Well... wow. That was fun.

Ever finish writing a scene and you have withdrawals? Yeah. That's me.

As I said in my last post, the scene I was writing for Chapter 27, the 30th chapter of the book, was one I've had in my head since the very beginning. Now that Richard has had the worst visited upon him, in some weird way I miss what I've done. If that makes sense. The chapter flowed smoothly and out of me and hopefully is as emotional as I imagined it so long ago.

Several times during this book I've had ideas arise that I didn't see coming until I was actually in the chapter—ideas that I ultimately put into the book. One of them happened in 27. I don't think what I did contradicts with what came before, but I am a little bit worried about it. When I go back to edit the book from start to finish, I'll be very conscious of that minor addition and make sure the rest of it lines up.

And the addition... it's a doozie. It's the first big twist at the end of the novel, one, I hope, that will take the reader by surprise. We'll see. I'm a terrible judge of such things when I am in the thick of it. There are a few more twists and turns here in these last few chapters, and I am looking forward to writing them as well!

As the word count stands:

Prologue: 3045 Chapter 1: 4075 Chapter 2: 2973 Chapter 3: 3241 Chapter 4: 4144 Chapter 5: 4547 Chapter 6: 2793 Chapter 7: 3598 Chapter 8: 4939 Chapter 9: 4257 Interlude: 2372 Chapter 10: 3346 Chapter 11: 3185 Chapter 12: 3639 Chapter 13: 4878 Chapter 14: 4562 Chapter 15: 3840 Chapter 16: 3984

Chapter 17: 5441 Chapter 18: 4725 Chapter 19: 5651 Interlude: 3687 Chapter 20: 4122 Chapter 21: 4537 Chapter 22: 4220 Chapter 23: 4275 Chapter 24: 4468 Chapter 25: 5046 Chapter 26: 5458 Chapter 27: 3715 Chapter 28: Chapter 29: Chapter 30: Chapter 31: Chapter 32: Epilogue:

So, next, Chapter 28. It is a Bran chapter, and as I've said earlier its a chapter I've known since the very beginning. I am super excited to write it. I am now in the thick of the climax and it is full steam ahead. God, I love writing this book!

Labels: The Dark Thorn

Every holiday season it is difficult for me to get work done. From just before Thanksgiving all the way to the first week of New Year's recovery, I struggle with getting any writing done. It should be the easiest time; The Signed Page goes into a weird hibernation since authors don't usually tour during the holiday season. But there are too many distractions—family or otherwise—and I revel in them like a kid.

Unfortunately, that also means my word output suffers.

The good news is I am at the end of The Dark Thorn. As of last week it has been a year since I started writing it, and that coupled with the reality I tossed away three months in the summer for fun and games, I'm fairly happy with where I am at right now. But some interesting things have happened as of late, and I must bear down. My future is there, waiting, and it is time to grab it and make it mine.

As all writers should. Right? People who dream to write need to write, damnit, and put themselves out there!

First off, I have finished Chapters 25 & 26. That means I have a total of 29 completed chapters. The chapters ended the way I expected them but two characters in particular grew in the telling a bit, which I liked. As you can see those chapters are a bit longer than those that precede them; hopefully that won't happen in the next few chapters where the hard-hitting climax must be quick and furious and kick all sorts of extraneous ass.

Gotta force myself into shorter sentences, shorter paragraphs, short dialog, and lots of action. I don't think it will be a problem.

Chapter 26 ends with Bran in some serious trouble. He has some major choices to make coming up, choices that will shape him from here on out. To those of you who read this blog, I really do try to have my characters evolve and develop. Without character development a book is nothing in my opinion, and I hope I will leave Bran and company drastically changed by the end of the book compared to its beginning. Time will tell, but I'm fairly happy about it.

That's the first news. Here is the second of three.

Artist Todd Lockwood, who I've become good friends with over the last two years and who I respect a great deal, has agreed to create four or five pencil and/or paint sketches of key scenes in my book—all before I submit to my agent and to Del Rey. In return I will act as a sounding board to his own writing efforts, something I'm more than happy to do anyway.

Not sure if the sketches will be pencil or paint. Here is an example of what it could be like:



As you can see, I'd be happy with either. Using the sketches when I submit will hopefully do two things: 1) It will help focus the agent and/or editor on certain parts of the book and given a visual representation of what a cover could look like... as only Todd could paint it, and 2) It will remind the agent and/or editor that I have dozens and dozens of professional contacts in the industry, many of which I call good friends who will help in any way they can to make my project a success. I want those I submit The Dark Thorn to to be reminded of my strong marketing platform and what better way than to have one of the best artists going show he is my buddy.

I know, egotistical. Presumptuous. Does it really matter at all? Well, I'm leaving nothing to chance. As I wrote to one of the blog comments this morning, a submitting writer's job is mostly trying to remove as many roadblocks to the process as they can, and I want that marketing platform to be obvious to the agent and editors I send The Dark Thorn to.

Now, for number three. Random House is bringing me to New York City to cover the NY Comic Con in February 2009 for Suvudu and I can't wait. I'm super excited about it! That also means I need to finish up The Dark Thorn by mid-January, give it a good edit, so I can meet with a few people about it. We'll see, but timing is everything in this business and sometimes Luck is a wind being choked by a closing window.

As the word count stands:

Prologue: 3045 Chapter 1: 4075 Chapter 2: 2973 Chapter 3: 3241 Chapter 4: 4144 Chapter 5: 4547 Chapter 6: 2793 Chapter 7: 3598 Chapter 8: 4939 Chapter 9: 4257 Interlude: 2372 Chapter 10: 3346 Chapter 11: 3185 Chapter 12: 3639 Chapter 13: 4878 Chapter 14: 4562 Chapter 15: 3840 Chapter 16: 3984

Chapter 17: 5441 Chapter 18: 4725 Chapter 19: 5651 Interlude: 3687 Chapter 20: 4122 Chapter 21: 4537 Chapter 22: 4220 Chapter 23: 4275 Chapter 24: 4468 Chapter 25: 5046 Chapter 26: 5458 Chapter 27: Chapter 28: Chapter 29: Chapter 30: Chapter 31: Chapter 32: Epilogue:

So, the next chapter will be Chapter 27, the 30th of the book. Chapter 27 is the second to last Richard chapter. It is a chapter I've known from the very beginning of this process almost, one of those sets of scenes that I was shooting toward as I outlined the book. When I began the outlining process I had this climax in mind and I had to move Richard in that direction, telling his story as I went, opening him up to the reader—or closing down to the reader, as the case may be for some.

Chapter 28 I've also had in my head from the beginning. There are two writers out there who I have confided in about this chapter and both of them loved what I want to do. I'm fairly confident, in a subtle way, the scene and its direction has never been done before in Celtic mythology. We'll see if I can pull it off.

So, off to outline Chapter 27. Thanks for reading this blog. It's nice to know some people have been following me along my own journey. Let's hope the fun continues!

Labels: The Dark Thorn, Todd Lockwood