Friday, November 02, 2007

Part one is done

Sometime in high school, I had some characters running around in my head for a story. So I wrote down some notes, intending to write the thing later.

Always later.

Through the second half of grade twelve, I wrote the first couple of chapters (some of which still exists). And I wrote more notes.

Those notes were added to over the next six or seven years but I never touched the main story. (later)

There was always a compelling reason not to work on the story itself. (Work, school, work, other stuff) Finally, I was working at Halliburton and I felt the need to write. So I wrote. I got a good portion of a story-arc done. Chunks of the story changed. Big chunks. But writing was still a struggle. It felt like I was holding the pen too tightly or something. So I went back to planning.

Finally, I read a write-up on a website that talked about how your inner-editor is the biggest impediment to writing a story.

The editor is very important during the editing phase, to be sure, but if you can't shut him up while you're creating, then you'll never get anything done.

I don't know how I did it but that voice is gone. (I hope I can get him back when I need him, though) and pages and words have flown by.

The other night, I finished part one. I know that I included the end of part 1 in the beginning of part 2 (more as a bolster for my NaNoWriMo word-count than anything else) but even the part of part 1 that was co-opted is done. Thirteen years of labour and my first one came out 129 pages long and weighing 35000 words. The next one should be closer to 50000 words and take much less than 13 years.

Exploding cigars all around.


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7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sweet! And congratulations...both for getting part 1 done, and for finally realizing what I did long ago...inner editors are useless drags, and should be killed as quickly as possible.

Liam J. said...

Not killed. Just imprisoned without any food. If they happen to die, then that's their fault, needing food and all.

Anonymous said...

They get what they deserve for being WEAK. Anyone who REALLY wanted to live would find a way. Chumps.

Helen Mueller said...

that is so awesome, Liam! hope that we little people will someday be able to read this work of yourn.

Liam J. said...

I'll be soliciting opinions on it when I'm done editing, so if you're interested in me picking at your brain come June or July, I'll keep you in mind when it comes time to start handing the thing around.

Liam J. said...

I don't keep my inner editor alive because I pity him. I keep my inner editor alive because I NEED him. I don't kill anyone or anything that I can USE. Unless it's convenient for a plot line. Then, cue the poison-tipped arrow.

Helen Mueller said...

I am totally up for a brain picking - any time!