Writing a book.......

[Curubethion]

Originally Posted by Lief Erikson

Cool. That's really what I'm doing too. I wrote one fantasy series (which I'll end up having to rewrite, to get its content up to snuff) and now I'm writing backward in time to flesh out the history. The book I just finished is ancient history fleshed out. I intend to write at least one more books also that covers more of the continuum of my world's history before I reach the "present", the time period where my real epic will transpire. I have ideas for at least one. There are other ideas still in the wings of ideahood that might turn into books between the past that I'm currently writing and the present.

That's cool. Currently, my goal with writing is first to get to a big cataclysmic event in my world's history, then eventually I'm actually hoping to get it into the space age. Technology in a fantasy world has been something I've always been interested in, and this is no exception. I'm going to be trying to increase the technology level of my world as it goes along.

I want to publish!!! I'm very ambitious about that.

How many books to your world's history have you finished so far?

So far...it's just three books that occur at the same time (although, MAJOR books), another book that fleshes out a bit of history of one of those three books, and then the book I just finished, which opens up an entirely new bit of history.

And you said you're working on writing about twenty? Does that mean that you have their plotlines done and the ideas set up, or are you actually currently in the process of writing twenty simultaneously? That would be quite a job. I can't imagine trying to do that. I can't even write two simultaneously with any ease at all. If I have two going, I always revert to one until it's finished and leave the other on the backburner.

Basically, what it means is that...I've got the plot ideas down for about twenty. Yikes, I don't think I could ever write twenty at the same time! Two is the most I've ever done, and that was more of a back-and-forth thing. But yeah, I'm basically putting down plot ideas to further the Big Plot, the whole story of my world.

Writing fiction without much magic is an ambition I hope to achieve soon. Perhaps in my next book, after I finish editing the one I've recently finished. At present, I can't help but give magic a very large role. It would be neat to experiment with.

Do you find your stories more interesting with or without much magic? Or does it matter, in your opinion?

To me, it's all about the characters. If magic is there, it's only there as a device for things to happen. For example, in my latest book, I get to show how one character's messing with sorcery pretty much screws him over in the end.

That would be cool . Certainly has elbow room for spookiness, depending on how you do it. Which do you generally find to be more clever in your books, your heroes or your villains?

Yeah, I'm definitely going to get a lot of creepy stuff into that novel...and into the follow-ups to it...because...well, a reason that would pretty much spoil the ending of what I've got planned for that book.

And on the whole, my villains tend to be craftier, except towards the end. By that time, many of them have gone crazy for one reason or another, at least to some degree. It's somewhat like what Brian Jacques often does to his main villains.

[Thain Peregrin Took I]

Originally Posted by Curubethion

Thain: nice work so far!

Originally Posted by Lief

Good job, and I wish you complete success in your goals.

Thanks. I'm actually doing an outline this time (first time I've done it for a story) and it's helping me so much! I've only done part of it, but now I actually have something to go on, and it's less of making it up as I go, which I still do, but not as much. Now if only I could come up with character names, so I'll be able to fill up all those big gaps in between words...
I had considered making another book with the same characters, but I realized (or rather, MB pointed out) that it might not work out because I wouldn't have enough new material.

Ugh, I have so many books to work on. Besides my mystery, I have my fantasy series (3 books, but I've only started one so far), another mystery book, and then a few others that are just ideas now. I'm not sure how many, but I don't feel like going and searching through my room to find my plot notebook right now.

Originally Posted by Lief

Perhaps you could either write your new ideas down in another document and save them, or better yet, somehow merge them (or some of them) with your old book, perhaps with a few revisions? When a new inspiration hits it's really nice to go with it, but . . . well, I expect that writing two books at once would be really hard.

Actually, that wouldn't work very well, because they're two different genre (mystery and fantasy.) Thanks for the idea, though. I might do that for some other plot ideas.

[Lief Erikson]

Originally Posted by Curubethion

That's cool. Currently, my goal with writing is first to get to a big cataclysmic event in my world's history, then eventually I'm actually hoping to get it into the space age. Technology in a fantasy world has been something I've always been interested in, and this is no exception. I'm going to be trying to increase the technology level of my world as it goes along.

I've also been hoping to wind up my books in a science fiction age.

Originally Posted by Curubethion

So far...it's just three books that occur at the same time (although, MAJOR books), another book that fleshes out a bit of history of one of those three books, and then the book I just finished, which opens up an entirely new bit of history.

Cool . You've clearly been working for a long time on this project. I really want you to get published sometime.

Originally Posted by Curubethion

Basically, what it means is that...I've got the plot ideas down for about twenty.

Okay, that was what I originally thought you meant. Then I started overthinking what you'd written, a problem I have that sometimes makes me answer questions incorrectly on exams.

Originally Posted by Curubethion

To me, it's all about the characters. If magic is there, it's only there as a device for things to happen. For example, in my latest book, I get to show how one character's messing with sorcery pretty much screws him over in the end.

Good. That sounds right. I heard something like that from a professional writer in the publishing book I'm reading. He said that for him, plot is not about a storyline but rather about character, and everything is about character.

When I write, my style is a bit different. In my first draft of whatever I'm writing, my characters are horribly developed. The story comes out, but the characters are pathetically written. Very stereotypical, very formulaic. I realize that when I'm editing and as I'm rewriting and editing, the characters and personalities take shape. That's just my present style.

Originally Posted by Curubethion

Yeah, I'm definitely going to get a lot of creepy stuff into that novel...and into the follow-ups to it...because...well, a reason that would pretty much spoil the ending of what I've got planned for that book.

Good to keep that private then. Do your conclusions often end with big cliff-hangers, or are they pretty complete?

How many people get to read your books at present? I have a brother and sister who read my books regularly; they're my only audience unless I'm abnormally lucky.

Originally Posted by Curubethion

And on the whole, my villains tend to be craftier, except towards the end.

That's how I've always written before this book. My villains, or one of my villains, anyway, have always been much more intelligent than the heroes. The heroes somewhat get lucky because of inner fracturing between various villains, which has helped them out. In my most recent book, I've reversed that to a degree, though. Well . . . have I? *Starts thinking about it.* I guess that it's debatable as to who's smarter in my books, the two main good heroes or the major villain. Both the major villain and the heroes are very clever and tough. I think probably the villain is still smarter though.

Originally Posted by Curubethion

By that time, many of them have gone crazy for one reason or another, at least to some degree. It's somewhat like what Brian Jacques often does to his main villains.

I see. That's interesting. I haven't written that way before . . . in my books only good guys go mad . . . but that can turn out very well done, I know. Brian Jaques has done it very well, though I do wish he'd add a bit more variety and make them go mad a little less frequently .

[Lief Erikson]

Originally Posted by Thain Peregrin Took I

Thanks. I'm actually doing an outline this time (first time I've done it for a story) and it's helping me so much!

Good . That used to be one of the primary pieces of advice I'd give other people: Write out a plotline, an detailed is better! Now I can't do that myself anymore because my style of writing has alterred. Which isn't worse for me. It's just different. But anyway, I know that those outlines can really, really help.

Originally Posted by Thain Peregrin Took I

I've only done part of it, but now I actually have something to go on, and it's less of making it up as I go, which I still do, but not as much. Now if only I could come up with character names, so I'll be able to fill up all those big gaps in between words...

You could find English words that relate to the main theme of your character and his or her role in the book, or which reveal the character's personality, and then scramble them or write them backwards. Or you could find words from another language, if you have a dictionary to another language, and choose a word for your character's name that comes from the other language and relates to the theme of your character. That's what I'm planning to do in future books.

Originally Posted by Thain Peregrin Took I

Actually, that wouldn't work very well, because they're two different genre (mystery and fantasy.) Thanks for the idea, though. I might do that for some other plot ideas.

Well, the fantasy genre is about a certain variety of "technology" (for want of a better word). Fantasy is about environment (perhaps dragons, castles or other) and a form of technology (magic). You can have a mystery in a fantasy environment. That's easy.

Merely a suggestion.

[Thain Peregrin Took I]

Originally Posted by Lief

You could find English words that relate to the main theme of your character and his or her role in the book, or which reveal the character's personality, and then scramble them or write them backwards. Or you could find words from another language, if you have a dictionary to another language, and choose a word for your character's name that comes from the other language and relates to the theme of your character. That's what I'm planning to do in future books.

I might do that for my fantasy. But for my mystery, I'm thinking of doing more "normal" names. At least for the first name. I could use your suggestion for the last names, because I like having unique last names, or at least first and last names that sound good together. I don't know, but to me, some first names sound better with some last names.

You can have a mystery in a fantasy environment. That's easy.

Actually, I am doing a mystery/fantasy, but for the two particular stories that I was talking about, it wouldn't have worked. Anyway, I've already written four chapters of my mystery, and I'm on my second or third for my fantasy (after some necessary starting over because of a huge plot change), so I think I want to keep them as two separate books. I already have the plots for both of them, so I don't want to have to start over again, if you know what I mean.

[Curubethion]

Originally Posted by Lief Erikson

I've also been hoping to wind up my books in a science fiction age.

That's awesome. [wierd voice]Aaaarchok in Spaaaace![/wierd voice]

Cool . You've clearly been working for a long time on this project. I really want you to get published sometime.

Hey, thanks...and ditto! I know all of the work that went into Atharon, and I can only imagine how much work you put into your novels.

Okay, that was what I originally thought you meant. Then I started overthinking what you'd written, a problem I have that sometimes makes me answer questions incorrectly on exams.

Haha, you're telling me! Run into that one all the time, overthinking. Ah, must be a curse of being brilliant.

Good. That sounds right. I heard something like that from a professional writer in the publishing book I'm reading. He said that for him, plot is not about a storyline but rather about character, and everything is about character.

When I write, my style is a bit different. In my first draft of whatever I'm writing, my characters are horribly developed. The story comes out, but the characters are pathetically written. Very stereotypical, very formulaic. I realize that when I'm editing and as I'm rewriting and editing, the characters and personalities take shape. That's just my present style.

Interesting thought. Very interesting.

Good to keep that private then. Do your conclusions often end with big cliff-hangers, or are they pretty complete?

My conclusions are...mostly complete, unless it's like Part 1 of a trilogy. In that case, I leave a cliffhanger or two.

How many people get to read your books at present? I have a brother and sister who read my books regularly; they're my only audience unless I'm abnormally lucky.

Well...I've had two good friends who've read some of the opening chapters of my book, and they've both read another one of my books. I've also had a parent read through a couple of my books...yeah, not a wide audience. I really should find some actual authors to do that.

That's how I've always written before this book. My villains, or one of my villains, anyway, have always been much more intelligent than the heroes. The heroes somewhat get lucky because of inner fracturing between various villains, which has helped them out. In my most recent book, I've reversed that to a degree, though. Well . . . have I? *Starts thinking about it.* I guess that it's debatable as to who's smarter in my books, the two main good heroes or the major villain. Both the major villain and the heroes are very clever and tough. I think probably the villain is still smarter though.

You know, I think that's something of a typical preference among a lot of books, especially fantasy. The exception would be where the good guy has to use cunning to outwit the bad guy. But typically, there's a lot of "luckiness"...and fracturing between different factions also helps. I had a bit of that in my most recent book, where all the bad guys had different goals, so they ended up colliding and stuff like that.

I see. That's interesting. I haven't written that way before . . . in my books only good guys go mad . . . but that can turn out very well done, I know. Brian Jaques has done it very well, though I do wish he'd add a bit more variety and make them go mad a little less frequently .

Hmm...good guys go mad. I did that in one book, kinda. My guy went into a mad bloodrage or something of the sort. Interesting thought, though. I'll have to have a look at it.

Haha, and yes, I think you can summarize every Redwall book as follows...
Bad guy shows up
Hero goes to find something to save the Abbey
Hero finds the something
Bad guy goes crazy
Hero duels and beats bad guy

Originally Posted by Thain Peregrin Took I

I might do that for my fantasy. But for my mystery, I'm thinking of doing more "normal" names. At least for the first name. I could use your suggestion for the last names, because I like having unique last names, or at least first and last names that sound good together. I don't know, but to me, some first names sound better with some last names.

Hmm, yes. Just be sure to find "normal names" that don't sound out of place. Like an orc named Bob.

Actually, I am doing a mystery/fantasy, but for the two particular stories that I was talking about, it wouldn't have worked. Anyway, I've already written four chapters of my mystery, and I'm on my second or third for my fantasy (after some necessary starting over because of a huge plot change), so I think I want to keep them as two separate books. I already have the plots for both of them, so I don't want to have to start over again, if you know what I mean.

Well, good luck!

[Meriadoc Brandybuck]

My problem isn't finishing the book, like some people (not that I've finished anything yet), but figuring out how to start the gosh darn thing. And as for names, they just come to me. Except for fantasy. Those names need to be extra special.

[Curubethion]

Ah, starting the book...that is a challenge. An interesting opening scene is always the best way to do things. Think of a major event that happens soon at the beginning of your intended plot, and jump into it.

[Lief Erikson]

That is very good advice. A strong opening and a continually fast pace to the story is essential to hold and grip the reader.

Originally Posted by Thain

I might do that for my fantasy. But for my mystery, I'm thinking of doing more "normal" names.

That's a good idea. If it's a real-life, normal environment, that's definitely the way to go. Even in an odd fantasy style environment that might work too. Depends how it's done.

Originally Posted by Thain

Actually, I am doing a mystery/fantasy, but for the two particular stories that I was talking about, it wouldn't have worked. Anyway, I've already written four chapters of my mystery, and I'm on my second or third for my fantasy (after some necessary starting over because of a huge plot change), so I think I want to keep them as two separate books. I already have the plots for both of them, so I don't want to have to start over again, if you know what I mean.

Oh, I see. Well, best of luck with it .

Originally Posted by Curubethion

That's awesome. [wierd voice]Aaaarchok in Spaaaace![/wierd voice]

Lol.

Originally Posted by Curubethion

Haha, you're telling me! Run into that one all the time, overthinking. Ah, must be a curse of being brilliant.

Lol!

Originally Posted by Curubethion

My conclusions are...mostly complete, unless it's like Part 1 of a trilogy. In that case, I leave a cliffhanger or two.

It's good that they're mostly complete. I personally like good cliff hangers, but a lot of people like to be able to read a single, unified book that stands alone. It's easier to publish that way, I'd imagine.

Originally Posted by Curubethion

Well...I've had two good friends who've read some of the opening chapters of my book, and they've both read another one of my books. I've also had a parent read through a couple of my books...yeah, not a wide audience. I really should find some actual authors to do that.

I wish I could do that. Not knowing how to drive doesn't help. I'm in the process of learning that . . . don't have my licence yet.

Originally Posted by Curubethion

You know, I think that's something of a typical preference among a lot of books, especially fantasy. The exception would be where the good guy has to use cunning to outwit the bad guy. But typically, there's a lot of "luckiness"...and fracturing between different factions also helps. I had a bit of that in my most recent book, where all the bad guys had different goals, so they ended up colliding and stuff like that.

I hate luck in books or movies. To me, there should be a logical explanation, and if there isn't, . There are authors who can use luck in skillful ways. I know of one author who I think uses luck in such a way that it seems realistic. And of course aside from him, J.R.R. Tolkien's use of luck involving Biblo in the Hobbit is very amusing . But almost every time I've seen luck used, it's used as a cop-out technique to get the good guys out of a nasty situation. If the characters can't fight or think their way through it on talent, they shouldn't get out of it. Unless there's a plot circumstance which is logical and comes in to help them, of course.

I really like everything having logical explanations.

I find fracturing between evil factions to commonly be logical, because bad people are often self-oriented and focused not only on the advancement of their group but also upon their own personal advancement within the group. So that kind of luck that helps the good guys might be "lucky" from their perspective, but it actually makes a good deal of sense too. So that I can live with. But I really want to use skill or intelligence on the part of the good characters to get them their primary successes. That's by far the most interesting to me.

Originally Posted by Curubethion

Hmm...good guys go mad. I did that in one book, kinda. My guy went into a mad bloodrage or something of the sort. Interesting thought, though. I'll have to have a look at it.

Bloodrages are common enough in fantasy writing. That's because they can be very cool .

Originally Posted by Curubethion

Haha, and yes, I think you can summarize every Redwall book as follows...
Bad guy shows up
Hero goes to find something to save the Abbey
Hero finds the something
Bad guy goes crazy
Hero duels and beats bad guy

Yep, that's about it. There are a couple of the books that have slightly different things in them. I like Swartt Six-Claw a lot, for instance. He seemed to me a fairly unusual bad guy for Brian Jaques. I don't remember why anymore, because I remember neither him nor the book he was in. And there was one book . . . I think about a badger . . . which I also particularly liked. It's been a long time since I've read any of Brian Jaques' books.

[Thain Peregrin Took I]

Originally Posted by Curubethion

Hmm, yes. Just be sure to find "normal names" that don't sound out of place. Like an orc named Bob.

It wouldn't be like that, because I was talking about my other mystery, the one that could actually possibly take place, not my fantasy one.

Actually, I was re-reading what I've written of my mystery just for fun, and I noticed some things that need fixing, but I don't want to erase what I wrote, becuase that would mean a lot of re-writing, so I'll probably just attach some stick notes that contain the edits.

[Acalewia]

Originally Posted by Lief Erikson

Good show! Are you editing as you type?

Oh yes. I came up with three new races as I was editing the first book and writing the second.

How many people get to read your books at present? I have a brother and sister who read my books regularly; they're my only audience unless I'm abnormally lucky.

Sounds like me. So far only one person has read any of my stuff is my friend that I'm writing the Fantasy comedy with. But I've got quite a few people waiting for me to publish.

And yeah I know this was directed at Curub, but I answered it anyway

[strider8]

If anybody wants me to read their books (or extracts) just Pm them to me.

[trolls' bane]

Well, looks like I've just made yet another conscious decision to rewrite ZAQ-1 almost completely. Not to say it's bad, but basically I need to triple the length of everything I've written so far, and add some crazy Bradbury-like descriptions.

[Nurvingiel]

TB I think it's a sign of quality that you're re-writing your book. More power to ya.

Thain, if you are stuck on names you could try using "working" names. I do this so I can just keep writing. Call your main character Bob or whatever until you think of the name that really fits him, so at least you don't have sentences like, "Then out of nowhere ____ tackled ____ from behind; needless to say ____ was surprised."

[Acalewia]

I used a working name in one story. I named a character after a mooter. The name stuck and I'm still using it

[Curubethion]

The question being...which mooter would this be? (Or did I miss an obvious subtlety?)

[trolls' bane]

Originally Posted by Acalewia

I used a working name in one story. I named a character after a mooter. The name stuck and I'm still using it

Who? Who!?

[Earniel]

Hahah, now you've done it, Acalewia! Now all you have to say is that they have to buy the book to find out and you've got your first sales.

[trolls' bane]

Originally Posted by Eärniel

Hahah, now you've done it, Acalewia! Now all you have to say is that they have to buy the book to find out and you've got your first sales.

Haha!

[Curubethion]

Pff, I'll just go to Borders and read it until I find out!