Cor blimey, this writing business is a bit intense, isn't it? That's intense, not in tent, as there's no plug for my laptop in the tent, mores the pity.
Basically, I've been so busy writing The Automata Wars volume 3, that I've barely had time to write this blog, so here's a quicky (ahem), on (what else), writing, no less.
A few people have asked me how the writing has been going. Some have commented that they wished they had the time, or the dedication to write. Some have been quite impressed by my word churning rate (around 4000 words per day when I don't have to do the day job, around 1000 on a normal working day). Actually, though, this isn't necessarily all that impressive. It all depends on a number of things, such as:
It also helps if you're familiar with the subject - so ideally, you'll have thought about what you need to know, and done some research before you start to write. Of course, that's not always possible; sometimes things that you haven't yet researched will occur to you as you write. In which case, you may need to decide whether you can continue without going back to the research stage, or whether you need to stop and do a bit more looking up before you carry on.
Which brings me nicely to the writing stage. At the moment, I'm in the first writing stage. This basically means I am lobbing words at the page as soon as I think of them. Not all the words will be the right ones. Not all the scenes will be needed. But while I'm in the flow, it's worth just going with it and getting everything down (note: this means that if I find something that needs more research, I'm either skimming something very quickly, or leaving a comment for myself in the text as to what needs to be covered).
Some of what I've written so far, I'm very proud of. Some of it - let's just say I'm less proud of. But I know that when it's all finally written out, I can then go back and redo the bits I don't like - even redo the bits I do like, if they need it. Some of my best scenes may end up cut, if they don't make the story flow like it should. It's the editing stages - all those subsequent drafts of the tale - that will polish what I've written, and make it into something readable.
So my suggestion to you, dear reader, if you had wished you had the time, or the dedication, or could type fast enough to write - you can! Just don't give up halfway through the first draft. If it doesn't read quite as eruditely as you had imagined it would, it doesn't matter. Don't stop. Get to the end. Then go back and redraft, and redraft...
The Automata Wars Vol 3 will be at that redraft stage soon... and that's where the real work comes in. Watch this time and space...
Basically, I've been so busy writing The Automata Wars volume 3, that I've barely had time to write this blog, so here's a quicky (ahem), on (what else), writing, no less.
A few people have asked me how the writing has been going. Some have commented that they wished they had the time, or the dedication to write. Some have been quite impressed by my word churning rate (around 4000 words per day when I don't have to do the day job, around 1000 on a normal working day). Actually, though, this isn't necessarily all that impressive. It all depends on a number of things, such as:
- typing speed
- Subject familiarity
- Writing stage
It also helps if you're familiar with the subject - so ideally, you'll have thought about what you need to know, and done some research before you start to write. Of course, that's not always possible; sometimes things that you haven't yet researched will occur to you as you write. In which case, you may need to decide whether you can continue without going back to the research stage, or whether you need to stop and do a bit more looking up before you carry on.
Which brings me nicely to the writing stage. At the moment, I'm in the first writing stage. This basically means I am lobbing words at the page as soon as I think of them. Not all the words will be the right ones. Not all the scenes will be needed. But while I'm in the flow, it's worth just going with it and getting everything down (note: this means that if I find something that needs more research, I'm either skimming something very quickly, or leaving a comment for myself in the text as to what needs to be covered).
Some of what I've written so far, I'm very proud of. Some of it - let's just say I'm less proud of. But I know that when it's all finally written out, I can then go back and redo the bits I don't like - even redo the bits I do like, if they need it. Some of my best scenes may end up cut, if they don't make the story flow like it should. It's the editing stages - all those subsequent drafts of the tale - that will polish what I've written, and make it into something readable.
So my suggestion to you, dear reader, if you had wished you had the time, or the dedication, or could type fast enough to write - you can! Just don't give up halfway through the first draft. If it doesn't read quite as eruditely as you had imagined it would, it doesn't matter. Don't stop. Get to the end. Then go back and redraft, and redraft...
The Automata Wars Vol 3 will be at that redraft stage soon... and that's where the real work comes in. Watch this time and space...
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