It’s a big day for me. Big. Because today I am beginning a new novel. It’s a day ripe with possibility, and yes, I admit, a bit of fear too. While How to Seduce a Duke (sexy title, eh?) is my fifth novel, its my first for Avon and the first of a new trilogy.
Fear can be great motivation though, and motivation is something I am really going to need because the publication date for this book has been moved up from December 2006 to October 2006. That means I have (insert loud audible gulp here) three months to write, revise, polish and deliver a 90,000 word manuscript.
Originally, I had planned to meticulously plot out this particular book before sitting down to write, which would be something completely new to me. I am what is known in the writing community as a ‘pantser’–meaning that I write by the seat of my pants and what happens, well…happens. The story unfolds in my head like a movie and I write it down.
Since the deadline is tight, however, there isn’t time to plot out the story first as I had planned. But the time lock also means I will have no extra time to let the story percolate in my head for a while before writing. I will have to both plot and write by the seat of my pants. I have no choice. Yikes.
So there you have it. I am beginning my book, and a blog of sorts, today. Each day, or when the muse is willing, I am going to record, step by step, my progress in writing the book.
Will she crash and burn?
Will she fling herself over the finish line in the nick of time?
Watch and see. Worth a chuckle at any rate, no?
Day One
I vow to be more organized than I have ever been in my life. Really.
There is no other way I am going to manage–while doing book signings and writers workshops, completing revisions and promotions for my current book, writing this book, attending school and family events, while preparing for and buying a ga-zillion gifts for the holidays–without being COMPLETELY organized.
First thing this morning, I opened Outlook and printed out my calendar November-January. Then it was a matter of simple math. Taking into account ‘no writing days’ such as holidays, crazy busy days, etc., I saw that I can write ten pages a day during the week. This will give me weekends off (or to use as make-up days as needed). Following this plan, the book will be drafted before New Year’s Eve, leaving me a month to revise and polish.
Doable. Just.
Step One: High Concept Idea and Short Synopsis
Thankfully, I have both…well, sort of. In order for my agent to sell my trilogy, I had to provide her with an (embarrassingly short) overview of the concept and synopsis (shorter still) of each book in the trilogy. (I’ll explore the ‘high concept’ premise later on. Promise.)
If you have ever read the paragraph on the back cover of a book, this is about the extent of my existing synopsis (note: this is not industry standard–usually it’s one double-spaced page per 10,000 words of the completed manuscript). The mini-synopsis includes a bit about the character and background of the protagonist (heroine in my case) and the Impact Character (hero), their goals, and the conflict that puts them at odds. This book is a Romance, so I know the ending…and they lived happily ever after.
It’s not much, but being a pantser, it’s enough to build a story.
Since I scheduled two days to plot, today, I took an hour or so to look deeper into the character motivations. I narrowed the focus of the story. This will make revisions easier later. Sample questions:
What one goal is every character in the story working toward or against? For me, answering this question helps define and strengthen the conflict.
How does the heroine and heroine’s past affect their beliefs, actions and emotions with regard to this goal?
Which character will have to grow most in order achieve their goal?
Usually I ask myself questions like these as I write. But like I wrote above, I write by the seat of my pants.
As you read this blog, please remember that every writer needs to find a process that works best for her (or him.) Some people need to plot out every detail before writing. Some take a leap of faith and just write. Some tuck themselves away and write as much and as quickly as they can–then revise. If you are interested in trying the speed writing, book in a month process, check out http://www.nanowrimo.org. I tried it last year. And after all, November just happens to be National Novel Writing Month!
