In one of my previous posts, I said that I have two other books that I consider “properly in the works.” This post is to follow up on that concept. Hold on to your hats.
Let me start with the children’s book first. I have a full concept and a basic plot. All I have to do is fill in the details. Ever heard the saying that the devil is in the details? This book is no exception.
As I was writing, I found that there was a relationship that I had toyed with adding to the story for a bit of extra depth in the plot. However, having touched on that interpersonal relationship, and it’s changing dynamic, I found that I had to find some way to add more than just a brief synopsis of the original relationship and it’s changes. Now, pages in, I have to add whole scenes to give my story the texture and the contrast the relationship was meant to add in the first place.
As the story is going, it seems I will have enough writing to fill a text heavy picture book. This is without the extra interaction. I’m not trying to write an easy reader. I don’t have enough of a plot for that. It’s a picture book. Yet, I seem to be winding up with more and more text. Thankfully, when I was younger, I read a few text heavy picture books and found them enjoyable. Here’s hoping I can create one of my own like that.
Now, this is a related issue I am having. I wrote the text I have in a fairly logical progression; this was the situation, so this happened next. That is a good thing because I am less likely to have a scene that appears out of place or just strange. However, this makes it difficult for me to make any sizeable changes, like inserting or cutting scenes because the scenes I already have are all logically connected. Must I start over again at the scene which comes previous to the changes I want to make and go from there recreating the story? Or can I somehow manage to unwind the fibers of my timeline to look at them individually without unraveling the whole web? How would you attempt big changes in the middle of a mostly completed first draft? Leave a comment below.
For this children’s book, I figure I will have to have someone else do the illustrations because what I envision is a Steampunk aesthetic. I also see much more detail than I would feel comfortable creating artwork for myself. Would I like to be able to illustrate this book? Yes, but there are limits to each person’s skills, and it is best if we work inside those limits.
The other book I have in progress is one I have spoken about before. “The Holders…” Yes, still working on the title. This is a fantasy novel. I am aware that I have chosen a difficult genre to break into as it is an already well saturated market, and I will be under the shadow of names like, Anne McCaffrey, Terry Brooks, JRR Tolkien, Brian Jacques, and Ursula Guin. No pressure, right? Lots and lots of pressure.
Yet, this was my original, preferred genre to write in. It is still the genre I prefer to read, and I have read that the genre you love to read is a good place to start because you are already drawn to it. If nothing else, it will be good practice.
I already have just a few Beta readers for the first chapter, first draft mind you. This has potential to weed out any difficulties my writing faces, and gives me a basic idea if people will like my writing, and my fantasy writing in particular.
The difficult part is that I have so many ideas running through my head at any given time that I have ideas for a second book already, assuming I can make the plot support two books. This has placed my characters far ahead in their growth. In fact, just recently I was considering a plot point with my main character and one of the second book characters, along with a similar plot point with a different veering for another story altogether. Now, I need to know which direction I am going to approach these scenes in two separate stories. I realized that the main characters in these two stories have different personalities and that their personalities would dictate what is needed to move them forward to their growth, or decline, or the next scene, what ever the case may be. This showed me that I didn’t need something so drastic as my original plan to happen to my “Holder” character because by that time, she will have already started her inner journey, and it will have progressed far enough that she will have enough momentum and motivation to do what she needs to do. That character only needs a little nudge in the right direction, a little something to help her overcome her obstacles.
The other story character, on the other hand, would need something big because she will go through a drastic change, if all the characters decide to cooperate with me and not be stubborn, that is.
I already discussed filling in the blanks in a previous post, but I can catch a few more things of note here.
I have a skeleton (basic plot concept), a few major organs here and there (major scenes) but there are some gaps among those organs and there is no muscle or skin. When I was first trying my hand at making up stories years ago, my mind would focus on the highlights and that is how I have continued to approach writing. Make the main points and the rest will follow. Yet, I have also told you that my characters and the story in general, seems to do well with cause and effect. My character comes across this difficulty which pushes them into this action, which creates this situation, which… etc.
What is your favorite approach to writing a story? Leave a comment below.
This latter is how I am now approaching “The Holders…” until I reach a point where my brain refuses to go any further. Yes, I have run full into a bout of writer’s block. Enter a bit of grumbling. Now, I am back to worldbuilding exercises and letting my characters write letters to introduce themselves to me.
If you are interested in hearing more about how my writing journey is progressing through the lens of these stories, let me know in the comments or send me an email using the . In the meantime, enjoy the wonder.
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