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Post by Fleck on Jul 15, 2012 21:12:02 GMT -8
Figured I'd make a new thread for this, so I'm not cluttering my Announcement thread.
Couple of things to announce. I've added a new page to my site, in preparation for the coming of FF8: Future Bound. Nothing is there except for the official image for the series, which I've already shown on the forums before.
Also, here's where I'll be putting the writing timeline. Right now it looks a little something like this:
Prologue = 1st draft finished Chapter 1 = 1st draft finished Chapter 2 = Not started
Now, before you all start getting excited about how quickly I've moved through the prologue and first chapter, remember that I'm going to be doing several drafts of each chapter, and I'm going to be moving on to other chapters before I go back and edit this one. So we're still a ways away from you guys actually seeing Chapter 1. Also, Chapter 1 is unique because it is very short, and also it has remained almost entirely unchanged since I first conceived it years ago. The beginning of this story has always been very clear to me, so it made this part go by rather fast.
I'll keep you guys updated on this thread. If you have any questions, feel free to ask, although I will be very reticent about spoilers or potential spoilers.
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Post by Bob on Jul 15, 2012 22:15:26 GMT -8
Question! May I sit on your lap?
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Post by Fleck on Jul 16, 2012 1:11:10 GMT -8
Only if you promise to bounce up and down.
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Post by Bob on Jul 16, 2012 8:07:43 GMT -8
Oh I plan to. I'm one sexy bouncer, too.
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Post by Fleck on Jul 19, 2012 20:03:53 GMT -8
Prologue = 1st draft finished Chapter 1 = 1st draft finished Chapter 2 = 1st draft finished Chapter 3 = Not started
I'm moving pretty quickly through these first drafts. Partially because I'm not too overly concerned about prose at this point. I'm doing what a lot of authors call "conquering the page," in which I just slam down words to get the draft out, and then worry about editing later. It is very liberating and allows me to move through the first drafts very quickly, but it means I'm going to have a lot of work to do once I start editing.
But in good news, I really don't think this story is going to die an ignoble SSH2 death, where the mere sight of it upon editing will kill it instantly. SSH2 had different problems and a different outlook than this story. So if any of you were worried that I'd stop, go back to edit, and then hate the story and scrap it, I can all but guarantee that that will not happen. I'm really starting to get into it, in ways I was not into SSH2.
Also, I'm glad that I'm scouting ahead, because in a mere 2 chapters, I found a (very minor) plot detail that conflicts with something said in Chapter 1. It's an easy fix, but it would have been annoying if I'd already put up Chapter 1.
Anyway... yeah. WOO! WRITING!
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Post by Fleck on Jul 23, 2012 21:45:17 GMT -8
Prologue = 1st draft finished Chapter 1 = 1st draft finished Chapter 2 = 1st draft finished Chapter 3 = 1st draft finished Chapter 4 = Not started Storytelling is hard. I ran into some issues in the process of writing Chapter 3. Nothing earth-shattering, but enough to remind me that yes, writing a novel is going to take a hell of a lot of work. It's just kind of frustrating in a way, because Chapters 1 and 2 came with little struggle at all, and now Chapter 3 wants to be the fussy one. Anyway, I've got a draft out, and I'm gonna keep plugging on. I think I'll start editing once I finish the first draft of Chapter 5. Once I get a look at how much needs to be edited, I'll be able to start throwing out ballpark estimates as to when you guys are going to start actually reading this thing. I will say that my chapters are much shorter than I originally thought, which is going to make this process a lot quicker, and the whole book shorter. Still going to be a bitch though.
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Post by Fleck on Jul 26, 2012 23:24:18 GMT -8
Prologue = 1st draft finished Chapter 1 = 1st draft finished Chapter 2 = 1st draft finished Chapter 3 = 1st draft finished Chapter 4 = 1st draft finished Chapter 5 = Not started Storytelling = still hard However, plowing through the difficult bits, even though it's a bit disconcerting sometimes, is yielding positive results. A few days ago I was pretty down about the project, but Chapter 4 had some good surprises for me. A few things that I thought were going to trip me up ended up resolving themselves pretty neatly, and I think this is one of my strongest chapters yet. Granted, the writing needs a LOT of work, since it's roughly SSH-quality, but I'm hoping I can fix that when I get editing (which I'll do after the completion of the next chapter). Stay tuned!
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Post by Bob on Jul 27, 2012 10:50:31 GMT -8
Same Fleck time? Same Fleck channel?
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Post by Fleck on Jul 31, 2012 22:08:31 GMT -8
Prologue = 1st draft finished Chapter 1 = 1st draft finished Chapter 2 = 1st draft finished Chapter 3 = 1st draft finished Chapter 4 = 1st draft finished Chapter 5 = 1st draft finished Chapter 6 = Not started
Okay, I think I've worked far enough into the future now. It's time for me to go back and start editing. This is really when I'm going to see how much work there is still to be done. Chapter 1, in theory, might be awesome and just about ready to go (it isn't, but we can pretend) in which case you guys will be able to see it pretty soon. Or it could be a complete mess that could require 4 or 5 drafts to make acceptable. Personally, I doubt I'm skating by without at least three total drafts, which means at least another month or so before you guys can get to reading.
But fear not! Every day brings you one day closer to the start of the book. Also, while the prose is mostly shit, I am doing a badass job of closing loopholes and strengthening the story as I go. I had my doubts, but those doubts are slowly being assuaged. The only question left is if I can make the prose match the ideas in my head.
Thanks for reading!
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Post by Fleck on Aug 2, 2012 21:02:17 GMT -8
Prologue = Finished, ready to post Chapter 1 = 2nd draft in progress Chapter 2 = 1st draft finished Chapter 3 = 1st draft finished Chapter 4 = 1st draft finished Chapter 5 = 1st draft finished Chapter 6 = Not started
Quick update and a quick question. The update: the Prologue is done and ready to go. Furthermore, while editing on Chapter 1 is underway and is going well, it is going slowly. I'm spending a lot of time trying to figure out how artsy-fartsy I want to get with my prose. Too much reeks of bad fanfiction, but too little would be bland. This is still a learning experience for me, remember. Anyway, yeah, it's going well. Chapter 1 isn't the abomination I feared it was, so this shouldn't take too long for me to finish. Three drafts should suffice, with maybe a quick fourth to ensure there aren't any typos or anything before I post. So... September seems like a good month for this to be ready. Sorry about it still being another month or so, but once I start posting, the spaces between updates will be a lot shorter. Instead of waiting months, you should only have to wait a couple weeks between posts.
Also a question. The prologue is done and I CAN post it, but there's no original material in it. The prologue consists 100% of specifically chosen quotes from FF8, to set the mood and foreshadow a few events and themes in Future Bound. I could post it now if you'd like, or I can wait until Chapter 1 is done and post them together. It's up to you guys.
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Post by countlieberkuhn on Aug 3, 2012 8:39:51 GMT -8
Whatever works for you. Will it get us STOKED?
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Post by Fleck on Aug 3, 2012 11:00:11 GMT -8
Dunno about the "stoked" part. How excited do you get when you see FF8 quotes? Personally, I'd post it just to get it off my computer. I doubt I'll have another fatal crash, but just in case I do, I don't want to be hanging on to finished documents if I don't have to. But I thought maybe you guys wouldn't want me to post it, seeing as how it might be another month yet before Chapter 1 is finished. If no one tells me "no" then I guess I'll post it tonight or tomorrow.
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Post by Fleck on Aug 3, 2012 22:48:00 GMT -8
Posted the Prologue. And I must say I like the way it looks and feels. If the rest of the story turns out like that, I will be more than pleased.
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Post by countlieberkuhn on Aug 4, 2012 3:37:54 GMT -8
It's all very cryptic and intriguing! I also feel good that I can remember who actually said the majority of those quotes too, my memory hasn't totally gone to pot yet
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Post by Fleck on Aug 4, 2012 10:36:06 GMT -8
Thanks. I think it does a pretty good job of setting the mood for FB, while also mirroring the "I'll be here..." intro FMV for FF8. Maybe listening to Liberi Fatali while reading it will make it even better
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