What are you writing about now?

[Ent]

Be kind to your editor and don't make them do so much scut work!

"Oh, joy.. oh rapture." (Scarecrow, 1939 Wizard of Oz).
We certainly agree on this. (Which is, in part, why I tossed together the "Concise Writing Tips For Authors" brief I'll go back and look for again.)

Editing time is far better spent on structure, layout, consistency, continuity, verification of facts, extraction of impact, and more...

I daresay part of our issue today exists because the 'basics' are no longer taught, so an author spends far more money on editors who are spending far more time on the 'basics' than formerly required. The author often simply does not know how to put words together meaningfully. Thus the 'value' of the money they spend on editors doesn't result in a better book as often...just a more easily read one....since the author works with limited financial resources and only gets so much 'return on investment.'

The 'old saw' "you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear" applies.

(Hate to say it, but I'm an old tree..! The kind brought up under the concept of 'responsibility lying at my own feet' rather than elsewhere. Hope this comment isn't too controversial.)

 

[david_wendelken]

Test for spine for enameled book cover on copper for book II.

I like the parchment-like look and texture of the background colour.

I'm adjusting the copper border to be 1/2 its current width and using the space gained to make the letters a bit bigger. They will be a bit easier to fill with enamel and to read.

I'm going to adjust a few of the letters to make them more readable. The 'd', 'e', 't' and 'v', in particular, need some adjustment.

Overfired the leaves trying to fix the text. They had no brown in them and had green highlights instead, plus the gold was a bit lighter in tone. Now that I know the right way to handle the letters, this shouldn't be a problem going forward.

Overall, it was a very successful test. I think I'll have a winner by attempt #4.

 

[Ent]

AHA. "ON WRITING," my brief on writing, has been located. Clever title, don't you think?
Will post it in some appropriate place soon, after another review or four.

As so well stated by @david_wendelken, its intent essentially translates as a plea to writers to 'be kind to their editors.'
(Though of course, no editor worthy of the title would ever SAY that's what it's for..!)

Will come soon.

 

[Halasían]

Book 1: Cold War in Arthedain, covers the time period from circa 1300 3A to 2160 3A. A collection of diary entries, correspondence, interviews, and tales collected and edited by two different historians, one human and one elven, a thousand years apart. Circa 600 pages so far, some written so long ago I only have paper copies because the word processors don't exist anymore. Lots of work needed to knock this one into shape!

Interesting! I for one would love to read this one as the Northern Dúnedain is my core interest in Tolkien's Middle Earth. I hope you get it all together and presentable in a sharable form!

I get the whole fragments on past technology dilemma. I have written several 'journals' from the perspective of various characters, namely, the Dúnedain Ranger Chieftains, over the decades but they are more focused on events in the time periods the character was living. I have since created an original character set in the late 1st century of the 4th Age who is the 'Royal Librarian of the rebuilt Library of Annúminas' who is actively collecting the scrolls and parchments and journals of the past. I do it for fun of course, but it is a good exercise in collecting my old stories and fanfics into one place. I have scanned to PDF a fanfic story I wrote back in 1976 after reading Lord of the Rings for the first time. I recently discovered the 3-ring notebook in a bunch of my old school stuff mom kept.

Anyway, I don't want to hijack Old Man Tree's 'Writing Project' thread. I return you to your regularly-scheduled programming.

 

[Ent]

I don't want to hijack Old Man Tree's 'Writing Project'

Not possible to do.
Any discussion about the writing being done, sharing of thoughts, etc. are welcome on this thread.
They all serve as 'encouragements' to those of us writing. It's what it's all about.

 

[david_wendelken]

Interesting! I for one would love to read this one as the Northern Dúnedain is my core interest in Tolkien's Middle Earth. I hope you get it all together and presentable in a sharable form!

I get the whole fragments on past technology dilemma. I have written several 'journals' from the perspective of various characters, namely, the Dúnedain Ranger Chieftains, over the decades but they are more focused on events in the time periods the character was living. I have since created an original character set in the late 1st century of the 4th Age who is the 'Royal Librarian of the rebuilt Library of Annúminas' who is actively collecting the scrolls and parchments and journals of the past. I do it for fun of course, but it is a good exercise in collecting my old stories and fanfics into one place. I have scanned to PDF a fanfic story I wrote back in 1976 after reading Lord of the Rings for the first time. I recently discovered the 3-ring notebook in a bunch of my old school stuff mom kept.

Anyway, I don't want to hijack Old Man Tree's 'Writing Project' thread. I return you to your regularly-scheduled programming.

Here's a redacted extract of the prefaces and the first two chapters.

I would be curious if people are intrigued enough to want to read more, because there is, of course, a good chance there isn't!

I may not keep the title for Book 1. Though it covers the timeline from 1300 thru the mid 2100s, the bulk of it post-dates the fall of Arthedain. Partly that's because sometimes characters have their own plans that they inform me whilst I'm writing, and partly because some of the earliest material has been lost to time and memory. I started this project a very, very long time ago!

 

[Halasían]

I may not keep the title for Book 1. Though it covers the timeline from 1300 thru the mid 2100s, the bulk of it post-dates the fall of Arthedain. Partly that's because sometimes characters have their own plans that they inform me whilst I'm writing, and partly because some of the earliest material has been lost to time and memory. I started this project a very, very long time ago!

It was an interesting read, especially the part in the Quest about Umbar. I couldn't pick up any reference to Arthedain, or Arnor for that matter, but I may have missed it. I will read over it again.

 

[david_wendelken]

It was an interesting read, especially the part in the Quest about Umbar. I couldn't pick up any reference to Arthedain, or Arnor for that matter, but I may have missed it. I will read over it again.

This part takes place after Arthedain fell. I needed an intro to some key characters and a way for the historians to have an "in" on the bad guy's side.

The Arthedain material is the oldest and I'm having to scan it in an correct all the resulting mistakes. It's slow going. And then bring it up to better writing standards. Some of the earliest material dates back to the mid-80s. The word processors I used don't exist anymore so that part of the book is only on paper.

 

[Halasían]

Some of the earliest material dates back to the mid-80s. The word processors I used don't exist anymore so that part of the book is only on paper.

Yeah I get that. The earliest draft of my story about Arvedui and his retreat north as told by one of his Royal Guardsman last existed on an old website 'Reading Room' and on a 3.5" disc. I was fortunate to find someone who retrieved data from old media and got a Word-compatible file of it. What a pain.

 

[Tyelkormo the Fair]

I either write 10k in a few days or I don't write at all for a month lol!
I just wrote nearly 1k words in less than an hour and I'm quite happy with it so far!
This part of the story is such a struggle for me because of the slow pace and well it's not that exciting to write but it's necessary so I have no choice but to do it!
That was me...how are your projects faring? Hope you all have made progress!

 

[david_wendelken]

That was me...how are your projects faring? Hope you all have made progress!

Revised and completed the timeline between book 2 and 3 in my series. Needs some editing to correct point-of-view issues, but solid progress.

 

[Tyelkormo the Fair]

That's great! I have to go through what I've written a few times too and edit it if necessary... it's not as fun when you're setting your plot though

 

[Ent]

Still editing 2 books, 1 of them closing toward 'go time' now, the other just halfway through Round 2. Rounds 3 and 4 yet to go. It's a bit bigger book.

Also writing a multi-page Appendix now for the book nearing 'go time.'

After some chat awhile ago, the author commissioned a picture to be done on my behalf, from my concepts, input and reviews, sent to the artist. Then the author gifted the pic to me.

Following some more recent discussion about my intent with the picture's use in an upcoming writing, he decided he wanted a version of it to go in his book as an appendix, under my name.

Then there was more chat a couple days ago. A 2nd picture will be in the works shortly now too it seems, also to be seen in this Appendix, also taken from my concepts and input (already provided,) reviews of drafts to follow, and also apparently to be gifted to me for the future larger work.

Both will show up in this short-version Appendix and are key to the whole issue in view.

Fun, fun, fun.

One just never knows quite what to expect in life..

"Always in motion, is the future." (Yoda)

 

[Ent]

Trusting everyone's writing projects are going well, and you're finding the encouragements you need to keep on keepin' on.

Working on this Appendix for this book, I've realized I'm going to need to write up an Essay, and probably stick it in The Red Book of Westmarch. A must while it's still all in my mind. Title will be "Gandalf And The Balrog".

Jackson has so completely missed and messed up everything Tolkien was conveying in this section, it's become one of the hardest segments of his LoTR Trilogy for me to watch.

Look for it 'soon' if you're interested. The Appendix will be done shortly... (a couple weeks)... then the Essay will be completed, before I return to Editing.

Meanwhile, keep writing..! And 'jot down those ideas'..... they'll all be useful someday.

 

[david_wendelken]

Re-reading The Elements of Eloquence: Secrets of the Perfect Turn of Phrase by Mark Forsyth. It's a great read and very helpful for understanding how to word things more interestingly.

I've decided to go through each type of rhetorical flourish in the book and look for places where using that technique is a good idea. I'll end up with a better written book and a solid understanding of the techniques for the next book.

 

[Ent]

YAY, the Appendix is written in full in draft. Tweaked once.
Now on to the real editing... should have it done completely today or tomorrow, then get on to the next project.

Keep at it all... the end of one is but the beginning of another, with ever an exciting vista to scrutinize just ahead.

("vista to scrutinize"... from Sherlock Holmes. "you see, but you do not observe." May we always do more than 'see'.)

 

[Ent]

So I cranked in about 13 hours of writing and editing on Saturday. Finished it about 1:00 a.m. Sunday morning. Sent it to the Author. Was in my recliner drinkng a spot of tea by 1:30 to relax.

Made the mistake of thinking about it while I slept. Decided I needed to reorganize and rewrite a section,.
Spent another 7 hours on it Sunday.
Sent it again.

Does anyone else dislike their writing when they step back and look at it again? These twigs are never done tweaking..! I refuse to look at it again, unless the author comes back to me with a suggestion or 50.

Anyway, now I can start on Gandalf and the Balrog to get it posted here.

 

[Fingon_Findekáno]

Does anyone else dislike their writing when they step back and look at it again?

All the time! I have to force myself to say it’s good enough and just submit it, but even then I’m still thinking about it and considering what more I could have done. An added thought here, a different wording there, alter some details a bit, etc. I have to resist the urge to go back and edit it once it’s been submitted.😅

 

[Ent]

I have to force myself to say it’s good enough

Indeed.

even then I’m still thinking about it and considering what more I could have done

Indeed, the 'double whammy'. but snarl..! it has to be 'let go of', so we can move on, does it not?

I have many Sherlock Holmes related essays I wrote during the earlier moons of this age.
Every time someone asks me to send one along so they can see how I write, or enjoy one related to favorite stories, I pull it up and the twigs fly again before I'll send it..!

What I wrote then, though it is what I'd want to write now, is not at all how I'd want to write it now...even if the last revision was just last week..!!

Reworking a different tense in here (and in related areas) to make a clearer connection... a more subtle syntax there, strengthening delivery of the underlying intent... a more dynamic word choice to heighten the immediate impact... whatever.
Sigh. "A writer's work is never done."

Tolkien wrote"
"The writing of The Lord of the Rings is laborious, because I have been doing it as well as I know how, and considering every word.” J.R.R. Tolkien, Letters #35, 2 February 1939.

This statement will head Gandalf and the Balrog because it's so critical to what I will be unfolding. And as we know, he never finished the great bulk of his work.

Every time I see or write these words of his, I cannot help but think of my own condition... and wonder about all of you. No easy path, is writing.

Anyway, on one branch I'm thankful I'm in good company with the same difficulties. On another, I grieve for all of you who suffer in the same way.

 

[david_wendelken]

I'm just finishing a really good read, "The Elements of Eloquence" by Mark Forsyth. It discusses the classical rhetorical flourishes of speech and writing in an extremely informative and entertaining manner.

I'm now going thru my book, one flourish at a time, to look for good opportunities to use them. My hope is that, by the time I've done that, my existing writing will be improved and all future writing will be as well.

At least it gives me new ideas to futz with existing writing instead of the worn out ones I've been using!