1168 words. I did 1411 last night and an extra 1133 before bed after my blog post went live.
I think I’m at a point where I’m back to normal cruising speed on the novel. 2500 words of fiction followed by 1200ish words is a GOOD SIGN.
Today’s count is a little low because I did some extra looping and I discovered that I needed to introduce a new character which required me to double back.
Rat City has been a very interesting story so far. It’s a similar yet different compared to my typical stories. Usually, my book 2s are action-packed and fast paced. That’s definitely true here— it’s very action-packed and tense, but the story is very wandering at the same time. It keeps taking left turns on me, and I keep making elaborate twists and turns just when I think I’m going in a straight line. It’s a fun ride.
I also hit the 30,000-word mark today, which is another milestone of confidence. This novel will probably clock in between 50-60K, so that puts me squarely at 50% or better. If I keep my current pace, I’ll hit 40K by this time next week. At that point I expect a final rough patch or two as plot lines converge, then a clear run at the ending. The good thing about rough patches near the end is that they’re not nearly as tiring as the middle.
I have a theory about storytelling and writing into the dark. Dean Wesley Smith often talks about how your creative voice knows how to tell stories and it knows everything about your story. The barrier is your creative voice.
It seems when I write a novel, almost without exception, I hit rough patches between 20-25%, 50% and 65-70%. Always.
It’s not writer’s block per se. Sometimes I don’t know what’s next. But more often than not, it’s that plot lines are converging and it takes me a while to make sure it gets done right.
Remember, I have no idea what I’m writing. I’m making it all up as I go.
Around the 20-25% mark, I’ve created most of the plot lines and character arcs. The challenge is making sure they gel together.
Around the 50% mark, the plot lines converge.
Around the 65-70% mark, everything starts moving toward resolution. Gotta make sure you don’t leave anything out there by accident!
The challenge is not so much in figuring out what comes next, but instead, figuring out how every plays together. And that’s a journey of exploration and play time for your creative voice, even though the tendency is to seize up and feel fear because the story isn’t moving forward at the pace you want.
But if you keep moving, you’ll eventually be fine. I liken it to a road trip—no road trip is the same speed. You take in-roads, which have stop lights. Then you merge onto a highway. Sometimes that highway will have construction. Or they’ll be an accident that forces you to slow down, maybe even stop for a time. But you don’t shut off your car and stop driving. You keep your foot on the accelerator as much as possible even if you’re going 1 mile per hour. Eventually traffic picks up and you get back up to the speed limit.
Hell, sometimes you might even speed!
Writing a novel is like driving on a long road trip.
Anyhoo, I realized tonight that this is my 32nd novel. Holy crap. I can’t wrap my mind around that.
In some respects, this is just as hard as it was when I first started. In other respects, it’s much easier now. I never know the destination when I start writing, but I always know how to get there.
Fun times.
Have a good night.
PROGRESS SO FAR:
Rat City (Chicago Rat Shifter Book 2): 30,746 words.
Writing App Book: 16,900 words. Drafted and needs final touches.
Writing App Tool: 10% complete
Indie Author Confidential Vol. 6: Published.
