I’ve been thinking about writing this novel for years. I have notes scattered around, snippets written to understand the characters, and the slight beginning of an outline. Today’s the day I officially start. Let’s see how long it takes to a first draft, shall we?
I don’t have the title yet, so I’ve just been calling it “Opera”, as in space opera. I will be taking a short break to revise a novelette after I receive critiques, but otherwise my goal is to plow on to a first draft, at which point I want to set it aside and write a short story I’ve been simmering on as a reward. Fortunately, said short story requires me to do some research, so can get on that, right?
My goal for today: Get everything organized in one Scrivener file so I can see what I’ve got and create a plan for Day 2. I’ve learned I do much better if I end the day knowing where to start the next.
I’m going in! Send the dogs if you don’t hear back in three months.
Kudos to you!
My biggest lessons from my own attempts:
1) Guard your writing time fiercely. If you’re folding laundry, you’re not in the zone.
2) Sometimes the best way through a plot clinch is to break it into small questions, WRITE the questions down, and then think really hard.
3) I was watching the silent version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and it was so sllooowww. I realized it was because the director would do takes in which we got to see everything a character did, such as come out of a door, walk down a hall, and go into another door. There are whole pages, scenes, and very nearly chapters in my second book that I realized were just my hero walking down the stupid hall.
I don’t think “noveling” is a word.
That’s the advantage of writing SF. Making up words is part of the job.