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By Ellie, August 2, 2010 10:54 pm

I can’t come up with a decent title for this one. BECAUSE, that’s why.

No mini book review this Monday, either. I love Cornelia Funke’s writing. She’s done some gorgeous work… but, man, it’s a chore getting through Inkspell. I’m not even a quarter of the way through. But once I’m done with all three books, I’ll write about my general musings. For now… well, I don’t know. Maybe I’ll think of a book I’ve already read and write a review on that for next Monday.

Just thought of three: the Mortal Instruments trilogy. Now I just gotta remember all the characters I didn’t like and write about why I didn’t like them.

But the truth is that I’m not reading much these days. I don’t want to. I’m so involved with writing, looking for a job, and planning on going back to school that I’m loath to get lost in a novel. Sounds silly, I know, but I’ve learned that I can finish a project I’ve started. The only other time I’ve finished a novel was… damn, back when I was ten. It was an adventure story with animals, written in a composition notebook no longer than 100 pages.

So as you can imagine, writing a novel that could go past 500 printed pages is a damn big deal with me.

So what happens after this? There’s that Webcomic. I’m going to start posting concept art and sketches pretty soon. (Our printer doesn’t like to print anymore, but at least it’ll scan.) I’ve got the plot figured out for the most part. Now it’s just a matter of drawing and inking everything. Backgrounds are going to be a bitch.

Welp, back to Inkspell. Maybe I can get through a whole chapter!

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By Ellie, July 30, 2010 9:08 am

Wish I could think of a snappier title for this post, but I just woke up about a half hour ago. I don’t do snappy so soon after getting out of bed, except at people who’ve forced me to get up.

WIP: “Evan & Ronny”
122,234/ 130,000 Words

Look at those numbers. I’m thinking that a three-week break might be in order. When I say a break, I mean that I’ll be taking a break from this particular project. I’ll probably be writing notes on what to add and take out, what kind of new twists I can introduce, that sort of thing, but I’ll do my best not to touch the document itself.

But I can’t stop writing. It took me years to get into the habit of writing regularly (five to six days a week, with Fridays and Saturdays being “off” days due to my work schedule). So I’ll be tackling two of the dozen projects I’ve got waiting around. There’s that Webcomic I’ve been sketching out for the past month; it’d be nice to start inking the first pages. Then there’s a middle-grade novel that needs to be fully formed, concept-wise. It’s gone from a fun, freewheeling story to a dark and gritty tale of loss and finding a sense of self (think Harry Potter and the last three books)… and it might return to fun and freewheeling. The only thing that hasn’t changed are the aliens.

Writing drama’s hard. If I didn’t know that already, “Evan and Ronny” would have taught me. I wrote a particularly miserable scene yesterday that actually had me in tears (and it didn’t help that I was listening to “mood music” at the time). I need something fun and–I’m almost ashamed to say this–easy to write. I think both a 30K-word middle-grade novel with fun science-fantasy elements and a PG-13/R goofy comic about inept survivalists are in order.

But going back to the current project: I’m beginning to doubt Evan’s voice. Is it too much like my own? Is it too to-the-point? Moreover, does it sound like an observant fortysomething man who never went to college? That’s the main point I’ve been agonizing over ever since I wrote the first paragraph. College-educated people have a different voice from non-college grads… as do twentysomething women from fortysomething men.

I’ve been watching myself, trying not to be “girly” in my descriptions, using concrete imagery and thinking in action instead of feeling. I’ve considered reading Hemingway, but the only stories I’ve ever been able to sit through were The Old Man and the Sea and White Elephants. (My friend Richard would be so disappointed.) I’ve read James Patterson, and while his stories have kept me turning the pages, he’s a bit slapdash for my tastes. Besides, if I were to emulate either of these men, it’d show.

Or maybe I should believe that I’m doing my best, that I’ll never be totally perfect by everyone’s standards, accept that I’m a bit inexperienced, and aim to improve my voice techniques as my career matures. First-time authors don’t always get it “right” in the first book after all.

“Just tell a damn good story to the best of your abilities.” I should make that my wallpaper.

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By Ellie, July 28, 2010 10:52 pm

I’m drawing close to the 130K mark. Yikes. I think I might need an additional 5K just to wrap everything up. I’m looking forward to that two-week break now.

It doesn’t feel like I’m rushing through this part of the story, though I’d like to see the ending before too long. I’m not getting tired of the characters or plot, but I worry that it’s not as lovingly detailed as the first half. It could be due to my protagonist’s brief, to-the-point style of narration, but there’s a difference between telling the story in a unique voice and being plain lazy. Man, I hope I haven’t resorted to the latter. Maybe reading some Hemingway will help me gain insight into how the “sparse storytelling style” is accomplished.

I have a tentative finishing date of August 15th. This story should be finished by then, if not before.

Let’s see some numbers.

WIP: “Evan & Ronny”
118,921/ 130,000 Words

It took me almost twenty minutes, but I found Ronny’s gear.

Source

I love this. It screams rugged action and outdoors. Looks flexible and breathable enough for several adventures through the wilderness. Interestingly enough, it’s close to what I’d originally drawn. The bottom of the jacket can’t go past Ronny’s crotch, though; he’s six-foot-five, and a jacket of that length will make him look longer. I need to make him look a bit broader in the chest, just enough to give him a virile appearance.

Source

They almost look girly–and a bit similar to Evan’s boots–but I’ll eventually modify them in my future character sketches. I just need a basis since I suck at drawing detailed footwear.

You know what I totally forgot? Gloves. But I can imagine those. As soon as I learn to draw decent hands.

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By Ellie, July 26, 2010 8:18 am

No post today, folks. Today, I’m getting two teeth drilled and filled, and I doubt I’ll have the desire to write anything, even my own novel. So check in Wednesday where I’ll reveal the results of my clothing research. Exciting!

Bwuh. I don’t want to do this…

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By Ellie, July 23, 2010 6:39 pm

Whee-la! Coming up on the home stretch!

WIP: “Evan & Ronny”
106,785 / 130,000 Words

In the how-to-write books I’ve read, the authors always suggested clipping magazine pics and create a collage of your novel’s characters. I never took that advice since I preferred to draw my characters in the most basic clothes. Tunics, t-shirts, slacks, boots, and a few accessories.

But there are some things I need references for: jackets, sneakers… hands… horses… I’m sorely lacking in books about modern clothing, so I needed to look up jackets and masculine boots for my character, Evan. After a few minutes of Googling, this is what I found.

Source (sold out, unfortunately)

Since he’s trekking through the wilderness, Evan needs a jacket that’s durable yet light. And since this is the future, I can make up some new fangled material like “UberTex” and design the perfect outdoors jacket that can stand up to brambles and foul weather, yet not weigh down my five-foot-five hero.

Source

If those boots had functional belts, they’d be even sweeter. Still, these are stylish, and they look durable. Probably not great for hiking, but Evan isn’t supposed to be prepared for the outdoors. He’s a pudgy, pampered agent whose wildest walking paths included his childhood backyard and steep city hills.

As for bottoms, he’ll be donning plain jeans. (Hey, jeans are just the most durable and versatile clothing; I say they’d exist thousands of years from now.) Oh, Evan does wear suits and expensive casual wear, but that’s for home and work; that doesn’t matter as much as what he needs to wear for the adventure.

If only Ronny’s attire was as easy to find. He’s got a slightly different style; more rustic and “low class,” and I’ve only been able to find nice, classy leather clothes.

Maybe if I used “distressed” as one of my keywords…