Behind locked doors -- from draft five to draft six.

Do not get me wrong. I have gone through this book more than five or six times. But when I finished what I now call my first draft, I decided to create a full pdf, and have the whole thing shipped to me. From that date forward, each consecutive draft has been shipped to me, and I have a personal collection of five draft book copies. I'm now working on the sixth one. Thank you, printtopress.com for the fantastic and speedy services.

photo by Myxi	via PhotoRee

These draft copies are clean and unseen by anyone but me still! They are books themselves, each consective edition is a little more polished and unique in it's own way. This whole writing is re-writing thing? It's true, it is. But let's talk specifics. What the hell have I been doing?

"He had a heart as big as one of Mae West's hips." -- Raymond Chanlder

Draft six! Or maybe not so much. I decided on this draft that my shorter sentences, though very prolific and beautiful throughout the entire book, ala my inspiration from Raymond Chandler,

photo by dumbeast	via PhotoRee

were slightly unnecessary and overused. Indeed, it was almost stumbling me up some, so I have decided to go with a strategy a little more anti-modern and mixed. After all, this is sci-fi, not detective fiction.

That's the long and short of it.

The other thing I did was managed the adverbs in a way which makes the book sing rather than put you to sleep, hopefully. Instead of explaining how this is done, I'll show you the video I made. This was my first attempt at a Hitler parody video, so I hope you enjoy it.

75k and book is done! How about some editing?

All finished with the book! It was 75,000 words and 25 chapters in the end. Now the editing has started and it has been insane. I've had a lot of interesting moments. Lot's of grammar rules I did not know. I am learning to edit and it's like learning to write again. Anyways, if anyone wants me to talk about my editing more, please leave messages in the comment section. Otherwise, I may not know anyone is interested.

Possible topics might be...

Biggest grammar mistake propagated over 75,000 words.
Most difficult part about rewording sentences.
Sources for help and resources.
How much time and effort does editing take.

Any of those topics I can see writing 700 words or so on. So just leave some comments. Or talk about whatever you want.

If not, maybe I'll be back next Friday for another semi-annoying purposeful blog.

Just read a great Stephen King quote--

"If you finish editing and barely have any marks on your page, you aren't working hard enough"
-Stephan King

Chapter 25 - The End

Books finished! I'm at nearly 75k and I am proud to say, I'm done.

photo by Cremo	via PhotoRee

I'll be writing in some prologues and possibly some character, and scene descriptions which I failed on first pass. But the book seems done now. Now for the editing. There really isn't any point in prolonging the climactic scene any further. It was very epic and satisfying.

I may continue a weekly blog to talk about editing.

How does Friday sound?

Chapter 24 - Avoiding the Shaft

Well, we are nearing the finale of the book. It's been fun. There are now less than 7.5k words remaining. It was my intention to have a long and fantastic ending, but of course a random and possibly interesting thought occurred to me. Once again the book feels like it just wants to swing right back in the favor of our heros. I need to choreograph this ending so that it ends at 80k, but at the same time I don't know what to do. I don't want them to get stuck in an elevator shaft, and have to traverse the cables. That always happens. I want something unique, fun and interesting.

photo by Rev. Xanatos Satanicos Bombasticos (ClintJCL)	via PhotoRee

So once again the white board is in effect. It's a beautiful thing when ideas come together. And I am already seeing some crazy ideas for the finale. In the world of copyrighted metaphors-- the white board is the Lightsaber, the Deathly Hallow Wand, or the Arrow of Apollo. It is the one thing that will take an idea of a magnitude of 1 and turn it into a magnitude of 10. So I've drawn something, and I will draw a bit more to see how this goes throughout the day.

Chapter 24 or 25 tomorrow good friends!

Chapter 24 - Writing groups

I went to another writing group last night. This is a group where we read our work out loud. Interesting. I find it odd to be reading what I wrote out loud. The entire purpose of me writing it is so that others will read it. Reading it myself seems to almost spoil the point. And I do not always favor the sound of my own voice. Luckily I know better than to attempt the voice of my characters. I'm not a talented actor and could easily embarrass myself that way. One of the many traps I must avoid.

photo by Stuck in Customs	via PhotoRee

But the reading went well. My first chapter has seen so many revisions. Being the first thing I wrote has its disadvantages. Mainly being it was probably written to be felt and understood, rather than read. In other words, I've improved a great deal and it's actually quite difficult to transfer what I have learned retroactively to the first chapters I wrote. Luckily I have been learning by leaps and bounds since I started this adventure, so I think what I have now is at least much more readable. Can't wait for you all to experience this. Or throw it back in my face if that's the order of the day. We shall see.

Chapter 24 continues tomorrow.
Four or Five days of writing left. Then my Twitter will no longer be slave to these whims,
this fun and whimsical journey which is a baron wasteland for comments.

Chapter 23 - Who's driving this flying umbrella?

So as I was writing the end of chapter 23, I noticed a pattern. Though I told myself the story would slowly be coming to a close, the end was quickly getting blown wide open. Stakes were rising. Tension continued to build. People were in greater, and even greater danger than I had ever expected. And as I finished chapter 23, in the exactly place I wanted to be, I noticed that my characters were also in the exact opposite place that they wanted to be. It ended in a cliffhanger. Hell, if it ended now, this book would be a tragedy. Alas there are 10k more words to write. It is not over till it's over.

So in the words of Little John from that famous Robin Hood cartoon Disney movie long ago, I dare ask, "Who's driving this flying umbrella?"

photo by naturalturn	via PhotoRee

Chapter 24 continues tomorrow.

Chapter 23 starts. A roller-coaster!

So I guess this happens with every artistic endeavour at one point or another. It ceases to be an uphill battle, and becomes just a little too fun and exciting. So I am of course, as predicted, exactly where I thought I would be. I've written 2.1k today to bring the total ever closer to that 70k mark. The 80k mark will probably come too soon after that. And the experience is that much more like a roller-coaster. In good faith, I'm limiting myself to 2k per day when I feel like I could just ride the rush to the bottom. Then look at the photo being sold to me for $9. Did I really make that face?

photo by Victor Alves	via PhotoRee

Next time I'm gonna flash my man boobs. Ok. I don't have man boobs. But, seriously, that's the world we live in. If I'm gonna have the photo that goes viral on the internet because I stuck my tongue in someone's ear or mooned the camera, I need to think about this. Seriously.

No, really.

:P

Tomorrow chapter 23 continues.

Chapter 22 done. Spilling the beans!

Well, I guess I can say a few things about what I've been doing writing short bursting chapters for the past six posts. It was a planned out saga of six chapters, which was extremely intense and took a lot of planning. I'm proud to say, 'That that part is finished!' It is time to wrap up the remaining parts of the book. I have one or two surprises planned, but 15k words remain which are completely and totally unknown to me. Well. Now that I have spilled the beans on the six part saga, I am not willing to say much more except that it has been fun. The most important thing is always how it is received when it is read by you, so I'll be careful not to drop any spoilers.

Tomorrow the journey continues.

Chapter 12 continues! "Optional comma, or comma be damned!"

Wrote 1800 words today, bringing my total to just under 48k. Which means, of course, a 50k mark for this month is an option I'll be exploring tomorrow. I started writing on may 5th, so it's been a consistent 2k per day any way I look at it.

Other time spent has not been slouching around. I've really been working my printer on double time. I printed chapter 5, 3 separate times today. Each time I found many, many errors. So it's been quite an expedition into the world of "craft".

Other duties included, but not limited to, researching the comma again. I guess it's the occasional "optional" comma which I am wondering about. In the end those sentences will likely be rewritten just to avoid common confusion.

Chapter 21 - Avoiding the rush.

Hit 64k words today. I am certainly enjoying this last part of the journey. The pieces of the puzzle are all coming together. There is a rush of emotion when I see my characters and plots coming together as I had hoped. But this is always when I have to stop, and be most careful. It's all too easy to make mistakes. The best choices and ideas always come with careful planning. I want to approach the material with an eye as skeptic as anyone's.


Tomorrow the journey continues.

Chapter 20... +1 for discovery and exploration.

All the way in chapter 20 now, and I'm still breaking new ground, and silently raising the stakes further. I wrote 1250 words, which had some serious emotionally charged undertones. Dropped a few bombs I did not expect to want to drop, and one or two I didn't even know existed. This is the most seamlessly interesting twist I have written! Plus one for discovery and exploration! My strategy is to write in the repercussions over the next few chapters, as we continue to explore the galaxy at large.

Tomorrow, Chapter 21. Onward and upward. Or in French-- Avant!

Ok, no French in this book, but that certainly makes a good tag line.

Chapter 19 continues, another 1k in the bag.

Wrote some amazing stuff today. Despite being sick, and calling it an 'editing day'-- I suddenly broke out and wrote 1k into chapter 19. I'm in a really good spot of the book. I have a lot of great things to write about in the following less than 20k words. Chapter 14 really took the cake, being the second big climax of the book. So I'm still building up, and threading the story for the next climax. It should come quicker, and faster then before, so I'm trying to do the work to make it work and be surprising. Yes. Surprising. The trick is not putting too much on the plate at once, but slowly piling it all on.

Chapter 20 tomorrow.

Chapter 18 today finished

Turned out to be a chapter just over 1k in word length. It is on these days that I must do double work on editing, because I certainly need it. One thousand words is also good because it means less words to edit.

Chapter 19 tomorrow.

Chapter 17 done today. Less is more!

Finished (and started) chapter 17 today.

My new philosophy for these coming chapters is to create more chapters with less words. This will end the book at maybe 25-27 chapters. These short chapter bursts will hopefully let me write the last 20k words carefully. I am cutting back from 2k words (per day), to write the chapters in short 1k bursts. I will then write an additional 500-750 words on the chapter, to squeeze out whatever flavor or interests me most about those scenes, as the book draws closer to the dramatic conclusion. So in essence, they will be roughly 2k chapters for a while. I'm hoping this will give the last chapters symmetry, and a poetic feel.

Chapter 18 tomorrow!

Chapter 16 Rumble in the Jungle, or Opera Enchilada

Just polished off 1500 words in chapter 16. By polish off, I mean I immediately went back and edited what I wrote, while I was fresh off of finishing.

I am super excited for these last few chapters. Without spilling the beans, it's a totally revolutionary experience. If the first 55k words were a rumble in the jungle, this last part is a opera enchilada. Just kidding.

Anyways, can't wait to continue this story tomorrow. Kind of feeling like continuing to edit chapter 8's words. I really have to go back. I have been learning the ropes this whole time, and I feel like a lot of my words have been rushed, and lack polish.

Chapter 16 continues tomorrow!

Chapter 14 finished, Chapter 15 on the board

Finally finished chapter 14. Even as a short chapter, it was quite a challenge due to the complications of losing it at one point. I'm proud to say, I've trashed the outline. In the end it was too vague, and I needed more diversity. I'm back to using the whiteboard with some seriously awesome stuff on there already. Though the outline still exists, it's more in my head, with the world wide open for the ending.

Very excited to share this work with people. Tomorrow is another day. Also, thinking of doing shorter more interesting chapters so that the last 10 end with a bang, at 80k words. We'll see how it goes.

Chapter 14 again, writing is re-writing, when you delete a chapter accidentally

Not sure how this happened, since I was a programmer at one point. But I deleted chapter 14 yesterday when moving from writing at my moms, to my apartment in Camarillo. Luckily, it's just a first draft. Still, I often have unique thoughts which come to me while I'm writing a rough draft, and its tough to lose touch with those.

The rewrite, as it were, ended up being slightly watered down version of the same scene. That's what I'm guessing, but I don't know. Maybe it's better!

Tomorrow, I'll be pushing to close out chapter 14.

Chapter 14 begins. Writing is rewriting? Writing is not magic.

Wrote another 2k today, fantastic writing day. But I keep hearing this one saying. It seems to be popular among writers.

"Writing is rewriting"

As magical as my writing may seem to me at times, I know, in the end, it is hard work, not magic, that will make it readable.

So I have a new saying.

"Writing is not magic."

If you get tired of someone telling you writing is rewriting, tell them about this new saying. Who knows? Maybe it will become popular. It certainly makes more sense then saying "Writing is rewriting", which seems to suggest that writing is not magical. It is, but its just not magic.

Magic is magic. Writing is writing. Rewriting is rewriting.

So says the 32 year old guy who has been doing this for a month.

Chapter 13 continues. Inspiration. Homages : A Necessary Evil.

Chapter 13 continued today. Yesterday, I was in transit, not able to add much to the word total. About 300 words. Today was business as usual. Well, almost.

Today I'm in South Redondo Beach, at my mom's place. It's a huge change in environment, which forces me to look at things a bit differently.

For one, I've been working on small homages, very slight, to real things. Some of which were common to both my home town in Redondo, and place where I'm going to college, Camarillo. Homages really are the necessary evil of writing. Some people like them, others are confused by them, but for a writer it's the brass that writes the checks.

So, once again, I find myself heavily steeped in one particular homage or another. It's been quite reflective.

Shazam! Chapter 13 breaks 50k!

Well, I did it, 50k for the month. Squeezing out 2.2k today, to bring it to 50k for the month of May.

This really is a master work I'm producing. I don't feel it can get any better and I can't wait for people to read it.

Obviously there are some grammar issues, and I have 30k more words to write. There will certainly be rewrites for filling in gaps, such as detailing scenes and characters. Paying more attention to sentence structure, and scene flow possibly. But everything I want to be in the story is either there or it's going to be written in during the following 30k words.

Exciting. The real test though, will be the reception it gets from you guys.

Chapter 13 continues tomorrow!

Chapter 12 starts. Still raising the stakes!

I guess it's good when you get to the final chapters, and you are still raising the stakes in your novel. I just find that every time I plan a scene, I end up raising the stakes sometime during the scene, so that the characters are just a bit worse off than I thought they would be.

So far it's working. I guess it's my instincts taking over. I go into a scene thinking, well, this isn't gonna be good. And come out thinking, wow, this just got 10X worse! After being on an outline for 2 chapters, I am really seeing how unnecessary (and yet extremely valuable!) an outline can be.

For instance, let's say you want your main character to go into a bar, get into a fight, and come out friends with the guy afterwords, to start an old western posse.

Your character goes into the bar, and gets into the fight. But he winds up dismembering the opponent. Well, now he has a partner, with no hand! It doesn't stop there, he dies from an infection. The two remain friends, but his partner is now a ghost! Anyways, I would avoid such inventions, but it is a good example of how writing can lead to things you would not have thought possible.


Chapter 12 continues tomorrow!

Chapter 11 continues - getting through edits, and working on the craft

The novel continues to grow in size. I spaced it out and calculated. The next 9 chapters must average 4k to hit 80k, at 43k right now.

It was a big deal. I went to target and picked up a printer for 29.99, so that I can print up my work, share it, and even edit it with an actual pen while lying in bed. No, I'm not lying down on the job. I only want to get as many edits as I can in before showing it to people.

Continuity still seems to be the scariest issue. I'm finding myself having to go back a bit, and add details that I didn't expect to have to add. Mostly I love staying open with the process of writing. If a character needs to rise up and fill a role, I want them to have that ability. And thats when re-writing tends to happen. Having a great cast of characters is what allows me to do that, many carrying over from what I created over the past year. Some obviously are brand new and those are the characters that I need to pay the most attention to, because they can surprise me.

The adventure continues tomorrow.

Chapter 11 begins, the end is in sight!

Well past the half way point, both in chapter count, and word count.

I decided yesterday to do an outline for the final 9 chapters. Basically, what it came down to was there was far too much pressure to finish at 80,000 words, while not sputtering to an early close, or creating a situation too complicated to be closed out properly. So I did some careful work over the past few day's, and outlined each chapter's content.

The effect is of course that the book may come off as more "predictable", but the end result should be very clean, and fun to read. After all, a 300 page book if nothing else, should be enjoyable. There are a few things planned, which I hope you will all find surprising and rewarding. Hell, the book is full of surprises.

Chapter 11 continues tomorrow, chapter 20 is in my sight!

Chapter 10, AdviceTo Writers in Action!

So some of you may be knowledgeable of a certain twitter account, which publishes daily advice to writers. Many times this advice comes in the form of a webpage link to a quote, or some random facts. It has been my habit to glance at these, and where relevant pull from them, to keep my writing a bit current and fresh. Yesterday, the quote I read had particular potency. It's a subject I will not try to broach, or explain, because it's a bit complicated. Rather, I'll post the quote directly.

The Dream That We All Have

The dream, surely, that we all have, is to write this beautiful paragraph that actually is describing something but at the same time in another voice is writing a commentary on its own creation, without having to be a story about a writer.

IAN McEWAN

Wow, thats a big one isn't it. Oh well. I found it particullary was relevent to a device I used in chapter 9, and since this was in essence backing me up I decided to plunge along more with it in chapter 10.

Did I succeed? I had my doubts, but on re-reading, I am still pleased with the direction I took in one particular scene (CH10 As doctors Argue and CH9 The Game). If the scene stays in the book, you'll be able to follow along, and see if you can see the quote represented, or reflected in my writing.

Further explanation, would be an exercise in madness.

Chapter 10 continues tomorrow!

Chapter 9 Defining "Overproduced" - Lady Gaga vs Napoleon Dynamite

Finished chapter 9. Very close to half way there for the book.

I was having a discussion today with someone about my book. I mentioned that I was writing 2000 words a day, and keeping a pace of writing every single day. The person said, "Isn't that a lot? Shouldn't you slow down?"

That's a good question. My response was that I did not want the book to become overproduced.

This term-- overproduced --is rather subjective.  So I was put on the spot to define it.

For an example, I said,

Napoleon Dynamite, the short film, not the feature, was NOT overproduced. It didn't hire the best looking actors of the time. Nor did it recruit the best cinematographer. It concentrated on a few things it did well, and presented just that. Later that was taken, and manufactured into a feature length film, which was just more of the same, but still very popular. The original idea if over produced, may not have been as well received.

For an example of something which IS overproduced, I present Lady Gaga music videos.  Songs which barely have any meaning left in them when the video is over. Every facet of the characters, and designs are taken and exaggerated to the 9th degree in the video, so that when its over-- you are like... what does this mean? and why do i care?  Just look at her makeup... it's insane. --Maybe thats not the best example because Lady Gaga is obviously doing it right. But 9/10 times people try something like that, they end up failing because it's very hard to do, and very easy to overdo.

Hmmm. I guess that was fair.

I don't want to spend time analyzing every paragraph, or every word. I don't want the book to come in rhymed couplets, or with 100,000 unique words. I want it to be the book I am writing. It might not be perfect, but if there are improvements to be made, I don't want to make them while I am in the middle of writing it.

The discovery of writing is part of what is driving me. Each day brings new challenges, new adventures and new ideas.

So far I have written 40,000 words, and I love them all.

I have created 4 alien races
Written 6-7 new characters
Choreographed tons of scenes as well as 3 battle scenes.

It's been quite an adventure, and I want it to be just as fun when people read it. I want it to be exciting, and new, not a over-analyzed, over-conceptualized exercise in style, or form.

I want it to be as fun, fresh, and funny as fiction can be.

So there you have it..

Chapter 10 tomorrow, and I'll be halfway finished

Chapter 9 begins. Browsing Congo - Are we there yet?

So today was my first day with a totally new and different exercise for writing. 

Mind you, I have said before, there are many tools at our disposal, but which one to use for a given scene or chapter, is really whats going to make the difference, I think, in delivering a book that all of you will enjoy.

I started off yesterday, reading a few chapters from Michael Crichton's Congo book.  You see, I wanted to get a feel for what its like in a completely foreign space.  I had ended Chapter 8 quite greedily, happy to be sloshing through the space. But I wanted to wallow in it in chapter 9, and that would take work.

I decided on an exercise. I wrote out as many adjectives, idea's and features as I could come up with. I paid no mind to how different, or awkward it sounded. Finally, I came up with 20 words that would help fill the space. Then when I woke up today, and arrived in the scene Chapter 8 had left me in, I carefully wove each featured word into the book. 

Every time I felt my pen die in my hand, I glanced up, and had a renewed vigor for writing. I know I did not get to all 20 words/ideas, but the ones which added to the book, well, I think they were special.

So I guess the question is, is there an slight homage to Congo in this book.

Yes, no, maybe, I'll let you all be the judge.

I'll be happy to continue chapter 9 tomorrow.

Chapter 8 in the books, Chapter 9 Awaits. May 50k, and the Juice is worth the Squeeze.

Finished chapter 8 today

I have been posting on twitter recently, and noticing that, well along with the #amwriting hashtag, several people were participating in the #may50k hashtag right alongside. So over the last few day's, I've been pushing for 2200 words, instead of 2000, so that I can reach the 50k mark for the month.

The amazing thing is, I have had to step out of my shell and squeeze one more paragraph out of every scene.

The Juice, is worth the Squeeze.

Chapter 9 awaits.

Chapter 7 in the books, Chapter 8 is doing great.

When I finished chapter 7, I really felt like my story was coming to a close, 1/3 of the way through the book. None of the alternate story paths seemed to be opening as I had planned. But sometimes, it just takes alot of careful thought. As a writer, you have many tools at your disposal, but if you don't use the right one, it could come off as quite pompous, and weird I imagine.

So I used the white board to plan out the paths, visually, and just before bed, came up with some dialog repoir that would lead the scene of chapter 8.

I must emphasize, how this is recieved by all of you is what matters most, but to me, I have made a good choice yet again. Each chapter, I feel has been special, and enlightening. I hope when it comes time to make distribution, you all have as much love for these scenes as I do.

Chapter 8 continues

Chapter 7, the sorting hat?

I guess I missed a blog. I was going to do every day, but I simply ran out of things to say I guess. Having never written a book before, I am really starting to feel the pressure of writing. 

So I decided on an exercise, taking J.K. Rowlings first Harry Potter book as a point of reference. I opened to chapter 7, and looked at the title. The Sorting Hat.

Now the question is simple.  Are my character's aligned, and sorted, or are they set in stone, and straight as an arrow already. Am I good, or am I evil. On which side of the fence do I lie.

I'd say I'm on target, but I'll have to wait and see how the book is received by all of you. Let you be my judges.

Chapter 7 continues.

Chapter 6 continues, a little less serious and black

This is of course my first book.  As the plot unfolds, I try not to let on too much at a time. After all, if I answer all the questions, all at once, I would not do the story justice.

So taking more time to get to know the characters, and introduce some new ones, which I did not expect to encounter. 

Chapter 6 should be wrapped up, as 7 begins, tomorrow.

Chapter 5, finishes, Chapter 6 begins

Chapter 5 ended up being my longest, and I think first emotionally touching chapter.  

I'll have to wait and see how people receive it. 

Chapter 6 continues the story.

Chapter 5 will be done soon, and then chapter 6 begins

I guess the major question is, will Chapter 6 begin tomorrow, or will I close the day early.

That question, will be answered tomorrow, my friends.

Believe, that chapter 4 is done.

Chapters 1-3 had a magical ending to them.

Chapter 4 wanted out early.

Let Chapter 5 continue the saga.  Let us continue, with Chapter 5.

Believe.

Chapter 4 starts.

Chapter 4 started today.

"Life will find a way."  Michael Crichton, Jurassic Park


Having never written a book before, I often trust to my senses to tell me where the story will go next.

"Life will find a way." Was used many times in Jurassic Park to explain how the dinosaurs were doing it.  How they could be bred in captivity and brought back from extinction.  And then, find a way to survive.  Thats how I see my writing

The words find themselves. By characters, find ways to survive.  As impossible as the world may seem at times.

As sure as I am that characters are life, I am just as sure, that they will find a way.

Chapter 4 continues.

Chapter 3 is in the books, Chapter 4, coming up soon.

Remember my first blog? Deleted. Eaten by the internet monster.

Lets try this again.

I am Will O'Reagan.

I go by Will Regan, legally, but am looking into the former name legally as well.

I was at one time point bitten by a sort of bug-- the creative sort of bug.

Since that day, I have experienced many things.  

Many insanely fun moments.  

Many not so fantastic, confusing moments.

One thing has remained a constant.

I have remained creative.

When I am not hopelessly staring at what others have done,
I tend to create things.

Chapter 3 is in the books. Chapter 4 is coming up soon.