Notecards!

So I’ve begun the notecarding process on Pirouette.  I’m on scene 43, page 230 of a 771-page document.  Yikers.  I’m already seeing some stuff that needs fixing, tweaking, and changing.  I’m using Holly Lisle’s HTRYN notecarding for this so I can get a handle on each scene.  There are a few that I’m cutting, and quite a few so far that need help.  I knew this would help me a great deal, so this will all be worth it.

I’ve done a rough draft of the timelines and Alisia and Lucien’s and Raelan’s (the villain) arcs.  Note I say rough draft.  These should help me with getting the timing and pacing down.

This is kind of exciting and terrifying at the same time.  I’m revising a novel.  A novel that I’ve been working on for 5 years.  And I’m learning alot of new, helpful things.  It’s a process.  I can’t wait to dig in and do more, make the book better. 

On Alpha Female, I’m up to 11k and there’s a chance it might run long (no kidding, with the way I write) but I’ve been able to keep the plot tight.  As for the plot, it’s pantsing all the way for me.  Last night – or the night before, I don’t remember — I couldn’t get to sleep right away so I brainstormed.  Been doing alot of that.  My hope is that it still fits the anthology theme.  If it doesn’t, it’s not a big deal.  I can submit it elsewhere.  But it would be good to submit it to the place I originally wanted to submit it to, right?

So lots going on, although my Inner Slave Driver seems to think I’m going to slow…..

Return of the One-Pass Revision

After much thinking and banging my head against the wall, I’ve decided to do a One-Pass Revision on Pirouette the Third.  There are still issues, and it needs an edit, and the One-Pass combines the two and was pretty helpful the first go-around.  No tweaky pass this time.  I’d like to dive in and see what I can do.  I’m also going to modify it slightly to include some of the methods in Holly Lisle’s HTRYN.  Particularly the notecarding aspect of it.  Another thing I’ll need to nail down is the main and secondary character arcs to better solidify things in my head.  I’m not sure it works quite right in this draft.  And a new blurb.

I might even try to start this while on vacation.  Thank you, Inner Slave Driver. 

As for other projects, Broken  is coming along.  It’s around 8k right now, and my muse dropped a HUGE bomb on me a few days ago about Claire.  Still puzzling that one out.  Also pantsing it almost completely, and I’m enjoying it.

With Flamebound, I’m up to lesson 8 on the HTRYN.  I also have some good ideas for the rewrite/revision/expansion.  Whatever it happens to end up being.

So with less than 2 days to go before vacation, I have A Plan.  This is a good thing.  Because for the past week or so I’ve been freaking out and mentally flailing over WHAT to do with Pirouette the Third.  Edit?  Revise?  Rewrite for the 4th time?  I’ve gotten some feedback and some of it leads me to think that I don’t — or shouldn’t — do another rewrite.  And I also have some mixed reviews on two versions of the first scene, which I need to also puzzle out.  Lots of work ahead, but it’ll be worth it.

Where art thou, Alisia?

Even though my muse was totally against returning to Pirouette the Third this soon (she says she’s not ready yet), I wrote a rough scene that may become the new opening scene.  It does everything I need it to, sets up what she’s doing, and  (I hope) doesn’t infodump alot but contains little hooks. 

But one essential thing was barely there: Alisia’s kick-ass voice.  This is the one thing that I always got compliments on (well, barring one) and I feel it’s one of the strongest parts of the book.  Alisia is the mistress of snark.  She’s prickly and outspoken and sarcastic.  And so much fun to write.  Draft 1 was such a joy to write, because she was so there on the page and it really came through.  Second draft, still there mostly.  Third, yeah.  This scenelet?  Barely there.  What the heck happened?

Too damned much distance.  It’s diluting her voice in my head, making it weaker.  I think it could be the sheer volume of stuff I’ve been working on, and typically, voices don’t merge at all.  Like, I could never write Amara the way I write Alisia, even if I’m doing both at once.  It just wouldn’t happen.  However, I suspect that being in another character’s head for an extended period (and this goes for Flamebound, too, as I’ve been reading the manuscript constantly for the revision) weakens the others’ voices.  With Amara, it’s not so bad.  But Alisia, who’s strong and needs to be bigger than life inside my head, it’s a bit of a problem.  Luckily, I can add all that in subsequent drafts, but dang.  I never believed that I ‘d ever have problems with Alisia.  But apparently, there’s a first time for everything.

I might need to write a journal entry or fictitious conversation just to bring myself up to speed.  My brain is weird sometimes.

I think 3 projects at once is about my limit.  They’re all different — one’s in revision, one’s in an edit of sorts, and the other is in draft — no confusion there, but apparently there is a limit to my brain’s abilities to handle all the stuff for each project.  And I seem to be going at snail’s pace, but that’s to be expected.

The plan for my vacay (in two weeks!) is to work on Broken mostly, but if the urge moves me, I might work on Pirouette the Third. Actually, I’m going to rename it Pirouette Tweaky Pass because it’s not a new draft and it’s not exactly an edit or revision.  I’m just tweaking stuff.  Anyhoo, I’ll work on that if I feel the urge, but it’s okay if I don’t.  The Inner Slave Driver isn’t happy with this arrangement, but as I said, my muse is firm on the whole “I’m not ready” thing for the Pirouette Tweaky Pass yet.  But hey, we’ll see.  Maybe she’ll surprise me.  Lots of surprises lately.

Muse Fail

It was slow at work, so I brainstormed some ideas on how to condense the first few scenes of Pirouette the Third.  Because, yanno, it’s at minimum 21k too long.  So my muse gave me this idea, and I thought about it most of the day.  Sat down to write it and BAM.  Stone. Walled.  I was able to eke out a pitiful 44 words (and half of that came from PR3) and then…..it just died on the vine.  Why?  I have no idea.  I haven’t been feeling 100% today, but not so much that it interferes with my writing (says the Inner Slave Driver with a crack of her famous whip) so I’m mystified.

My only guess is that the idea has to simmer a bit more.  The imagery just wouldn’t come.  Yeah, Alisia is dancing, but to what music?  Where is she (in her practice studio at home)? What is she feeling?  What are her feet doing?  Her arms?  And how am I going to introduce the ghost?  While I’m pretty good at making shit up on the fly, this one just wouldn’t happen.  Soooooo muse, you fail me.

As for Broken, I managed 275 words today.  Those were hard won.  I don’t know what it is about today.  Just can’t get into the groove.  Oh well, made my minimum (200 words) so tomorrow’s another day.

Writing theme songs

All of my projects have at least one theme song attached to them, be it the whole book or an aspect of it.  I thought it might be interesting to list what they are and why.

Pirouette – all drafts (3rd draft in progress now):
 “Space Dye Vest” by Dream Theater.  I used this as Alisia and Lucien’s main “fighting” song.  It’s sad and torturous, and it brings up all kinds of heart-wrenching images in my head.  It just seemed perfect.

“Walk in the Shadows” by Queensryche – Raelan and Alisia’s theme.  In the last third of the book, [something spoilery happens] and for a time, Alisia and Raelan (who’s the villain) are….aligned.  This song, which talks about walking on the dark side of life, giving ino the darkness, fits the feeling of those scenes perfectly.

“The Killing Words” by Queensryche – Alisia and Lucien’s theme.  Just screams tragic, love, betrayal, heartbreaking stuff.  Sniff.

Flamebound (currently in revision):
“Take Hold of the Flame” by Queensryche.  The entire story is based on the song — or rather, my interpretation of it.  So many things tie to the world and story.

Survivor (recently finished first draft):
Operation: Mindcrime by Queensryche.  Yes, the entire album.  The book pretty much wrote itself to this awesome, magnificent album.  Since alot of the themes ran parallel to my story, it was almost eerie how the entire thing seemed like a metaphor for Survivor.  Some of it, like the brainwashing and mind control, were literal.

“Eyes of a Stranger” by Queensryche (on Operation:Mindcrime) – Amber’s theme.  Amber is the main character, and as she goes through some painful, traumatic stuff, she’s kind of transformed….and thus truly has the “eyes of a stranger.”

Requiem in Blue (2007 project)
“The Hands” by Queensryche – Meredith’s theme.  Meredith, the main character, is saved by someone.  “The Hands” makes me think of that, and salvation in general.

“Suite Sister Mary” by Queensryche – Some of the story was inspired by this song.  Especially one part about two people joining together to “make it through the night.”

Broken (currently in progress):
“Broken” by Lifehouse.  Also the why of the title, at least for now.  The song talks about being broken, and Amara, the main character, and the antagonist are both broken in a sense.

“Unbreakable” by Fireflight.  New band that I just discovered.  Totally Amara’s theme.  I realize that the songs seem contradictory, but it works, I swear!

Eowyn (perc’ing project for future):
“Ordinary World” by Duran Duran.  Theme of the book.  Because we’re dealing with quantum mechanics and alternate universes, and a “home” universe, it seems appropriate.

MindBound (future project):
“Lightning Field” by the Sneaker Pimps.  I saw a video of it and HAD to have the song, even though I’m not into that type of music.  Went on a wild goose chase and finally just today got ahold of it.  It’s THAT close to what this story is to me.  It (the story) has to do with an empath and pain and brainwashing, and the song is so perfect.  First words are “Strike me down…”  Can we say perfect?  Literal or figurative, it works. 

Soulfire (The Nano That Never Was):
“Lady Strange by Def Leppard.  Liana’s theme.  She’s the main character, and she isn’t exactly human and has non-human goals and wishes and such.  She’s a bit offbeat in her own way.

“Baba O’Riley” by The Who.  Book’s theme.  Completely encapsulates the dystopic future-Earth setting and the insidious reach of the New Regime.

Hereafter (Nano ’08):
“Women” by Def Leppard.  For no other reason than it gave me some compelling images inside my head, and somehow spawned plotty things.  This one I don’t really understand, but don’t question it, either.

At the moment, that’s all I can think of.  Will add more if I remember anything.

Pirouette the Third is DONE!!!!

I actually finished it on the 27th, one month ahead of schedule.  I’m taking a mini-break over the holiday, and then I’ll start my “tweaky pass” to fix a few things before I start the actual revision.  It feels really good to be done. 

Of course, as always, there’s more work to be done.  Also, it came in at 141k, just 1k shy of the previous draft.  So I’ll be looking to make some major cuts.

I wrote up 30 plot cards on Broken, so that story is coming together.  At the moment, the plan is to work on Broken over my vacation in June.  I’m stuck on the second scene, not knowing how to get to where I want to be.  I had a few nebulous ideas, but nothing concrete.  So we’re further ahead now.  And it feels good.

Also going to continue to work on Flamebound’s revision. 

I still would like to finish the revision before I do Pirouette the Third’s revision, but we’ll have to see.  It’s taking a bit longer than I anticipated.  I might just use this time to work on it exclusively.  Maybe….we’ll see.  I’m very indecisive right now.

Oh, and for MayNo, I’m less than 500 words away from my goal.  I will make that for sure!

Getting back on track, finally.

Had a few days I lost to a personal issue that made concentrating difficult, and writing just wasn’t in the cards.  Happily, things worked out okay and I’m getting back into the swing.  I rewrote the current scene, changing where it needed to be changed and weaving in some new stuff.  I need to backtrack and rewrite the previous scene.  Currently, it’s in two pieces and needs to be combined.  In a coherent manner.  Why am I doing this?  Well, the scene didn’t feel right, the emotions all fuzzy, and it was just wrong.  I usually just know when this happens.  Something feels off.  And I can’t move on if it’s like this.  Only reason why I went to the next scene was to bring up my wordcount for MayNoWriMo.  Normally, I’d fix it and move on, but I was 2 days behind.  I’m still hoping to get my 12k.

Soooooooo that needs doing.  But yay, I’m on the last 25k of the book.  109k rewritten/revised.  I have high hopes of finishing it this month, leaving June free to take off.  Possibly.  I don’t know yet, because momentum is important. 

This little mini-break felt all wrong.  It was 2 days, but it felt like 2 months.  I don’t like stopping when I’m going strong.  But trust me when I say that I wasn’t in a very good headspace.  So, recognizing that, I backed off.  Sometimes you need to, despite what your pain in the ass Inner Slave Driver might say.

But I’m only 1 day behind now, so we’re getting there.

On the Surrender front, I’ve got the major stuff figured out.  The part that’s killing me is the main characters’ names. Because the names of the characters are being used for Darkweaver (if you recall, the plot was split) and they work for that book better, I need to come up with new names.  And with names, it has to at least feel somewhat right.  Maybe not perfect, because a few names I’ve used I came up with on the fly, and they ended up working (whereas normally I’d give it some thought first) but they have to feel okay.  Original name was Wynd.  Well, Wynd was a vampire and now she’s Fae, so she needs a different name.  Although Wynd could work because of the whole nature thing, but I need Wynd for Darkweaver.  Decisions, decisions.  I’ve been looking at Irish names.  There are some beautiful names.  Siobhan is one of them, but the pronounciation is killing me (I pronounce it See-oh-ben and the correct pronunciation is Shee-vaughn.  Does not work for me).  Alas, I can’t do anything without the name.  With the male lead, same story.  Only one that’s staying the same is Ashe, the other main character.  And that I considered for a long time.  Thought about switching them: making my Fae Ashe and the other MC something else, but Ashe is Ashe.  She’s always been Ashe from day 1.  So it stays.

So that’s been bothering me a bit.  Luckily, this one is in perc’ing stage, so there’s no rush.

MayNoWriMo

Because I’m crazy, I’ve joined MayNo this year.  Never done it before, but hey, there’s a first time for everything, right?  My goal is 12k, which is just a smidge higher than my highest wordcount all year so far (11k).  It averages to about 400 words a day.  Plan is to finish Pirouette the Third a month early if possible, and if I do finish it before the end of the month, I’ll be working on either Flamebound or Broken or both.  Also, I have some ideas on Pirouette the Third’s opening scene.  So that’s good.

I hit just under 11k for April, and a made my goal for April Fools and then doubled it, and made that too.  So I’m just rolling along.

Made my goal and then doubled it

My original April Fools goal was 5k.  Well, as of today, with one week to go in the month, I have hit 10k.  I’ve had a few really good days with Pirouette the Third.  I’m at a critical plot point, and it’s becoming a bit longer than I planned, but I’m sure I can condense it later.  Forward motion.  That’s the name of the game.

I realized today that I left something important out of the past oh, 10k or so (!!!!??).  Oddly enough, I had the same problem in draft 2, same place, too.  What is my problem?  Well, I’ve been focusing on it scene-by-scene, building as I go and focusing on just that instead of looking at the big picture.  Looking at the bigger picture is overwhelming as hell because there’s still so much to fix.  So yeah, I dropped the ball.  But fear not!  I’ll get it going right.  I may need more passes before the actual revision, but that’s okay.  I’m still on track to finish this draft by the end of June.

Hopefully sooner.

I also seem to have lost the edge of Alisia’s voice.  This is a bit distressing, but I think it has more to do with that whole scene-by-scene thing.  Still it’s something that can be fixed.

Okaaaay.  Other projects are coming along. Lesson 7 on HTRYN is almost done, thank God!  It’s a complex lesson, but helpful.  Broken is hanging there, but I haven’t stopped thinking about it.  And pieces of Eowyn are falling into place.

I also have more ideas for MindBound, book 2 in the Night Guard world.  Still looking to submit it somewhere sometime this year.  I would like to have some ideas in case they want a sequel.  They being the publisher.  I would hope so.

Yeah, so it’s all coming along.  I feel alot better, more productive, and the ISD is *gasp* pretty satisifed with my progress this week alone.  So that’s good.  It’s always good when she’s happy.

A girl named Eowyn…..

is poking me to tell her story.  I know, I know.  I’ve got 3 projects in various stages of completion, and I don’t need another one.  But the siren call of a conspiracy involving quantum mechanics and a girl who has rare magic just won’t leave me alone.  I know very little right now — just her name (and I know the Lord of the Rings connection, although I didn’t when the name just popped into my head).  I know that she’s going to be a regular person, or so she thinks, in the beginning, but then stumble onto the conspiracy and such like.  I’ll admit it: this is partially Lost’s fault.  Obviously, I won’t be copying any of the ideas in it, but it has inspired me to do something with the idea of alternate universes and maybe even time travel.  One of those, ‘here’s what could happen in one universe, and see how it affects the others’  kind of thing.  It’s still really nebulous. And it is making me crazy.

Pirouette the Third is coming along.  I’ve had to rewrite a few scenes due to getting better ideas after the fact.  The Muse seems to be a bit slow on the uptake.  I have one more scene to fix, then I’m back in business.  My goal is to finish this draft by the end of June.

Flamebound‘s revision is also coming along, a bit slow as well, but that’s okay.  Going to try to finish lesson 7 this weekend if I can so I can move on.

And finally, I have the shimmers of a possible next scene for Broken.  One thing I’ve decided: I can break a bit and work on something else a bit if it doesn’t interfere with the others.  Just to help me feel like I’m making progress and while I’ve got these ideas, it’s best to use them, right?  Right. 

So all in all, for a very lean month for new words, I think I’m doing okay. 4,561 words on April Fools as of today.  Less than 500 to my goal of 5k.