Comments on: Why the rush? http://www.pensandswords.com/2008/09/16/why-the-rush/ Talking shop with fantasy fiction author Kameron M. Franklin Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:15:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Stuart http://www.pensandswords.com/2008/09/16/why-the-rush/comment-page-1/#comment-33528 Stuart Mon, 20 Oct 2008 17:32:26 +0000 http://www.pensandswords.com/?p=531#comment-33528 A month late response. ;) My word count pressure is self imposed. My original estimate for this book (based on the outline and story) was 180,000 words, which seemed to be stretching the norm for first books by unpublished writers, but within shooting distance. Yes, there are always exceptions, but I guess my rationale is not to shoot myself in the foot by trying to submit such a long first book. It makes me a much bigger risk from the publisher's point of view. Right now, I'm at 90% of my 180k estimate, yet only have 83% of my outlined chapters completed. Granted some of the unwritten chapters are planned short (my main POV seems to be the most longwinded), it still means I'm looking at a first draft more in the 200k range. And my attempts at revising, cutting, and trimming my first few chapters (since I haven't been getting any new writing done) have resulted in tighter characterization and plot weaving, but sometimes I end with an increased word count... Heh I'm definitely an epic fantasy writer. I seem incapable of brevity, including this blog comment. A month late response. ;)

My word count pressure is self imposed. My original estimate for this book (based on the outline and story) was 180,000 words, which seemed to be stretching the norm for first books by unpublished writers, but within shooting distance. Yes, there are always exceptions, but I guess my rationale is not to shoot myself in the foot by trying to submit such a long first book. It makes me a much bigger risk from the publisher’s point of view.

Right now, I’m at 90% of my 180k estimate, yet only have 83% of my outlined chapters completed. Granted some of the unwritten chapters are planned short (my main POV seems to be the most longwinded), it still means I’m looking at a first draft more in the 200k range. And my attempts at revising, cutting, and trimming my first few chapters (since I haven’t been getting any new writing done) have resulted in tighter characterization and plot weaving, but sometimes I end with an increased word count…

Heh I’m definitely an epic fantasy writer. I seem incapable of brevity, including this blog comment.

]]> By: Kameron http://www.pensandswords.com/2008/09/16/why-the-rush/comment-page-1/#comment-27079 Kameron Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:16:08 +0000 http://www.pensandswords.com/?p=531#comment-27079 I'd be interested to know what the source of the word count pressure is, Stuart, as I'm assuming it's self-imposed. What made you decide the book had to be X words long? Kameron's last blog post was <a href="http://www.kameronmf.com/2008/09/16/why-the-rush/" rel="nofollow">Why the rush?</a> I’d be interested to know what the source of the word count pressure is, Stuart, as I’m assuming it’s self-imposed. What made you decide the book had to be X words long?

Kameron’s last blog post was Why the rush?

]]> By: Stuart http://www.pensandswords.com/2008/09/16/why-the-rush/comment-page-1/#comment-27070 Stuart Wed, 17 Sep 2008 13:06:37 +0000 http://www.pensandswords.com/?p=531#comment-27070 I'm experiencing the word count pressure to rush my ending right now. I think I found a way to not rush it by removing the detailed escape scene and instead focus on the character drama/reactions to what's just happened. We'll see. First I need to find time to start writing again. Sell house! :) The most rushed ending I've read in a long time is The Historian. What a let down that ending was. The beginning of the book was great, with flashes of greatness sprinkled throughout, even though it started to drag. THen WHOOSH! The ending. Rushed and unsatisfying. Good post, Kam. I’m experiencing the word count pressure to rush my ending right now. I think I found a way to not rush it by removing the detailed escape scene and instead focus on the character drama/reactions to what’s just happened. We’ll see. First I need to find time to start writing again. Sell house! :)

The most rushed ending I’ve read in a long time is The Historian. What a let down that ending was. The beginning of the book was great, with flashes of greatness sprinkled throughout, even though it started to drag. THen WHOOSH! The ending. Rushed and unsatisfying.

Good post, Kam.

]]> By: Jeff http://www.pensandswords.com/2008/09/16/why-the-rush/comment-page-1/#comment-26973 Jeff Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:38:31 +0000 http://www.pensandswords.com/?p=531#comment-26973 Heck yes. Not only have I read a bunch of rushed endings (from some big names, too), but I've certainly felt it myself. The ending of <i>The Darkwood Mask</i>, to me, feels fairly rushed...but not crazily so. And the reason wasn't deadline, it was the fact that I was already well over my word count. Like you, I had about a year to write mine—a bit unusual. My ending was even more rushed with my second WotC novel, because I had a lot less time to write it. Of course, that was axed anyway so it's not the best example. Jeff's last blog post was <a href="http://www.ashlock.org/post.php?post_id=1137" rel="nofollow">Keeping My Vibe Down?</a> Heck yes. Not only have I read a bunch of rushed endings (from some big names, too), but I’ve certainly felt it myself. The ending of The Darkwood Mask, to me, feels fairly rushed…but not crazily so. And the reason wasn’t deadline, it was the fact that I was already well over my word count. Like you, I had about a year to write mine—a bit unusual.

My ending was even more rushed with my second WotC novel, because I had a lot less time to write it. Of course, that was axed anyway so it’s not the best example.

Jeff’s last blog post was Keeping My Vibe Down?

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