Free Comic Book Day?

For the fifth year in a row, I have forgotten about it and remembered two days later that I intended to go. One day, I will go to the comic store for the event. One day...

So uh, I didn't finish chapter 6. I started chapter 8 instead. I still wasn't sure how to incorporate all I wanted to into the chapter, so I skipped ahead to something I knew how to write. I'm about 1/3 through chapter 8 now. I keep getting distracted by shiny video games and parties at friend's houses. I should be done a lot more, but I figure I'm in no hurry now that I'm certain I can't make the May 31 deadline. I do, however, have the urge to write. Now that I have no school to worry about, I'm constantly working out my ideas and possible plot holes. I also realized that I need more information about the political structures of this world I'm building. I'm a little vague on the details.

In other news, I updated EGAW Tips. I guess it should actually be "EGAWT", but that's besides the point. New information on points of view, vocabulary and grammar. I also noticed that some people have been finding their way to my website without me linking them. I'd love to insert a giant smiley face here if I could. I know that I can't get anyone to view my work or critic it if I don't advertise, so I'm gradually trying to expand my existence on the interwebs. So far I've determined that only a handful of people view this blog aside from myself and that's good enough for me. Thank you whoever you are for having even the slightest interest in my activities. Invisible support is better than none!

Chapbook Production

So aside from my dog being sick, preparing for group presentations, writing short stories, dealing with a mouse in my closet and trying to get a Steampunk project underway (for Science Fiction), I have been aiding in the production of our Fiction Writing class' chapbook. I won't lie, I've been having fun making it, no matter how annoying the type is. I finally created a template that I can use for all the pages. So far they are the size of just under a half a page. Last night at Fiction Writing I tested the pages in the cover (which will be a cut record) and they look like they will work. I am still paranoid that something wont line up, or that the binding won't work, or that I'm doing it wrong.

At any rate, I love my chapbook submission. I think personally it's my favourite short story that I have done this year. It was just fun to write. I posted it on my website for people to read. I hope you enjoy.

I would also like to say that WMRR will, probably not meet the deadline. In fact, I know it won't. I have set a new deadline for myself, which will be August 2010. That way, I have the summer to work on it. I won't make it into the contest, but I can always try other ones, or wait until it comes around next year again.

http://drschwa.webs.com/theschwaswriting.htm

Chapter 1

I finally finished Chapter 1 rewrite. The ending of the chapter ended up being new material, because of the order change that I made. I think that this format works much better than the one I had before. This way the characters are introduced a little better and I can give the reader a better idea of what's going on. In the previous version the motives and general plot was much more ambiguous. A friend of mine pointed that out to me last summer, so I think this time I finally finished it. I'm on to Chapter 2 now, which was the original Chapter 1. Chapter 3 will be in the same place it always was. I am giving myself until the 30th of January to complete the first five chapters.

Here is the picture of my wall that I was talking about earlier:




Light blue is the main plot points, dark blue is the final segment of the story, purple is any extra notes I have on the plot points, the flags mark possible chapter divisions and the lined dark blue is a timeline. I like to colour code stuff.

Deadline

For the first time in my life I have set a deadline for my novel. My Fiction Writing prof sent our class an e-mail concerning a "First Book Contest" with the prize of getting published in 2011. I have decided to enter this contest, mostly just to prove to myself that I can finish a project of a much larger scale. The last day to enter is May 31. I'm going to aim for May 10th, so I have a time buffer where I'll be able to mail and make last minute changes. I also need to find someone to be a proof reader for me, though I doubt anyone has the time or ambition to do it. I am probably going to be alone on this, but I have my prof, classmates, family and close friends to turn to. Who knows? Maybe some will take a little interest.

My book will be closet to the limit of 90000 words. I will aim for 75000, which is 150 pages (on Microsoft Word). I'm aiming a bit lower so that I don't overwrite. So far I have 10 pages. I have a lot of questions to ask myself about the plot before I can really get into the story however. My characters are all finished in appearance, names, likes, dislikes, fears, and other traits. Some of their ambitions and motivations need to be figured out, but that relates to plot. A lot of the technical aspects have been worked out as well, though I do need to do more research into modern science and discoveries as well as fighting techniques. Overall I am about 60% finished the story in my mind. In terms of the actual writing I am at the 7% complete mark.

Here is the contest website for any other Canadians interested in publishing a first book. I strongly encourage my fellow Canadians to enter!

http://www.thewritersstudio.ca/news/1st-book-competition/