm impressed. Seems like you're making some serious progress with this novel.

BT said...

Go, girl - streike while the flame of inspiration is hot - regardless of outline.

BT said...

You could even strike while the flame of inspiration is hot - unlike my efforts at touch typing (even though I only use two fingers on each hand and still look at the keyboard!), which are ice cold...

Jameson T. Caine said...

I wish I had your fire. I've been staring at blank screens all week.

Danielle Birch said...

I like to go like the clappers to get the story down as well, then do a detailed outline.

Oh, and I like Gray Dancer and Dragon.

Aaron Polson said...

Yeah, I pretty much kill my outlines halfway through, anyway. Lots of revising, but the story gets to have its own life.

Charge!

Cate Gardner said...

WOW! You're storming along. You're an inspiration.

K.C. Shaw said...

Alan--Yeah, finally. I started it months ago.

BT--I like to have a rough outline so I know which direction to aim. Do you really only type with two fingers? You know it goes a lot faster with ten? (Actually I only use nine--my left thumb just hangs there and does nothing.)

Jameson--I've been doing almost no writing for months. I'm just glad to get my enthusiasm back!

Danielle--Gray Dancer and Dragon is fun to say, at least. I might have to make the horse more important if it gets into the title, though.

Aaron--My outlines tend to change as I progress too. Usually I end up having to make elaborate lists of who's doing what to whom, and why, and what days it's going to happen on. :)

Cate--Only in comparison to how I've been doing. I'm finally snapping out of lazy mode. I can't wait to start writing again!

Carrie Harris said...

Gosh, I never come up with titles until way later in the process. In fact, for ages people in my critique group thought that No Pain No Brain was named Zombies!!! because I had to call it something. ;)

Jamie Eyberg said...

Reading through definitely counts as writing. It is all part of the process.

K.C. Shaw said...

Carrie--If I don't force myself to come up with a title, it'll end up with the working title Elfland by Accident forever. Although I guess I could call it Zombies!!!

Jamie--I did make some tweaks as I read, so it wasn't like I didn't do any work at all. :)