What are you writing about now?

FINALLY managed to wrap up the opening scene of my first chapter.(I'd not say book, because I haven't started with my prologue.)

It took me a good 4 months just to write around 900 words. The scene in my mind and the following events of it were very vague but in the last weeks I finally managed to fill in the plot hole I was having there. It was all thanks to a drawing I did recently, actually. Weird how one thing connects to another.

I ran the ProWritingAid critique module against a chapter in my sequel book - the one set in modern times with Rebecca and me as supporting characters. You know how Stan Lee liked to have a cameo appearance in the Marvel films? I figured I would give it a try.

Here’s the character analysis for the chapter my wife and I appear in:

1. Seodréaltdearg (modern Irish alias for my elven bard character): She is a complex and engaging character with a rich history, a talent for music, and a hidden strength. Her vulnerability and resilience make her relatable and endearing.
2. Rebecca: She's a well-rounded character, a retired history professor, and a loving wife. Her intelligence and quick thinking make her a valuable asset. The reader has a strong sense of her history, both from her dialogue and how she interacts with other characters.
3. David: He's a bit of a comic relief character, and the reader quickly gets a sense of his fondness for Tolkien and his ability to think outside the box.
4. The "Englishman": He's clearly a threat, but his motivations are left a bit vague.

Here I thought I was a hero in the story, but I’m just Guy, the comic relief in Galaxy Quest. 😊

Did some more writing today(around 400 words) and got a new idea for going along with this chapter. It's related to my story building and supernatural powers of my world, so it might change again at some point if I'm not happy with it anymore.

Tyelkormo the Fair said:

FINALLY managed to wrap up the opening scene of my first chapter.(I'd not say book, because I haven't started with my prologue.)

It took me a good 4 months just to write around 900 words. The scene in my mind and the following events of it were very vague but in the last weeks I finally managed to fill in the plot hole I was having there. It was all thanks to a drawing I did recently, actually. Weird how one thing connects to another.

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Tolkien devoted time and care to perfecting his philological style, making sure every detail reflected his vision. In the same way, it’s perfectly fine to take your time! The pace will naturally pick up as you continue writing and find your own rhythm. With each step, you’re building something unique and meaningful; just like Tolkien did.
Keep going; you'll get there!

Kiredor said:

Tolkien devoted time and care to perfecting his philological style, making sure every detail reflected his vision. In the same way, it’s perfectly fine to take your time! The pace will naturally pick up as you continue writing and find your own rhythm. With each step, you’re building something unique and meaningful; just like Tolkien did.
Keep going; you'll get there!

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Thank you! And yes, it is kind of awkward ATM because unlike fanfictions, I don't just have the weight of the plot on my shoulders and need to do world building and many other things besides it. It's fun, but also confusing.

The new writing tool I'm using, ProWritingAid, has a "sticky sentences" report. It's to help identify sentences that are harder to read because they may be too wordy. Here's a link to the full explanation. https://prowritingaid.com/art/347/How-to-use...-The-Sticky-Sentence-Report.aspx

My sticky-word percentage was 44%. They recommend < 40%. I've been looking at the sentences they highlight. Some could be simplified (and should be). But a lot are just the way I want them. So I began to wonder, is it me or the software?

I popped a section of Tolkien's writing into the product and ran the report. It was the scene where the fellowship is leaving Lorien and discovering the wonder of lembas and their new cloaks, plus hearing news about the path back northwards. It had a sticky index of 54%. I'll still glance through the report, but I'm not going to sweat this one anymore.

Listening to The Last Kingdom ST and plan to go back to writing my book. I really liked the series and the music even more.

Ran the Autocrit analysis on my "finished" book that's centered on the War of the Ring in Lorien. If you remember, I added an appendix that detailed an inventory of family heirlooms, many of which are magical in nature. The premise is that the family matriarch has compiled the list for her daughter and new son-in-law. She often includes relevant snippets of commentary about the items, including how she acquired them, comments or warnings about their usage, etc.

This is what Autocrit said about it:

"Appendix D – "Household Inventory": Providing an inventory list might seem mundane but this appendix enriches the narrative fabric by detailing artifacts that carry historical significance or magical properties linked to various characters' ancestries including Varsûl and his family lineages—it fulfills the premise through demonstrating how objects can embody legacies while also serving functional roles in ongoing struggles against dark powers."

That's a bit more uplifting than ProWritingAid's analysis that the character in the sequel that's based on me isn't "the hero" of the chapter but instead the "comic relief"!

Mostly off-topic, but this is plenty exciting for me, so I'll share anyway. You might remember that I'm planning on making enameled book covers for the arthouse edition of my books.

This new book on enamel artists and their work was just released. Take a look at page 204!

I just finished writing Chapter 8 of The Works of Curufinwë. It was a nice break after Chapter 7, which was stupendously long and very 'heavy', as it deals with Curufin's unpleasant involvement in the Beren & Lúthien story.

In Chapter 8, I slowed the story way down, almost to a stop. It allowed me to write in a more poetic manner, and draw a picture with my words rather than a long line heading from one event to the next.

Curufin sits in the workshop, holding a cut red gemstone. He slowly turns it over in his fingers, the light from above glimmering across its facets like little scarlet flames winking upon a sea of blood.

He holds it up to the light, a tiny blazing circle of stained glass, trapped in a black hand, framed in the white square of the high window.

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I enjoy writing these still, thoughtful moments. ☺️

I have three more chapters left to go.
Chapter 9 will be another long one, as I have to draw all the threads and themes back together, ready for the end. Though I doubt it will be as long as Chapter 7, as that one was pretty much a whole story in its own right contained within the larger tale.
Then I expect Chapter 10 will be fairly short, and 11 will be somewhere between the two.

Server Room Gremlin said:

In Chapter 8, I slowed the story way down, almost to a stop. It allowed me to write in a more poetic manner, and draw a picture with my words rather than a long line heading from one event to the next.
I enjoy writing these still, thoughtful moments. ☺️

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Very descriptive writing :] It was peaceful just reading that snippet.

The decision to split my prequel book into 3 parts was not without a price. Spent the weekend adjusting the references in my finished book and rewrote the preface,.

More fun, I added a new magic item to the household inventory.that I had created in the earlier book.

I've learned about watercolour pencils. You draw with them like coloured pencils but then use a wet brush to get a watercolour painting effect.
I've been practicing bees to illustrate one chapter with.

Not great art, but a darn sight better than I could do in September.

My Silmarillion fanfiction, Ill Chances and Strange Fates, has just reached 50,000 words-- which is officially considered novel length!



And I'm just in the beginning, not even finished with Arc 2 out of who knows how many arcs yet. 😬 I might end up making multiple "books." Like at this rate, I might have to wrap up the first book with the Darkening or perhaps the flight of the Noldor. My brain does not want to shut up about low-stakes interpersonal drama amongst the Finwians, I guess. In this arc alone, I have multiple character arcs to resolve before I can finish it.

Maedhros_Nelyafinwë said:

My Silmarillion fanfiction, Ill Chances and Strange Fates, has just reached 50,000 words-- which is officially considered novel length!

View attachment 38419

And I'm just in the beginning, not even finished with Arc 2 out of who knows how many arcs yet. 😬 I might end up making multiple "books." Like at this rate, I might have to wrap up the first book with the Darkening or perhaps the flight of the Noldor. My brain does not want to shut up about low-stakes interpersonal drama amongst the Finwians, I guess. In this arc alone, I have multiple character arcs to resolve before I can finish it.

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Congrats! 50,000 is a lot of work!

My work on the story of Amandil progresses. Having found myself at a pause regarding the theme of my tale(I was going about it the wrong way), I had a talk with my father and together we worked out a better path. Now I work happily, though time is currently short in my hands :']

I hope, when I have finished with this stage, to be able to work on the plot of the story. I already know much concerning it, but to be able to have it all in my hands...that will be nice. Then I can begin writing it.

This will be one of many stepping stones on my way to becoming the author I dream of being. I want to leave a story(or many, Lord willing) readers will pick up many times across the years. I want to leave something lasting, something glorious to God's Name. I have the story I think may be it, but it must bide its time until I have worked my skill into something more conducive to my plans. Thank the Lord, He gives me motivation and every step I take is a victory. I will remember to praise Him.

I am back hard at work on my book as well.
Have just completed the full revision of the Preface, and laid it before two unassuming Hobbits for their thoughts.
I can't think of a better group to seat as judge and jury, than a pair of diligent, unassuming, discerning Hobbits...!!

(As you know, given the arena of my work, I conssider the Preface and Introduction unusually important.)

The Introduction is up next - a deft reconstruction (hopefully) of the former Prologue and Introduction into a single, more succinct, more dynamic, more compelling work pointing directly into Chapter 1 with greater impact. Chapter 1, I think I may have mentioned, is entirely different than my original concept for the first chapter, given my revision of the methodology intended to be used throught the book.

Once the Introduction is reconstructed, eliminating a Prologue, I'm primed and ready to start writing the tome in earnest.

Soon I will know whether this is going to be a Trilogy, or an initial version with a "Revised and Expanded" edition coming later.

Keep at keeping at it, all. May there never be an end to pencils, pens, paper, keyboards, words, and works. (And in most of our cases, available power... what wold we do without our computers nowadays? Egads. Can we really return to a world of tree-based products for production?)

May your Hobbits judge wisely!


And perhaps be rewarded with cookies for their labors :]

WatcherWraith said:

And perhaps be rewarded with cookies for their labors :]

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Yeah, they may be diligent, unassuming, and discerning... but they're also Hobbits.
I expect a demand for onesies and twosies to be served, into the bargain..!!

That said, I've finished it - the 'deft reconstruction.'
Not so 'deft' according to the 'neatly skillful and quick' definition, as it took several hours. (It's 2:30 a.m. Been at it since about 5:00 p.m.)
However, maybe 'deft' according to the 'demonstrating skill and cleverness' one. (I can always hope..!!!)

Intriguing, when one is writing something including and concerning Tolkien's writing about his labors 'considering every word.' Carries a certain 'reminder and imperativeness' with it.

Now done, however, I can give it some final thought and rework, then a final polishing in a few more hours, and possibly send it along for a critique too.

It MUST hit the mark, pulling readers into the content of the book.

Wow, I'm glad I sent the Preface to the "Two Hobbits."
One has come back with his review, and some suggestions already... very good suggestions, and deft language simplification at several points.

He has a distinct 'flair' to his writing I lack. (As I've always said, I'm an editor, not a writer.)
A question becomes where and when is the added flair appropriate given the nature of the book, and where and when isn't it?
(A difference between writing fantasy, and writing expository work. My book tends toward the expository, so needs to be handled colorfully but differently.)

What a world, what a world.

He's agreed to review my Introducton too, when I've got it spiffed up a bit more and it looks more like a writing.

Progress, progress.

WatcherWraith said:

May your Hobbits judge wisely!


And perhaps be rewarded with cookies for their labors :]

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Well... I sent them a poem instead.
(Though I'm absolutely SURE such won't do for any Hobbit worthy of their race.)

Haven't figured out how to stuff a cookie through the internet yet, and I thought sending just a picture of one would be too rude..!!

Got the first draft written for an entry in the Appendix A of the last book in the series. This appendix contains selected entries from the Annals of House Finrod dating from the fading of Lorien to modern times.

This particular entry is dated to 7A 1573, or 1573 CE in modern nomenclature. It's set at my heroine's home island off the western coast of Ireland. It details a meeting between her, Francis Walsingham, Seaán the Mac William Íachtar, and Hugh the heir to the Earl of Tyrone. These three humans are real people from history.

Walsingham will end up on the royal privy council later in the year, at this point in time he's a successful ambassador to France. He's also ill. He'll die about 20 years later, probably from testicular cancer. He's come to her home for two reasons. John Dee (another real person), who was known as an alchemist, astronomer, mathematician and scholar, believes clue's he's unearthed in his private library (the largest in England at the time) point to the Lady of the Island being from a long line of sorceresses with a strong ability for healing. Walsingham wants to get healed if possible and enlist the sorceress into the direct service of Queen Elizabeth the first. (Another real person, as I'm sure you know!) Walsingham has come incognito with 4 men-at-arms.

There was a rebellion against the English in nearby parts of Ireland that ended just a few months ago. The Mac William Íachtar is one of the leading nobles in what was once the Kingdom of Connaught. He fostered in our heroine's home (in my story) and is suspicious of 5 English strangers travelling thru Connaught without a clear and obvious purpose, He tracked them to her island and brought his men to investigate (and to protect his foster-mother, our heroine.)

Hugh (in my story) is being fostered in The Mac William Íachtar's home, a common practice amongst nobles. He's there because his foster-father has brought him. Hugn, in later life, played an awesome double-game. To the English, he appeared to be loyal to England. But he became the leader of the anti-English movement in secret. It worked for a long time until he was forced into open rebellion (which the Irish lost).

It's got rescues at sea, very subtle magic, political intrigue, light-hearted banter, bald-faced truth-telling, cutting insults, poisoning, a funny tale out of history, and a brutal fight. I use the phrase "bald-faced truth-telling" because one usually associates the phrase "bald-faced" with "liar". In this case, someone is telling the absolute truth to get the same result as a bald-faced liar.

It also foreshadows how the world has gotten smaller and the threats from humans is getting larger and harder to avoid, deflect, or defeat for the 4 remaining elves in Ireland (i.e., the western parts of ForLindon in 3A Middle-earth). The old feudal style of life is about to be destroyed by the modern nation-state. Remote regional isolation is about to be greatly reduced. In short, there are fewer places to hide and the hiding is becoming harder within them.

It's about 6450 words long.

Still needs more refinement of the language, tightening up a bit, and then more editing. But I'm pleased with it as a first draft.