Chapter 31
How long does a chapter take to write?
Chapter 31 took almost a month! Even if it is a short month, a month!
It was by far the hardest chapter for me to write in The Dark Thorn. It is long at 5986 words—two chapters in one if you look at some of my earlier chapters—and it is the first part of a two part battle sequence taking place out on the plains fronting the Forest of Dean. I'm really happy with how it turned out but orchestrating the battle from the point of view of a character who doesn't know strategy or tactics made it difficult.
Plus, I was juggling more than a dozen characters. Tough to do.
Now that I am finished with it I have to step away from it. I know it will need editing, but I can't do that now. I have to leave it alone and come back to it in a week or two to ensure it is up to my standards.
So, now what?
Chapter 32 and 33 and 34 and Epilogue. While I was having a hard time with Chapter 31, I sprang ahead into the last chapters of the book and fully outlined each, even writing some scenes and writing the final scene of the book. Basically the last two pages of the Epilogue are finished, so I wasn't sitting on my laurels for the entire month really. If you notice Chapter 34, then you are probably also noticing that Chapter 34 is an extra chapter. Yup, the story required it. Which means I have even more work than I thought.
Yeah, I know. I had hoped to be done with this by the end of February. It didn't happen. But I am that much closer to finishing and that makes me happy.
As the word count stands:
No more additional chapters. With those last three chapters and epilogue outlined now, the story is complete to me.
On to the next chapter! Chapter 32 is a Richard chapter, the final Richard chapter of the book. I have twisted Richard to the point of breaking and I can't wait to write this one. Some fun things happen in the battle, but the inner struggle of Richard is what I am looking forward to writing. He is a mess and the end of the chapter will see me do something controversial—for those who know how to look for it.
Let the fun begin!
Chapter 31 took almost a month! Even if it is a short month, a month!
It was by far the hardest chapter for me to write in The Dark Thorn. It is long at 5986 words—two chapters in one if you look at some of my earlier chapters—and it is the first part of a two part battle sequence taking place out on the plains fronting the Forest of Dean. I'm really happy with how it turned out but orchestrating the battle from the point of view of a character who doesn't know strategy or tactics made it difficult.
Plus, I was juggling more than a dozen characters. Tough to do.
Now that I am finished with it I have to step away from it. I know it will need editing, but I can't do that now. I have to leave it alone and come back to it in a week or two to ensure it is up to my standards.
So, now what?
Chapter 32 and 33 and 34 and Epilogue. While I was having a hard time with Chapter 31, I sprang ahead into the last chapters of the book and fully outlined each, even writing some scenes and writing the final scene of the book. Basically the last two pages of the Epilogue are finished, so I wasn't sitting on my laurels for the entire month really. If you notice Chapter 34, then you are probably also noticing that Chapter 34 is an extra chapter. Yup, the story required it. Which means I have even more work than I thought.
Yeah, I know. I had hoped to be done with this by the end of February. It didn't happen. But I am that much closer to finishing and that makes me happy.
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: 4838 Chapter 29: 4698 Chapter 30: 5216 Chapter 31: 5986 Chapter 32: Chapter 33: Chapter 34: Epilogue: |
No more additional chapters. With those last three chapters and epilogue outlined now, the story is complete to me.
On to the next chapter! Chapter 32 is a Richard chapter, the final Richard chapter of the book. I have twisted Richard to the point of breaking and I can't wait to write this one. Some fun things happen in the battle, but the inner struggle of Richard is what I am looking forward to writing. He is a mess and the end of the chapter will see me do something controversial—for those who know how to look for it.
Let the fun begin!
Labels: The Dark Thorn
posted by Shawn C. Speakman | 11:18 AM
4 Comments:
I'm looking forward to reading this book after you get it published. Guess you needed that extra chapter so I'm interested in what else happens. I'm still in Chapter 12 of my book. Good luck in finishing it. I hope you have it done by Easter.
Blessed Be.
like shit
Keep on working Shawn! I really look forward to you someday getting your masterpiece finished!! (Hopefully its a masterpiece, lol).
I don't know how busy you are with idea's for posts? (perchance you have 10 great blog update ideas a day, but have to settle for making time to chose one and post it per week. But perhaps you are searching for something to write about aside from the annual update of you progress. If its the latter, read on)
Maybe you could do an entry sometime discussing how the feeling differs from wrapping up your second book, versus the first. What is more and less satisfying, how your perspective has changed, etc....it could make for an interesting read.
For example, i know work on my second book has felt altogether less "magical" than my first. On first blush, that seems like a bad thing, but its not. Basically it means I understand what i am doing, have more clearly defined goals set up, and am better at achieving and surpassing those goals. Sure there is a certain amount of adventure and excitement to come and and just create, and then look back at the end of a chapter and read it and think "wow, thats amazing, how the hell did i think of that, it almost feels like someone else did it" but ultimately, if someone has any aspiration to make a living at writing, thats a lousy approach to take.
Peaces out,
sean
beansidhe: I will finish the chapter today, leaving two left, basically. Two Bran chapters and then a short epilogue. Good luck with your own book. I hope you are making great progress in it!
Sean: I think that is a very good idea. I will write something like that when I am finished and the book is gone from me. I had a different experience than you did -- this time felt even more magical to me -- but I also had some more reality thrown into this experience of what it means to be a writer. More on this later.
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