The novel has got to 60,000 words or thereabouts. So its still pretty short. I'm not sure if the bothers me or not - Something tells me 100k would be somehow better, but it can't be right to force another 40,000 word in there can it? I mean, surely anything I add is going to read like I just added words - slowing everything down.
But that's currently a problem for another day anyway. I've just finished an edit - the forth? I've lost count a bit. I'm pretty happy with it now for the most part, except for bit slab of exposition in the middle that needs to shape up or ship out.
So now I need another way to see the work in a different light, so it's going to get its first printing, in double spaced 12 font, so that it can be scribbled on when I'm on the train.
Monday 27 August 2012
Wednesday 25 July 2012
Reading books in a pub
An extract from the story I'm working on...
I headed back into the centre of town carrying my purchases in two white plastic carrier bags, and as my flat would be so quiet I decided to stop in a pub I'd been in a couple of times where I could sit in a dark corner and study my purchases alone without actually being, you know, alone.
So with a pint of local ale I opened the bags. I went for the small black book first as I was intrigued by what the book seller had said. It was called 'The Wympyr' and had been published only a few years ago, purporting to be a new English translation of a 17th century Polish book. It seemed like exactly the same type of folk tale I'd read a thousand of in the last few months except that the villain of the piece was a vampire rather than a werewolf. Then I got to an intriguing bit about the genesis of the beast.
According to this book, killing a werewolf whilst in human form, regardless of the method used would allow the Demon side to take control of the corpse - effectively freeing it, and ensuring that it could roam free every night of the year. It would no longer be able to take the form of the large hairy beast, but it would be no less terrible for that.
The pub was a comfortable warm place of polished oak panels with brass hardware, red and blue paisley patterned carpet that was worn-in but not worn-out. The chairs and stools were topped in a red velour and the afternoon sun illuminated everything with a warm glow through the etched glass of the windows.
The barmaid came to greet me as I walked back to the bar. 'Another pint of the Sussex Large please.' I asked.
'I am sorry, it is off.' her English was fine but her accent placed her as being from Eastern Europe, somewhere. 'The barrel is being changed. Can I get you something else?' The staff in there all wore the same uniform; blue jeans and a dark blue branded polo shirt. It looked good on her.
'Oh, if it's being changed, I can wait thanks.' I smiled.
'Yes, I will bring it to you.' she smiled too.
I returned to my table and within a few minutes was completely engrossed in my books again, all of them open at various points and spread across the table, comparing apparent eye-witness accounts of the beasts mostly between the 16th and 18th century.
I found a woodcut reprinted in one of the books that looked uncannily like the beast I saw on that mountain-top; thick in the chest, long powerful forearms that ended in hand-like paws with long claws - it stood on its hind legs, one rear paw on an eviscerated victim - another victim held aloft so that the man's blood ran over the thing’s short muzzle into its mouth. I thought the artist must have seen a beast the same as I had - it really was too similar to be a coincidence.
'Vulkodlak.' The barmaid said leaning over the engraving for a better look.
‘Sorry?’ I asked.
She smiled. 'That is how we say in Serbia. Vulkodlak. In English you say... Vampire I think. No?'
'Werewolf.' I said.
'Yes. Werewolf, Vampire. Same thing.' She nodded as if she'd been a great help to me, smiled a dazzling smile and then returned to the bar, leaving my fresh pint for me.
So with a pint of local ale I opened the bags. I went for the small black book first as I was intrigued by what the book seller had said. It was called 'The Wympyr' and had been published only a few years ago, purporting to be a new English translation of a 17th century Polish book. It seemed like exactly the same type of folk tale I'd read a thousand of in the last few months except that the villain of the piece was a vampire rather than a werewolf. Then I got to an intriguing bit about the genesis of the beast.
According to this book, killing a werewolf whilst in human form, regardless of the method used would allow the Demon side to take control of the corpse - effectively freeing it, and ensuring that it could roam free every night of the year. It would no longer be able to take the form of the large hairy beast, but it would be no less terrible for that.
The pub was a comfortable warm place of polished oak panels with brass hardware, red and blue paisley patterned carpet that was worn-in but not worn-out. The chairs and stools were topped in a red velour and the afternoon sun illuminated everything with a warm glow through the etched glass of the windows.
The barmaid came to greet me as I walked back to the bar. 'Another pint of the Sussex Large please.' I asked.
'I am sorry, it is off.' her English was fine but her accent placed her as being from Eastern Europe, somewhere. 'The barrel is being changed. Can I get you something else?' The staff in there all wore the same uniform; blue jeans and a dark blue branded polo shirt. It looked good on her.
'Oh, if it's being changed, I can wait thanks.' I smiled.
'Yes, I will bring it to you.' she smiled too.
I returned to my table and within a few minutes was completely engrossed in my books again, all of them open at various points and spread across the table, comparing apparent eye-witness accounts of the beasts mostly between the 16th and 18th century.
I found a woodcut reprinted in one of the books that looked uncannily like the beast I saw on that mountain-top; thick in the chest, long powerful forearms that ended in hand-like paws with long claws - it stood on its hind legs, one rear paw on an eviscerated victim - another victim held aloft so that the man's blood ran over the thing’s short muzzle into its mouth. I thought the artist must have seen a beast the same as I had - it really was too similar to be a coincidence.
'Vulkodlak.' The barmaid said leaning over the engraving for a better look.
‘Sorry?’ I asked.
She smiled. 'That is how we say in Serbia. Vulkodlak. In English you say... Vampire I think. No?'
'Werewolf.' I said.
'Yes. Werewolf, Vampire. Same thing.' She nodded as if she'd been a great help to me, smiled a dazzling smile and then returned to the bar, leaving my fresh pint for me.
Thursday 22 March 2012
Going from Notebook to PC
Following all good advice, I put aside the first draft of my novel when it was complete at the end of November '11.
In late December I looked around for a suitable novel text editor, and on the advice of the lovely David Hewson I chose Scrivener from Literature and Latte. It's brilliant. I should probably stress that David's advice wasn't actually addressed specifically to me - although I have met hit a few times and he really is very nice.
So having gotten Scrivener set up I dug out my notebook again in January and started the process of getting the novel typed up. This is NOT a simple process of just typing the words - this is a complete re-write of the story, which is useful given that I now know what happens!
But progress is slow, especially as it has to be fitted around a full time job. But here we are on 22 March and I've just passed the 20,000 word mark. I'm guessing that this is about a third done, and then I get to start properly editing it and generally making it all make sense.
And the really good news? I don't actually hate it yet.
In late December I looked around for a suitable novel text editor, and on the advice of the lovely David Hewson I chose Scrivener from Literature and Latte. It's brilliant. I should probably stress that David's advice wasn't actually addressed specifically to me - although I have met hit a few times and he really is very nice.
So having gotten Scrivener set up I dug out my notebook again in January and started the process of getting the novel typed up. This is NOT a simple process of just typing the words - this is a complete re-write of the story, which is useful given that I now know what happens!
But progress is slow, especially as it has to be fitted around a full time job. But here we are on 22 March and I've just passed the 20,000 word mark. I'm guessing that this is about a third done, and then I get to start properly editing it and generally making it all make sense.
And the really good news? I don't actually hate it yet.
NaNoWriMo 2011
I know this looks like a late post - but it originally appeared over on Walking on London when I should have put it here...
I've spent the month of November carrying this notebook and pen pretty much everywhere with me. I've been taking part in NaNoWriMo - the National Novel Writing Month - the point of which is to write a complete new novel of at least 50,000 words during the month. Obviously that means a first draft, not something of publishable quality.
It's been interesting. Some days it was really easy to hit the average 1,667 words needed, on others I tried, but missed that target, on still more I didn't even try because something more interesting had been happeneing.
What I can say now is that I have written a novel?
This is something that I have tried to do before. I have the first third, or maybe half of a novel that I tried to write after my creative writing course in 2009. It stalled on a difficult scene and stayed stalled because I had no real incentive to go on. I also have the opening of two or three other things that I've wanted to do none of which have made past the first few pages, or have expanded beyong the initial short story. Why? No real incentive to go on.
So, when I saw this challenge to write a novel in a month, a whopping 50,000 words, I went for it.
And it worked. The novel is finished. I expect it will get much bigger in the second draft and then smaller again as I tidy it up - I'll be aiming for something around the 80,000 word mark, the traditional 300 page target - I really don't agree with the whole 700 page novel nonsense - a book should be 300 pages, a song 3 minutes, a movie 90 minutes.
There can be exceptions to this rule of course - but I'm not exceptional. My book will be 300 pages, like the songs I used to write were 3 minutes and if I ever make a movies it will be 90 minutes.
Oh - and did I actually make the 50,000?
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