Novel #2 Progress: All Done!

I’m a little early with this update, but I am beyond excited to report that after five months of relentless work, revisions on Novel #2 are complete!

Word Count Progress:

Draft #1 Word Count:

• Start Word Count: 67,994
• End Word Count: 75,808
• Total: 7,814

Draft #2 Revised Word Count:

• Start Word Count: 70,551
• End Word Count: 79,002
• Total: 8,451

Writing Process Notes:

• A week off from my day job certainly did the trick. With nothing else to worry about during the day, I had the freedom and the time to write!
• I ended up finishing three days ahead of schedule, which goes to show how much determination and motivation can really push a writer to keep going.

Novel Tidbit:

The Title:

Back in January, I stated that I would reveal the title of Novel #2 when I finished revisions. I’m keeping that promise, but with a twist. Ever since the beginning, I’ve had a working title, but I’ve never been dead set on keeping it in place. So, instead of one title, I’m offering up four! One is my working title and the other three are on my brainstorm list. Which title jumps out at you?

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Thanks so much to my readers for  giving me so much support and encouragement. Your comments and advice have all meant so much as I continue this journey!

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c.b.w. 2013

Novel #2 Progress: Crunch Time!

As the end of  March approaches, I feel the pressure of a self-imposed deadline. I promised myself I would finish revisions on Novel #2 by March 31st, which means I will be working like a maniac in the coming week to finish what I started.

Word Count Progress:

Draft #1 Word Count:

• Start Word Count: 63,373
• End Word Count: 67,994
• Total: 4,621

Draft #2 Revised Word Count:

• Start Word Count: 65,883
• End Word Count: 70,551
• Total: 4,668

Writing Process Notes:

• I am officially two chapters away from completing revisions! As planned, I reached 90% completion last week, which puts me in a great position to finish the second draft during Spring Break.
• Thanks so much to everyone that contributed to last week’s discussion concerning the use of epilogues. So many great points were made and they are all helping me decide what to do. I am still pondering whether or not to include the epilogue I’ve written, though I am leaning towards keeping it in place. I like how it opens up a new story line and I think it will make readers really excited for the sequel.

Novel Tidbit:

 The Light Side:

One of the first promises I made during this journey was that Ian would not be a vampire or a werwolf. There are a number of reasons why I avoided this trend, (i.e. it’s overdone and the market is flooded), but at the core of my decision is my desire to prove something I profoundly believe. A good urban fantasy/paranormal story doesn’t necessarily need an element of dark evil to hold a reader’s interest.

As a reader, I’ve grown a bit tired of damsels in distress falling in love with dangerous boys. Not that I don’t love a good bad boy story, but it doesn’t hurt to try something a little different without losing the tension created by the conflict between good and evil. The vampire thing was fun (Twilight) and so are devil fighters (Mortal Instruments and Infernal Devices), but my muse and I want to see if there’s another way to give a fresh spin to the mortal vs. supernatural world. The trick is making sure the conflict is still there and the stakes remain high.

While Ian’s true identity is shrouded in mystery, I can assure you he is not anything remotely sinister. The entities in his world also are not evil or blackhearted. In fact, the so-called villains in my novel would actually be considered the good guys just about anywhere else.

So, how do I create conflict with characters who are technically on the same side? Easy. I added an element of danger beyond everyone’s control. Ian’s world is held together by ancient creeds and traditions that are considered unbreakable. Even those with a heart of gold are bound to carry out the rules and the punishments associated with iron clad edicts. Throw in a life and death situation for those involved, along with a mystical feud and you’ve got a heck of hook for a story.

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c.b.w. 2013

Novel #2 Progress: Benadryl Blues

It’s official, my sinuses hate me. The yo-yo weather of late is turning my head into a ticking time bomb and I swear it’s ready to blow. To preserve my sanity, I’ll be keeping this update rather short.

Word Count Progress:

Draft #1 Word Count:

• Start Word Count: 60,366
• End Word Count: 63,373
• Total: 3,007

Draft #2 Revised Word Count:

• Start Word Count: 62,703
• End Word Count: 65,883
• Total: 3,180

Writing Process Notes:

• It’s been four days since I’ve worked on Novel #2, but I’ve decided no work is better than trying to revise while under the influence of Benadryl. No good can come from the drowsy stupor I find myself in whenever I take those little pink pills.
• My goal for this week is to reach 90% completion. That way I can use Spring Break to complete the final 10%. I don’t like how close to the deadline this is all happening, but at this point I don’t have much choice but to plow through.

Novel Tidbit:

Epilogue or not?

• I’ve been playing with the idea of an epilogue since I finished Novel #2. As a matter of fact, I’ve already written the epilogue as a segue into the sequel. The only thing I can’t decide is whether the segment should stay an epilogue or become the first chapter of the next book.
• The epilogue basically focuses on the morning after the closing action sequence. Everything appears calm and Amanda can finally relax after what can only be described as a traumatizing experience. However, just as everything starts to feel normal, her new reality reminds her that nothing can ever be as it was before. Too much has changed and too many dangers remain.
• So, readers, what is your opinion concerning epilogues? Love them or hate them, share your thoughts in the comments.

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c.b.w. 2013

Novel #2 Progress: Playing With Fantasy

I revised until my eyes burned and the word count totals for this week reflect that fact!

Word Count Progress:

Draft #1 Word Count:

• Start Word Count: 55,440
• End Word Count: 60,366
• Total: 4,896

Draft #2 Revised Word Count:

• Start Word Count: 57,074
• End Word Count: 62,703
• Total:5,629

Writing Process Notes:

• The scenes I worked on this week were so intense they literally left me emotionally and physically exhausted! However, as the conflicts between my character’s escalate, I know that means the climatic end scene is within reach. With that scene so close at at hand, I am happily working through the exhaustion in order to get to the last line!
• A wide divide has developed between the word counts of Drafts 1 and 2. Several new scenes have been added in places where I made notations to expand descriptions and plot elements. So far, I’m loving the changes!
• I am still shooting to complete the second draft by the end of March. It’ll be a tight schedule, but I think I can do it!

Novel Tidbit:

Realistic Fantasy

• I decided to create urban fantasy as opposed to straight up fantasy because I like creating something people can relate to on a personal level. My favorite stories are those that take something honest and give it an elaborate place to breathe. Sometimes the real world is big enough to harness that honesty, but at other times fantasy is in order to create metaphors and imagery that can’t exist in reality.
• While fantasy allows for limitless creation, I also believe in striking a balance between realistic and fantasy-based elements. For urban fantasy to work, the plot and characters need a strong connection to a reality in which readers can place themselves. So, when fantasy elements are introduced, it makes them that much more fantastical and believable. I want readers to allow themselves to think, even if for just a second, that something magical could be real. In a sense, the real world only needs a dash a fairy dust to sparkle.
• The bulk of Novel #2 takes place in Phoenix, Arizona. Most scenes take place in real places, including coffee shops, movie theaters, and Amanda’s home. It’s only in the last quarter that the setting changes to something completely out of this realm.  In doing this, Ian’s realm becomes something even more incredible. I want readers to be awed in the same way Amanda is when they enter this amazing world by her side.
• Ian’s special abilities are the only bit of “magic” until the end of the novel. Part of the reason I did this was to emphasize the unique nature of his identity. That being said, he is not without faults or weaknesses, just like any human.
• Amanda’s mortal status is necessary to make the story work, but I also went out of my way to make her stronger than Ian in unconventional ways. He may be the supernatural being, but she bests him in ways that will ultimately change his fate.

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c.b.w. 2013

Novel #2 Progress: Conflict!

It was another great week for Novel #2. Once again, I was immersed in scenes that rank among my favorites in the story, so my already super-charged motivation received additional jolts when my writing time rolled around each day.

Word Count Progress:

Draft #1 Word Count:

• Start Word Count: 52,576
• End Word Count: 55,440
• Total: 2,864

Draft #2 Revised Word Count:

• Start Word Count: 54,012
• End Word Count: 57,074
• Total: 3,062

Writing Process Notes:

• This week I began reading Sever by Lauren DeStefano for two reasons: 1) I love the Chemical Garden Trilogy. It’s one of the most original and well-written YA series out there. 2) It’s written in first person, present tense. While I’m enjoying the story, I’m taking notes on the overall structure of the novel. I’m looking at this as an amazing learning tool to help me with my own work on Novel #2. I see places where I’m implementing point of view and tense correctly, but I’m also starting to see where I need to make some adjustments.

Novel Tidbit:

Conflict:

• They say the core of every good story is conflict and that is particularly true for YA. However, for my novel I wanted to make sure the conflict I created would showcase the importance of self-reliance and selfless sacrifice for those we love.
• Through trial and error, I discovered how important it is to make sure conflict comes from a place of truth or it will not seem authentic to readers. Even though, my novel is rooted in urban fantasy, human beings are at the core, so that’s where I had to dig to find the origins of internal and external conflict.
• There are several layers of conflict built into Novel #2, but here are a few examples of friction in terms of characters and plot:
  • Amanda and Ian: They are a couple, but like all couples they don’t agree on everything. Ian often underestimates Amanda, (not because he thinks she is weak, but due to what he is in comparison to her mortal status), and that infuriates her! On the other hand, Amanda constantly tests Ian’s boundaries, which causes him to question the promises he’s made in the past. In addition, these two argue frequently over the concepts of free will and fate.
  • Amanda on the inside: Amanda is constantly at war with herself as she oscillates between her duty to her mother and what she wants for herself. Her fierce loyalty to family keeps her trapped in an impossible situation, while her longing for something better keeps her optimism alive.
  • Ian on the inside: Everything about Ian is a contradiction. He is locked into a particular path thanks to his true identity, but he secretly dreams of a different existence. His love for Amanda coupled with his secret could lead to his demise – a reality that haunts every decision he makes.
  • Amanda and Ian vs. The World: Ian’s friends and those from his world all disapprove of his relationship with Amanda. Ultimately, they have to fight for their right to be together, despite ancient laws and traditions bent on destroying their bond.

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c.b.w. 2013