I'm on holidays now. (That's vacation for you Americans.) I've said many times in the past how my writing would benefit from a break from studies. Don't believe these lies. Holidays lull you into a false sense of security. They tell you you'll have all this time to write, but really you won't -- unless you make it happen.
That's where my problem often lies. I'm really bad at making things happen. One of those things is writing. If I were to write whenever I felt like it, I'd never write because as much as I love having written, writing isn't easy.
I hate it when people say, "The only reason you should be writing is that you can't not write." Because that's totally not true. Writing is more than a need. It's an ambition. Footballers don't play football because they can't not play football. They do it because they want to, becuse they love it, or because they want to get somewhere with it.
I'm not a needy writer, I'm an ambitious writer. I've spent two years writing this book not because I need to, but because I want to. It's a journey that I want to see to the end.
April is just about to begin, and with only two chapters left to write, I want to see this book finished and edited in the next two weeks, while I've got this break.
I've moved the release date back from Q1 to Q2 2012. No one should ever realease a rushed product. But is that what I'm doing? I don't know, I'm just doing what feels right.

I don't know if you've noticed my little word count meter trickling along lately. Well, I've been writing.

It's not much. Only last night and tonight I wrote, to a total of roughly 200 words. Sad? I don't think so. I feel great. After such a long time sitting at an almost stand-still, getting the ball rolling again is an amazing feeling. To have gotten the characters through just two rooms after a month-long break . . . it's freeing.

I mean, I can't say it's phenomenal. It's no ten thousand words. But I feel like I'm getting somewhere again -- getting to that point where I'm inspired by my own somewhere-getting to somewhere-get even more. Yeah, that was articulate.

I think I understand now why I stopped for such a long time (and it broke my heart every time I was reminded that my novel wasn't going anywhere!). It's because I'm now past that midway point.

Passing the midway point you should speed up, right? I figure that's logical. The problem was that I had created too much in my mind. I knew I had another two thirds at least to write, and if the first draft was ever going to be 120,000 words, I'm sure I would never finish it. I'm very comfortable with my 75,000 - 100,000 word goal.

I was very insecure about my ability to make it even to 60,000 words -- even less again, to be honest. I created an epic Part Two where the main characters end up the world's saviours. I fell in love with it. But now I see that it's unnecessary.

In discussing my concerns with my friend about my ability to fit it all in and finish the novel, I had concluded that I would have to cut down on Part Two. But I loved it! I didn't want to cut it out! He made a very useful remark here: "Well just think: what's the story about? It's about Eoin and his quest to save his sister, isn't it?"

Well, yes, but . . . shining epically epic Part Two is shiny!

Well, it's taken me this long to come to terms with what must be done. I believe this will result in a stronger novel with more direction than I had in my original plan.

I've removed a major section from the story (and here I'm talking about the prospective story -- none of this was written. I only make the smallest of edits while I'm still working on the first draft) where I can tell you now that Faine actually procured Maechre Aura (of the God of Death/the God of the Passing) -- something that won't happen in the new version.

There was a part where Saera was stuck in a world in-between, neither alive nor dead, because of a sacrifice she made. The plan was for Faine to bring her back with his new power, but at a price. He wouldn't be able to touch her, as Maechre's touch kills any person. And he only did all that because of his love for her.

I will still have two parts. I've now moved the end of Part One to earlier. It will now end in the next one or two chapters. I like how it clearly marks the increase in danger found in Part Two.

The main things that I've removed entirely are the wandering around, collecting people with Auras, and the totally epic overthrowing of the Church which I really wish I could throw in but I just don't have enough time and it's really not that relevant to the characters. Maybe I can write it in the appendices?

Bits and pieces of that original plan might fall into place, or I'll fit them in if they complement the action of the story. But the focus is on the characters now, and I have a great sense of direction that I think will help me finish sooner.

I was reading blogs two nights ago, and I read one from Nathan Bransford discussing the up and down contour that shapes a good novel -- sort of action, reaction. A positive that gives hope, then something that pulls that hope away from us, the a triumph over that obstacle makes us feel even better -- this is what keeps us reading.

Seeing his outline example of the Star Wars film, as well as reading so much about writing on blogs that night, inspired me to sort out what I was going to do with the rest of this book. And I did.

I've now got a 400-word outline from where I am until the end of the novel, and it's very pretty. What's exciting is I can mark the various dot-points with "up" and "down". I can see what Bransford was talking about. I think this contour can be applied to scenes as well in order to keep them interesting, but if I want to talk about that it will be in another post.

So I may not be writing much at the moment, but I am writing, and that is the best thing of all. Whether I move forward incrementally or in leaps and bounds, anything is always better than nothing -- especially if you do it daily, or just regularly.

With one day left until the holidays, I think I've made a good start. But these holidays I will push myself harder. If not 500 words daily, I'd like to write 300 words daily. If I miss a day, I won't try to make up for it, but continue on as if I'd never missed that day.

That's it for now. I'll leave you with this excerpt -- the last thing I wrote. (I'm so dash-happy today!)
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The first guard looked Eoin and the others up and down. Eoin shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. “Right, follow me.” He led them through one of the great doors – doors so huge that they could have fit three across and still have room to spare – and into the opening hall. The floor was adorned with a beautiful red carpet, covered in abstract yet formulaic white patterns. A stone stair tapered inwards as it crawled up to the first floor. Eoin ran his hands along the intricate designs carved into the balustrade as they climbed the steps.

“My name is Sir Halbaer, by the by. So many people pass me every day and I can’t keep up with all their names. The least I can do is provide others with my own.”

The same red and white carpet covered the floors of the castle halls, which were otherwise decorated with portraits of kings and queens past. Nearly all the stone of the walls was covered with red wall-hangings, a golden vase sitting on a table, a heraldic shield, anything to hide the sombre grey of the walls that instilled that depressing sense of nothingness. In a place so devoid of colour, anyone could go insane.
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I actually have a question for you lovely people: Do you find the word verandah in common usage? I'm actually looking for a word to describe the . . . um . . . area one walks out onto when they go outside on a multiple-storey building and they are above the ground floor. Balcony? What would be appropriate in a castle setting?

When my friend invited me down to his house yesterday for a night of Sherlock Holmes and pancakes, I pounced on the opportunity, a chance for me to get away from the internet and all other distractions that I have when I'm at home.

The night was very successful. It was no thousand words, but I got my story moving along nicely. In the 343 words I wrote last night I managed to finish a scene and a chapter, with a nice reveal along the way. I won't tell you what it because it's a nice treat.

I'd love to get back to writing a little bit every day. I miss that. What happens happens, but there are steps I could take to ensure I get what I want, if only for a little while. So I'll make that a short-term goal: to write something tonight.

The next sample starts where we left off last time. If I don't start writing more each week, I'll have to cancel the samples until I am, otherwise you'll have read the whole novel by the time I'm done.

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Faine said, “Then we need your help, for the good of the people. If this war breaks through, famine will run rampant. Emareus will be cut off from its surrounding villages, and supplies will be cut short. Like you said, who wants to live that kind of life?”

Fórdhain sighed. “What do you want?”

Faine grinned and nodded to Athrù, who said, “We must meet with the Queen as soon as possible to tell her of these dire circumstances.”

“I am the king of the Underground. I believe you've taken a wrong turn somewhere along the way if you're looking for an audience with the Queen.”

“Don't play games with me, Thief-King. You're close with the Queen and our matter is urgent.”

“What gave it away? The heavy robe or the golden rings?”

“Let’s just say I’m familiar with the factions of Meira.”

School is currently my worst enemy. I haven't written for half a month. It's sad, but I'll get back to it when I get back to it.

But while I'm here, I'll give you a look at my map, which is very nearly finished. I just need to add the final details. Click for a bigger picture.

I haven't written since the start of the month and school's return. Hopefully I can latch back on by mid-month.

I'll update on my progress again next Friday.

Currently, I'm continuing work on my map of Válkia.

I love how when you pour milk into a chai tea and stir it, it makes a different sound than before. The same can be said for many things: coffee, hot chocolate, soft drink - although, I can't begin to imagine why you would want to put milk in your soft drink.

But that's for another post.

I wrote tonight. I was inspired when I read over some of what Hallinan had said. And I'm glad I did, because I ended up with 471 words. That's 471 words that wouldn't be written if I hadn't written tonight.


[Click to enlarge.] Oh, you'd like that, wouldn't you?

[Sorry about the lack of updates.]

This month, upon just passing 2,000 words. I stopped writing. My aim was to write 300 words a day. When I didn't for two days in a row, it all fell apart.

Because I wasn't writing, I didn't blog either. I didn't want to tell everyone I wasn't making it again. But I am still confident in my idea, and that the challenge is not a challenge, but something that just requires a little more dilligency than I'm used to. So this month was not a failure, but a stepping stone. It's there, helping me towards next month, where I can start afresh but add to what I have achieved. When I fall away I can reel myself back in the next day. This will be an ongoing process, month after month. Eventually, I'll have a malleable system that will work for me long after Aundes Aura is finished and until the very end of the Válkia Chronicles.

I have to accept that with Year 12 assessments that contribute to which University I can go to, if at all, writing is not the priority this year.

I need to view the project not as an 80,000 word piece, but I need to work towards goals that can be reached in a matter of days or weeks - aiming to reach that next 5,000 word increment.

Until the year is over, this is all I can do. And it's what I'll continue to do, because that's all writing is - a series of stepping stones.

This is just a quick post to let all my wonderful followers know that Chapter Four is up this very period on CC if you want to see what is happening in the world of Aundes Aura at the moment, or even if you'd like to drop me a critique!

I apologise again for a slow-down in posts. The later days of school really limit your opportunities in other areas, but I'm trying my best to keep the blog active.

Tonight I passed 20,000 words! I am so, so close to passing the word count at which I stopped writing my previous concept of the novel. It seems like I've got a decent amount of plot and depth left in this to make it the whole way. I just have to keep going.

I may take a break sometimes, but I can't let this one pass me by like every other long story I have ever attempted. I strongly believe that this one is just that good. And, I absolutely adore it and I want to see it completed, and then improved, and then published.

And I am not naive at all as far as the publishing world at all. I already have a plan. But I can't go to step three without having first reached step two.

So my aim is to finish step one. And whether that happens by the end of next year, or the one after, I WILL do it.

Upcoming post: A Milestone Celebration: Every Thousand Words

I have just passed 16,000 words and this puts me more than 20% into Aundes Aura.

I'm constantly trying to determine whether the novel will be long enough at the end to make room for revisions and be marketable to agents and publishers. 80,000 words would do, I think.

Not that I really have to worry because I have a backup "Part Two" if it isn't long enough. It's not milking it, it's just stuff that could go unsaid and allow for the readers to speculate, but some interesting things would happen if I were to write it. I may just write a short Part Two regardless. This would allow me to almost "start again"with the tension, a miniature "book two", so I don't have to try to keep raising the tension. This way I can have two different climaxes.

Anyway, logically I have a ratio of 2:3 finished and unfinished novel. If I go through the outline in my head, I could have three more parts the size of one part to finish the novel at my target word count.

Are you the kind of person who would worry about something like this? Do you think it's unwise to mix logic with creativity?

Chapter Three has been posted to CC and should be up next crit period!

Chapter Three is officially complete at 3,564 words.

I have written "Chapter Four" at the top of a new page and will begin work on that tomorrow.

Chapter Two is up in queue,
Three is on its way
Chapter Four is coming, too
But that's for another day

I can now officially announce that Aundes Aura has passed 10,000 words!

Just a quick update to let you all know Aundes Aura is up in queue once more.

When I say revised, that doesn't mean the parts you've already read have changed. I have mostly just moved paragraphs around, but there are an extra 2,000 or so words for you to read!

Here's a recap of the revisions made:

1. I cut the scene with Old Hanne. Instead, Eoin comes up with the idea to take Saera to the church and pray.


2. Added a scene in the church. We discover how churches in Válkia differ from those in our world.

3. Added the scene of the Passing Ceremony, and a scene in the forest which was carried over from my first attempt at the novel.
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One of the reasons I am re-posting this chapter is that I would like to see if I can get some extra people interested.

The trio are riding through the forest on their way to the capital city, Parthon.
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Word Count Stats:

- Today: 812

- This month: 6,380

- Total Wordage: 9,073

This weekend was a hectic one. Leisurely, but full. On Friday I prepared mentally for the Deb which would be taking place on Saturday. I went to bed that night, and then half an hour after waking up in the morning, I left for the Deb. Following a decidedly dull after-party, I didn't return home until 4:00am today. I was tired, so I went to sleep. This morning, half an hour after waking up, I had to drive (on my learner's permit, with my mum in the passenger seat) to Fountain Gate to return the formal attire we had hired. Then we continued to the shopping centre where I bought two books (Magician and Silverthorn, by Raymond E. Feist). We then watched a movie and returned home. Since then I've browsed the internet, eaten dinner and browsed the internet some more.

Perhaps my lack of doing anything constructive in the last hours before my return to school for the week is my way of rebooting after a hectic weekend (it was hectic for me, okay?).

But.

This means that the last two days on which I haven't written, as well as today, means I should be writing 600 words. And I would probably do that.

If it weren't 11:30pm.

I think at the least I could write my 200 words so they don't stack up, and carry the other 400 over to another day.

Having passed 8,000 words today, Aundes Aura is officially past the 10% mark!

I've written 5,500 words this month. That's far, far better than my 2,000 in all of March, and we're only half way through April.

*sniffs at success*

I would have blogged yesterday, but I as a couple of you may know, I was up literally all night with no sleep trying to complete much-should've-done homework. Likewise, I was unable to get any writing done on Aundes Aura.

Luckily, I am up to a "good part", so when I sat down today with the intention of writing 200+ for today, as well as 200+ to make up for yesterday, the words came easily. My overall aim was thus for 400+ for the night.

400+ was quite the understatement.

I wrote 719 words in one session. I wrote for 20 minutes using Wod, but apart from that it was all MS Word.

I believe I said I wanted chapter two to be somewhere between 3,000 and 3,500 words. If I were to die for going outside that range, I would be quite dead right now. The chapter's current count is 4,423, and it's not quite finished.

Is that too big a leap from Chapter One's 2,800 words?

If you would kindly look at the Aundes Aura progress meter in my sidebar, you will notice it's looking much, much friendlier!