layla: (Evil author)
Layla ([personal profile] layla) wrote2008-04-09 10:06 pm
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**accomplished**

Today's project ... DONE! I finished filling in the missing scenes in my novella. I have a habit of skipping forward when I write -- if I get stuck on a scene, I'll jump over to the next scene and leave the notation tba (to be added) plus a few words about what's supposed to go there. So, the rough draft on the novella is finished; now for a heavy editing sweep. It's currently clocking in at about 27,000 words, and I'd like to *try* to get down to something near my original target of 20,000 words for better saleability, though I'm not sure if that's possible even if I streamline and combine some of the wordier scenes. Still ... after a pass or three of the magic editing wand, it'll be ready to find a beta reader. I am pleased!

And I had a major breakthrough on the next Kismet book, Sun-Cutter; I was massively stuck on one particular character, but I think I've finally got them nailed down. I've also capitulated to the fact that I'm just *not* an outline writer, and in graphic novels, writing the script before I start drawing the art is something I just can't seem to do. I've been beating my head against the script for months, but working on character concept sketches lately has reminded me that I'm happiest when I just jump right in and draw without a safety net. The trouble is, as I learned on Hunter's Moon, drawing without a script makes editing a nightmare and major revisions are nearly impossible, since the art's already *done*. I know that HM would be a better, stronger novel if I'd been able to revise the way you can a print novel, but short of redrawing a bunch of pages, the most I could do was minor art and text revisions.

Perhaps I'll draw the first few pages and see how it goes. I'm currently projecting Jan. 2009 as a launch date for the Sun-Cutter webcomic, and my target length is about 150-200 pages. (Considering the way both HM and RC ballooned on me, I should probably prepare myself for something longer, though. But I think I have the plot more tightly in control this time!)
naye: A cartoon of a woman with red hair and glasses in front of a progressive pride flag. (Default)

[personal profile] naye 2008-04-10 06:41 am (UTC)(link)
Congratulations! That's awesome! Yay for original projects! Though getting 27,000 words down to 20,000? Sounds like you've got your work cut out for you...

[identity profile] laylalawlor.livejournal.com 2008-04-10 07:30 am (UTC)(link)
Heh. Yeah. I'm not sure if it's even POSSIBLE. I think 25,000 might be a more reasonable target -- I know the first part is much too wordy, but I'm not really sure where to cut things out without losing pieces of plot!

[identity profile] pamola.livejournal.com 2008-04-10 10:23 am (UTC)(link)
Congrats. Glad to see the snow storm didn't completely engulf you! Though your younger dog certainly was happy to romp where foxes had been.

[identity profile] laylalawlor.livejournal.com 2008-04-12 02:47 am (UTC)(link)
*g* Thank you! I tend to enjoy snowstorms myself at this time of year; it's easier to enjoy the beauty of them knowing that I don't have much longer to deal with the snow.