This "readthrough" is killing me. AKA massive note taking session. Just hit 46 pages. Two months and counting of homework. Finished FM5. I don't think I've done this much background work since I started writing the series. Mostly because I'm addicted to writing and dislike all the other aspects of this profession...
It's been so needed for so long, but...and like I don't write a lot in the summer because of how ungodly hot Fresno gets, but...schedule also got imploded by spinal procedures and the root canal so it made since to do it now when I couldn't write much anyway, but...and I have pet peeves that have developed about my writing in the last few years, pet peeves I keep seeing OVER and OVER in these old novels and I'm just...it's only two words Richard, two completely unneeded words but like 99.9% of your fan base has never noticed you do it over and over, so why do you care, huh?
Pfff...
Going insane.
But needed.
All of this will be so useful heading forward. Checking info will be so quicker. I have a file now that is just a list of every mancer and when they attended the Asylum and historical events as they happened and who must have played who in the Winter War and who must have been a student-advisor here and everything is just categorized, nothing getting lost through the cracks.
Also, as far as writing Seismic Semester, with the way the pain was so overwhelming at times, I just didn't look things up like I used to. Pain really limits your ability to handle multiple tasks. Writing was hard enough. The idea of sitting at a laptop and searching through old chapters seemed impossible. So...I made mistakes that I'll need to fix or explain before it's released. Got that all figured out now because of this. Nothing that should need huge rewrites, but an extra sentence or paragraph of explanation definitely. I actually did pretty good considering how fuzzy I was on the painkillers and muscle relaxers. The biggest one is that the Camping Test in Seismic Semester is only one night long. Cuz I forgot it was multiple nights in FM2. But there's is a simple reason to explain the change away. So all good.
Well...I have Three Little Trips, FM6, Dread Fortress, Goes Home, and Dilemma left to get through. Spending two weeks on FM6 alone might send me to a real asylum, so...wish me luck.
Release on Seismic Semester is looking like Feb/March btw. We aren't making November without a super rushed edit process (one I don't know my spine can handle) and I don't release during the holidays. Cover is getting done as we speak! Feels real with a cover! It's alive!!!
Reading back over my old words is one of the most painful parts of being a (sorta) writer. Reading YOUR previous words, on the other hand... Yes, please. For anyone writing a series- first, "Abandon hope, all ye who enter here;" second, your "Notes, background, ideas, and 'other stuff' " files will have more words than you actual books. As for you, boss, write the book in a way that makes you happy to send it out into our greedy hands. We may not be "happy" to wait, but we will be understanding and grateful. Take care of yourself.
ReplyDeleteYes, the amount of random paper and computer files on details massive and insignificant is quite overflowing already, but there always seems to be another brilliant idea or some minutia to manage.
DeleteLike yesterday I decided it would probably be a good idea to finally come up with line of predecessors of our Maximi. How many will I ever mention? Well...a few...but not as many as I worked on for sure!
Man, props to you for undertaking such a time-intensive and challenging project. I truly believe it'll help keep your writing at the lofty heights I've enjoyed thus far, but I definitely recognize the difficult nature of the whole thing. Really looking forward to the next book! Please remember to take care of yourself- I like my authors the way I like my food: humanely treated. ; )
ReplyDeleteLearning what the body can take (and it tells me!) has been a big part of improving my pain issues the last couple years. Also nerve burning. And painkillers. But forcing myself to hold back, put the computer away or the phone down, knowing it's more a marathon than ever before and sprinting is very very VERY stupid, really helps.
DeleteI'm a lazy fucker. I have literally three chapters left on my WIP to finish, but I'm procrastinating over them, and what annoys me the most is that I've none of your real reasons for my bullshit. I need to stop being a pussy-cat and take a leaf out of your book and just do the fucking work! Best of luck with the treatment.
ReplyDeleteBig part of writing is overcoming that fear. I still get some anxiety coming back to a project if I've been away from it for a month or more. Helps to remember no one else will see it until you decide it's done.
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