The days start to blur…

It was easier to blog about writing my shorter stuff. A couple of weeks as I finished up Templar’s Gate or the time it took to write and edit Dark Awakenings went by pretty fast, and I always had some progress to announce. Now working on my novel it’s a much different pace.

To some extent I am working harder, and producing more than I was back a month ago, but because there is so much more to produce in a 110,000 word novel, time seems to be crawling, and progress seems so much slower.

I’m not discouraged, and I’m not giving up. I’m convinced that Amulet of the Fallen God is a great story, that I really need to write. I get an average of 1000 to 2000 words a day, most days, and the story is unfolding in ways I never imagined. Characters are taking on lives of their own and the story gets richer and richer.

Only this morning I discovered that the elf king is mad (crazy mad, not angry mad), the elf mage, Emrilok, took the rap for his brother Fuesar, and that halflings did indeed survive the Gods War. Yesterday I did not know that. Tomorrow I find out just what made the king go mad. I think I know, but I’m never sure until I get there.

But, while little stuff like that is fun, when I look at the overall progress of the book (only about 1/3 done with the first draft) I see how far I have to go yet. In about a week it looks like my adventurers will have a huge mountain to climb. I know exactly what they feel like.

Still no word on the two pieces I have out, but I keep my fingers crossed.

Stay tuned,

Steve

Too long away.

A friend of mine reminded me yesterday that I hadn’t updated my blog in a while, and that a short posting telling him to look at someone else’s blog does not count. He’s right and I apologize, once again, for my lack.

I’m still waiting for word back on my short story and novella submissions. So there is no news on that front.

It’s actually been a very productive couple of weeks. Retirement is starting to settle into a routine. I get to work on my writing around 8:30-9:00 each morning and generally get in 1,000-2,000 words before noon. The plot is expanding as I go and the characters are coming much more clearly into focus. I’m at about 30,000 words so far, and aiming for around 110,000.

The most fun days for me are when the characters take the story in a direction I did not even see coming. I’ll be writing along, thinking I know where I’m headed and one of them will kind of kick me.

Character: “I would never do that, you know.”

Me: “But I planned on you doing that,”

Character: “I really want to do this instead.”

Me: “Oh, yeah, that’s a great idea.”

Character: “…and I want credit for the idea in the acknowledgment’s section when the book is published.”

Me: “Good luck with that…”

Dragon: “Can I eat him?”

Me: “Hmmmm…”

Till next time,

Steve

A new friend

It’s always great to interact with someone who’s going through the same things you are. I’d just like to take a moment and direct your attention to this blog.

Best of luck Maureen,

Steve

Back in the saddle

It’s been an interesting week. I am hard at work on an actual novel. Having sent out my short story and my novella I decided to see if I could really stick my nose to the grindstone on a full fledged novel. It’s a fantasy, with some romantic elements. I’m about 20,000 words of what I think will be about 100,000 words. Things are flowing really well right now, which is probably why I forgot to do a blog last week (sorry).

Anyway, Amulet of the Fallen God is a novel set in my world called Harth. There are elves and dwarfs, goblins and orcs, and all the traditional fantasy elements. I have started three novels set in this world, and plotted out probably another six in my head. How many will see print is anyone’s guess at this point, but I think the story is solid and a good entry point for this line of books I want to write.

I’ll try to post more often, and let you all know how things are going with it, though it will probably be a few months before I finish the first draft.

Stay tuned,

Steve

I’m Back

Wow! What a week. Gencon this year was a blast. I got no work done on my writing, but I did attend some great writing workshops. A big thanks to Elizabeth Vaughan for being inspiring. My first order of business tomorrow (Wednesday is now Library Day) is to find some of her books and devour them.

I did do some work yesterday and today on a yet untitled Fantasy Novel that I believe will become my current WIP. It’s hard fantasy but has romantic elements. I have a little over 16,000 words at this time, and I’m aiming for around 100,000, so I have a ways to go. It’s set in the same world (named Harth) as my severed chapter, but happens about 500 years later. The book that the severed chapter is from still sits in utter disarray, but serves as a good basis for the current project. Of course it is my hope that an entire series, chronicling the vast history of the world of Harth is eventually published.

Time will tell.

Steve

Just a quick update

I’m leaving tomorrow morning for Gencon, in Indianapolis, and will probably not blog again until next week. It’s a gaming convention, and it should be great fun, but I’ve also signed up for 3 writing seminars, and I am bringing my new netbook so I can get some writing done if I get some time.

I’ll be back on my regular writing schedule next week.

Until then…Peace!

Steve