Kevin's Watch

I am. But only when I feel like it, so it could take a while. Stephen King in his book "On Writing" said that the number one thing you can do to help yourself writing is to apply the seat of your pants to the seat of your chair....hmmmm....*in my dreams

*waves hand*
I am. About 120,000 words right now, and I'm surmising it will shape up to be around 175-190k in the end. Not sure how many pages exactly that would make for a paperback, but I've been DYING to know. *hint hint*

Well, just for you, O Despiser:
page 360 of my copy of TPTP has 345 words. A novel 183,000 words long, averaging 345 words a page, works out to around 540 pages. 120,000 words is around 347 pages. TPTP is 480 pages.

if by writing you mean developing the plot and characters in my head over the last 7 years, then yes. if you mean putting actual words on paper... then no.

I was like that, myself, Sylv. I began developing seriously around 8th grade, began writing once I was confident I could (10th grade), and am now ever and ever closer to the book's completion (12th grade). I'm glad, at last, to be able to see my work nearing its climax (and, later, its fruition); for my imagination has not been able to expand on much else but my novel since its beginning.

I'm writing a bunch of books. I also write Chronicles parodies. *Goes off and reads the one where Cail actually says something.*

I am

yeah, my story has been complete since i was about 19, but i always feel there's so much more i need to learn before i write. style, structure, history, character study, etc. it's my baby, and i can't stand for it to be anything short of perfect... or at least as perfect as i am able to make it. but i'm also lazy, and as long as it's in my head i have to love it. if it would make any sense, i'd title it Athena (10 WGDs for anybody that can guess why)... but it wouldn't, so i'm not calling it that. in fact, i think i'll let my editor title it because i've come to detest any title that i give it.

which sounds better as a sci-fi writer's name?

Don't ask me. Any time I can't come up with a name for someone, I call him Fred.

Um, actually, I've written several books, none of which has ever seen the publishing light of day. But that's about to change! Live Simply in the City, with Yours Truly as co-author (I'm the girl), should be available later this spring. Unfortunately, it doesn't have anything to do with fantasy fiction -- it's actually about how to live simply in a city. ("Gawrsh, Ali, how'd you come up with that brilliant title, then?") Anyhow, there's a little bit about it at the publisher's website, www.ardeacoaching.com/press/.

right on. congrats and

I'm currently busy writing a spy novel about taking over the world. It's almost done.

I've been trying to get down to writing for a good few months now, but my idea has turned into a bit of a monster. The story will be set in the near future and what starts as a medium sized accident leads on to disrupt the balance of power of the entire planet.

The problem I'm having is that I have to know a fair bit about the motivations, aims, methods, resources and scruples of every government, political faction, terrorist group and major corporation in the entire world. Needless to say I'm getting so bogged down in research that I'm nowhere near writing, and this is just preparing the backstory, I've not even begun to refine my characters or chart out what I actually want to happen in the book/s.

I never had any problems preparing mine--but then again it never began as a novel. In 8th grade, it was merely a sort of alternate reality my imagination had worked up; in 10th grade, I simply decided I should write it down. When I first began in Feb. of 2000, I knew how the plot would arc, but I didn't know how I'd get from point A to B, so I just flew blind. Right now, I'm on page 200, 3-4 chapters from the climax, 124k words right now.

The book is part of a pretty large saga, but just in case it never catches on with the public, I've made this first book so that it ends on a decent closing note emotion-wise and ideal-wise and spirit-wise, but I’ve also made it so the plot can still branch out for future books. Still working on the title. I've got either, "The Readiness Is All" (from Hamlet), or "Here Comes The Sun". The second isn't quite original, I admit, but the sun is a major theme throughout, and also a reference to the inner and outer struggles of particular characters.

I've started an epic fantasy which will end up (hopefully) as a tetrology. The first book is Griffin Summer, to be followed by Basilisk Autumn and then Unicorn Winter. Haven't decided about Spring yet.

The setting is kinda like a Medeviel European version of ancient Egypt (much as, imo, Gormenghast is a English Forbidden City).

Was having trouble with the first chapter, although the second went along quickly. I should mention they have different povs and take place many miles apart. But lately I've seen a way to focus on the "lead" for chapter one, giving her much more of an arc as well as inspiring stuff to happen with/around her.

I find it fascinating that so many of the participants on Kevin’s Watch are aspiring writers. It must be a universal personality trait. I’ve mentioned a few times here that I aspire to complete a novel someday. I have had a story idea germinating in my skull since I graduated from high school. I try to find the time to type out a few lines whenever I have the chance. Oddly enough I’ve written more for KW than I have in a long time. I offer congratulations and a heart felt good luck to all of you who are struggling toward your writing goals.

I myself am so bogged down with writing. I've two novels I've started and put on LONG hiatius since high school, both of them are approximately 50-75K words long. Then two more that I've done recently and now the (2nd) screenplay. I work on a little on each.
Present life's circumstances get in the way more often than not. I'm not very settled down and thus not able to continue working steadily on one project. The TCTC screen play is coming along nicely (intro Trell and next page Atiaran.
Just life keeps gettin in the way ya know?

Hmm, I need to win the lottery so I don't have to worry about working to pay the rent, put food in mah belly and gas in the car (wait a tic...what car?).

I agree with Stephen King that it's basically gluing your ass to the chair and working til you get it done. Someone else here mentioned that too I think...

Seafoam Understone wrote:Hmm, I need to win the lottery so I don't have to worry about working to pay the rent, put food in mah belly and gas in the car (wait a tic...what car?).

I agree with Stephen King that it's basically gluing your ass to the chair and working til you get it done. Someone else here mentioned that too I think...

Ditto!

I'm going to write a book, someday, maybe someday soon!

I wrote part of a book. One of my papers from grad school was published as a chapter in a book. Maybe I'll have my wife dig out the books and let people see it when we go out to New mexico.