Today I finally isolated exactly what my antagonist's motive is, and the full reasoning behind the motive. I'd had a idea of it since I began writing the novel 12 months ago but now it's finally crystallised. This was a key element missing until now.
As a result I can now forge ahead into the final straight of this story. So yeh, it's been a good day!
As of now, I have approx 60,000 words written. Chapters 2,3 and 4 I wrote on my mobile (cell) phone but I have transferred them to my pc. I have had detailed character structures in place for months now but I am still fine tuning them as I learn more about the reality in which my story is based.
I got some great advice from some of the new visitors to my blog. Thank you very, very much. All suggestions are greatly appreciated and deserving of my highest respect. It's people like you, my readers, who reaffirm my faith in others (since my day to day work life, my crappy 9 - 5, had damaged that faith) and it's brilliant to have that back.
One of the nuggets of advice was from published author Michelle O' Leary who suggested that I should avoid publishing a sample/chapter of the story online as publishers do not like any part of a prospective book being online. I will follow this advice. Thanks very much Michelle. Check out her website at http://www.michelle-oleary.com/. And thanks very much to everyone who has had a read of this blog so far. Please leave comments and forward the link to others who you think my be interested in following my blog. Also, if you have any advice for me please leave a comment.
ps. All of the photos (bar one) on this blog are photos I've taken in the last 12 months which are related to my story. I find that they help to keep me focused on the story. The same trick may work for you too. Try to guess which of the photos I did not take. Clue: It's the photo that's actually good!
Warrior Monk
Monk, can't wait to read your book. Am currently midway through final draft of my first novel too. Exciting, tumultuous, drawn-out, invigorating - just some of the emotions we experience along the way,huh?
ReplyDeleteKeep at it man!Very exiciting!
hey monk,i did the first draft of a sci-fi novel last year, and it was just incredible how, just by barreling through the writing the plot draws itself together. Not all of it, but those big pieces that i tried to coerce into some unified sort of thing. you know?
ReplyDeleteanyway, i contacted you on twitter, but seeing as how i don't trust twitter at all, i'll comment on it here. have you ever heard of nanowrimo? Full name is national novel writing month. it's a month, 30 days, where the goal is to write 50,000 words of a novel. website is www.nanowrimo.com. and this goes out to all writers. it's a great tool to motivate oneself to write consistently, if only for one month.
keep it up, and i'm looking forward to following your progress!!
Hi Monk, Congrats on your blog and on progress with your novel. Will keep watching as you go. I'm nearly finished but as I've been saying that for months, you don't have to believe me. Finally got past my climactic scene and out the other end. Lots of re-writing to do but am excited again. Keep going; every word - even if ultimately deleted - takes you closer to 'The End'.
ReplyDeleteHey Monk - that's very interesting what you say about Michelle saying about putting your first chapter online - or not. What's the thinking behind that? (She says, worried because she's put her first chapter online!) Helen
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