Actual writing time for the novel totals almost 11 months now. There was a 12 month hiatus in the middle as I started my professional career in the world of social media and marketing, but, actual solid writing time, we’re talking about 11 months.
It has been a tricky road, and as I solidify my ending, baby steps towards the pinnacle of all this work and effort and time and blood and sweat and tears, it does hold its surprises. As I said when I started this blog, the novel was a point of self exploration, now; I’ve had to explore that concept over the course of this year as I told my peers about the novel and its process. I moved from pure self exploration, to promising my self I would push for it to get published, which in itself was a surprise.
I’ve loved every second and as my mind and body have developed and adapted and experienced over the last 10 months, I’ve also changed my ending. It’s the polar opposite of what it started out as, and I’m gratefully surprised. It’s a better ending, it’s fuller, it’s more believable, and it completes the character arch and makes the novel. It’s not given away until the very last second, I’m hoping it will drive the reader right to the v
ery last sentence.
But the ending has and still continues to be the most difficult part of the novel I’ve experienced so far. I never quite knew how it was going to come because I had never quite settled my emotions, and which way the protagonist / antihero would go was a up to those very emotions. It has been the most volatile part of the writing process so far and although I’m not surprised at that, I’m not too much of a fan. I like a plan, I like knowing where I’m going and I don’t like unturned rocks. The last month and a bit whilst I’ve been really getting to grips with the bastard, have had lots of those said rocks, lots of shadows and suspicion and self-loathing and writhing and teeth grinding.
But I’ve got it, and now I just have to write the fucking thing. I’ll get it done though, I always do, to my personal deadline of 31st October 2008. Time is running out.
Though, that brings me on to the second subject of this post, NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month. That’s one novel, of 55k words, in one month. It was actually a very cathartic find, it allowed me to settle some things in my head about the current novel whilst I concepted for what I might do for NaNoWriMo, and I’ve got an idea.
I’ve got 
a single thought that I quickly brought out of its shell and now, well, it’s fucking death on stilts with a machine gun. We’ve got ghosts, vampires, zombies and humans, all battling it out, in one prolonged struggle for survival. I want to explore the concepts of hope and perseverance, on all fronts, a sci-fi, fantasy epic with pain and suffering a plenty.
It might be a bit grandiose, firstly for my second attempt at a novel when I – hopefully – will have only just finished my first draft of my first, and secondly to get it done in a month. But I’ll give it a go, and I’m sure I’ll get there. 2k words a night, every night, for 30 days straight, that should just about do it, it’s going to melt my mind, but I’m sure it’ll be an amazing experience as well. So, anyone else reading, if you’re involved, my URL is here, and so add me as a friend or whatever so we can watch each others progress.
And see you on the other side.
This posts aspiring novelist is Caryn from Book Lady. An active writer, although never published as far as I can tell, she’s “currently hard at work submitting her third novel, revising her fourth, and writing her fifth” so a busy lady indeed. Her latest post explores how she can’t get into reading other novels whilst she’s in the process of revising her own. Whilst it’s not a problem I’ve yet had to battle, I can see how in the future, should I be revising my own, how another authors work would take second place, and come under the scrutiny you have got your mind set into, potentially ruining the reading experience. Included for your enjoyment are interviews, thoughts and loads of other stuff, enjoy and encourage.
11 Comments
1 RG Sanders wrote:
Favourite music: Top Gun OST? Is that a very dery sense of humour or are you actually hinging on the verge of insanity, Mr. Galbraith?
Oh, and I have joined you on NaNoWriMo - I have been wanting to do it for a couple of years and now is my chance.
Good luck.
2 Richard Galbraith wrote:
hah, i'm not sure where you found that but i do love that sound track. i remember a few months back i was on a role, i looked up and i'd listened to it on repeat 6 times in a row...take from that what you will!
best of luck with nanowrimo as well, looking forward to seeing what you and everyone else comes up with.
3 Melissa wrote:
Just learned about NaNoWriMo and am fascinated by the concept. Can't wait to see what develops for you.
4 Caryn Caldwell wrote:
Congratulations on nearly reaching the end of your long book-writing journey. Good luck with meeting your deadline. It sounds like you're right on track for that. And best of luck with NaNoWriMo, too! Someday I'll do it, but the timing just never seems right.
Oh, and thanks for the link! That was so nice of you. :-)
5 Vile wrote:
I envy your resolve, Writing is consuming.
NaNoWriMo is an interesting idea, might prove to be a spark for something, especially for newbies.
6 Sammi wrote:
I am also a first timer in the NaNoWriMo participation :) I've added you on there (username sammillama), it should be cool to be able to see how others progress.
I also enjoyed reading this and several of your other entries. I've no idea of the amount of work and resolve it takes to write a novel (let alone where to start), but you seem to be doing splendidly and I wish you luck as your deadline draws nearer.
7 Karin Zirk wrote:
I find it fascinating that you find the ending the hardest part of the novel. I too am finishing up a novel. I sort of finished it once, but now am lost in line editing with a self imposed deadline of November 1st.
I had the ending from the beginning of my writing process (in 1996) and it's been hard work to create a middle that supports my ending. But I think I've nailed it.
8 Richard Galbraith wrote:
@vile & @sammi - thank you for your kind words, it has been a long and rocky road getting here, but i'm almost at the end now, i'll post about where i'm up to and what i'm currently exploring soon, the blog is taking second place at the moment however whilst i get rounded up. And Sammi, i'll add you on my nanowrimo as soon as their site is back up!
@karin - interesting insight on starting from the end and working back, trying to find a middle. I think with me, as the book is a method of self exploration, the end has changed multiple times as both the text has progressed and i've evolved and grown as a person. perhaps in my next novel it will be easier because it'll have more of a plan, and be less of an exercise in self discovery. best of luck with the novel as well!
9 Lynn Jordan--AuthorsToolsBlog wrote:
Yes, endings can be tricky. One of my NaNoWriMo novels had three endings to start. It did help with the word count, but didn't help with the plot wind-up.
This will be my 6th year. I look forward to seeing you over there.
Lynn--ljordan @ nanowrimo
10 Mainframeguy wrote:
I'm a nanowrimo newbie... I like your blog (not sure about white on black, but the fint is suitably writerly and it is obviously a mature blog. Pardon me skim reading but I think you are a genre writer and I'm aiming more for "literature" sorry if that sounds rude not sure what other word I can use. Vanilla? Anyway it may not make us entirely compatible, but sometimes different is good. Found you via bloggapedia and goign back there to look for more nanowrimo folk now.
11 Richard Galbraith wrote:
really enjoying the response this post has had, thanks everyone, really looking forward to getting stuck in now...thanks for dropping by lynn and mainframe guy, you will indeed see me there.