Some of you might remember me talking about a fanfiction I was writing in the later half of last year, the general plot of which I wanted to turn into my own original story. Now, I don't want to compare my book to 50 Shades of Grey, but I'm just going to say, I know of at least three author's who started off writing fanfictions, and I intend to become one of them. Fear not! My new work in progress is NOT going to fall under the category of erotica... or literary pornography, depending how you want to look at it.
As we have entered 2013, I thought I'd look back and see what work I've already done on the new WIP. Along with it's working title, WALLS, I have written out sixteen character profiles (it's okay, most of them are minor characters and some might not even make an appearance), and I've done some world building, though I really need to find a name for the city where the story takes place. Aside from this, I have planned out four chapters (and the prologue which I will most likely cut, as the information it contains will be repeated elsewhere in the manuscript anyway, and I hear that agents, editors and publishers generally discourage prologues anyway). In other words, I'm putting a lot more detail into the planning than what I'll put into the story, for the simple fact that I feel I need to know my characters and the plot better than the book will when it's finished.
Just for fun, I've started some writing. Namely the prologue, which you all read an excerpt of some weeks ago, and a short story based on the prologue which I still haven't decided whether or not I like. But as I said, the prologue will become non-existent by the time the rest of the manuscript is complete. Writing those things was purely for the sake of getting a feel of the world and the characters... and for fun.
So, I'm going to continue my planning - my goal is to plan the whole thing before I start writing the actual story - and I'm going to read The Hunger Games when I'm not otherwise occupied, because I've got the trilogy sitting next to me as I type.
What is everybody out there up to with their planning, writing, editing, querying, etc?
- Bonnee.
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Hmm... what am I doing? I'm getting a short story ready to send to alpha readers. It's fantasy with kind of a steampunky tang to it. Way to go with your WIP, keep up the good work! Oh that I were an outliner...
ReplyDeleteI'll take it that you're not one who's much of a planner, Joseph :) Nonetheless, fantasy short stories with a little steampunk zest sounds great. Best of luck!
Delete"I'm putting a lot more detail into the planning than what I'll put into the story, for the simple fact that I feel I need to know my characters and the plot better than the book will when it's finished."
ReplyDeleteThis is an important thing. The way I figure it, as long as you're writing and progressing towards 'The End', none of this is wasted. Even if it doesn't make it into the final manuscript, it's knowledge gained--about character, world, backstory, writing itself. Good luck with it!
As for me, I'm spinning a bit this week. I haven't quite been able to write my way into the new WiP like I hoped, and I'm horribly overthinking the re-re-reetc.-revised query for PL. It'll come. On the good side, I got some really positive feedback (and that includes the negative feedback) on BW, which dovetailed very nicely with what my wife said about it. Be well!
I felt that it was important for me to do the extra work, and more than necessary for the sake of avoiding confusing myself as I write. Somewhere I can double check details about a character's background before I accidentally write something potentially incriminating...
DeleteRe-re-reetc.-revised query... Well, us authors do have to be dedicated to our task. Best of luck with the PL query and glad to hear you got good feedback on BW!
Once you start reading THE HUNGER GAMES, you won't be able to stop. Seriously. They are impossible to put down!
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with the WIP. Your dedication to it is obvious, and that'll show in your words.
The Hunger Games is pretty alright so far, though I must say, I'm glad I saw the movie first or I would have hated it. The book is already significantly better.
DeleteDedication is what I am aiming for! Thank you Shari!
I am reading now 50 SHADES and it's really simple writing, which show that you don't need to write very well to be a best seller. What you need is to connect with the readers. THE HUNGER GAMES is set in futuristic America. Is WALLS set in a specific country? If it is in futuristic Australia, for example, you can call it Sydney or Melbourne. A dystopian YA that did very well, CINDER, is set in futuristic Beijing. Maybe I'm lazy to read so many pages, but I like watching movies instead of the books. I just read THE HUNGER GAMES a little, but then saw the movie and start writing my second novel with references to Katniss. My main focus now is on the upcoming Amazon Contest. Check it out at
ReplyDeletewww.amazon.com/abna
Last year I moved with my Chinese novel to the second round but didn't make it to the third round. After some revisions, I am entering again next week and hoping to move to the third round.
If you, or any of your blog's followers has a novel with 50K words, it's a good contest to submit. Be well.
I've noticed how simply The Hunger Games is written. But simple or not, I plan on writing in my own style, whatever that might be, however it might come out as I type it and end up after editing. I definitely prefer the book so far to the movie. I don't currently have a fitting novel for that Amazon contest, though it sounds awesome! I'm not happy enough with Evergreen to put it forward anymore. Totally awesome how far you came in the competition last year, so good luck this time around!
DeleteI'm still working on the exact setting of WALLS. At this point, I think it will be a completely fictional setting, rather than a futuristic version of a country or city. Thanks for stopping by, Giora :)
Fanfiction sounds like fun. I've never tried writing it, but it's interesting to read the stories of authors who did and got their work published.
ReplyDeleteI'm currently working on my NaNoWriMo novel. Still haven't finished it.
I've been into Fanfiction for years, admittedly. It's fun, even just to practice the writing skills.
DeleteGood luck finishing your NaNoWriMo novel. Did you reach the 50K mark before the end of November? Either way, best of luck to you.
My next post will pretty much answer your ending questions, but I like this idea of yours and say go for it ... especially the "not being a 50 Shades of Grey" part. :)
ReplyDeleteI'll have to keep an eye out for your next post then David :) Haha thank yo for stopping by.
DeleteI will be looking forward to your next post. Thank you
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