Comments on: The author answers (6)

By: Glenda Larke

Glenda Larke — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 19:48:00 +0000

I must admit, Barb - I also have trouble estimating how many words it is going to take for me to tell the story I want.

One of the hardest things to do, I think, especially for a writer like me who doesn't plan meticulously, chapter by chapter.

And editors do have preferences. 160,000 to 180,000 is considered a good length for a BFF (big fat fantasy); anything over that is really only for the BNFW (big name fantasy writer) who can sell whatever has their name on the cover.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 03:53:00 +0000

Well, once I've done the rewrite after I finish the outline I have *no* idea how many words it will be - probably a heck of a lot less.

It was originally planned as a duology and I had a perfect point where I could split it, but now.... I shall just have to wait and see how it turns out word-number-wise.

Barb

By: hrugaar

hrugaar — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 07:59:00 +0000

I love the expression 'wriggle room'!

Yes, I can't plan in great detail more than a chapter or two ahead (if that!). I have a beginning and end and 'high points' sketched out along the way (often as visual images in my mind's eye). The rest evolves as I go along ... and yes, characters have a way of coming to life and shifting the storyline as they make decisions for themselves (or try to).

I guess the trick with the publisher's synopsis is to detail the main 'high points' and leave yourself enough wriggle room to manoeuvre.

By: Glenda Larke

Glenda Larke — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 03:35:00 +0000

260K is enormous, Barb – were you thinking of dividing it into 2, or cutting down? That’s enough for 2 books.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 03:15:00 +0000

Interestingly enough I write much the same way as you and have written the whole thing, around 260K words – but I am now in the process of writing out a whole new plot for the book – beginning and end are the same but the middle is getting a whole new lease of life. Once that’s done I can concentrate on the rewrite, knowing what I want to have happen in each chapter.

Barbara

By: Glenda Larke

Glenda Larke — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 02:12:00 +0000

Oops, am I responsible for a reduction in productivity at your work place then, Forge? Lol…I feel quite wickedly subversive. [Thanks for letting me know.]

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 00:30:00 +0000

Have just finished SSB myself; I was terrible and read through the day at work on the sly.

The book was wonderful. Thank you for a day of joy and sorrow, hope and heartache.

By: Tsana Dolichva

Tsana Dolichva — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 08:03:00 +0000

😀 Pinch away, Glenda, I don’t mind at all.

By: Satima Flavell

Satima Flavell — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 05:59:00 +0000

Thanks for those useful thoughts, Glenda. I don’t have trouble planning beginnings and endings: it what come in between that I find a problem:-) For my current WIP I ended up writing all the ideas I had down in what I thought was more or less the right order and had my Face2Face group look them over and help me turn them into a plot. After about 27 goes I wound up with an outline that had what one template calls “three disasters plus an ending” together with a “precipitating incident”. So far I’m sticking to it fairly well, and there is enough wiggle room to let the characters have their heads sometimes. But never again will I let the so and sos lead me off the path of righteouness into a maelstrom of extra characters and dead end situations. I’m very pleased to say that so far, they haven’t even tried.

Of course, I’m only 40,000ww into the first draft, so anything might happen before I get to the end. While I’m asleep they could be planning a take-over…