What are you writing about now?

[WatcherWraith]

She looks fabulous!

 

[Maedhros_Nelyafinwë]

This. Is. So. True!! I find it very disheartening when I post a chapter of IC&SF and get maybe 1 comment if I'm lucky. I write primarily because I love seeing when my writing impacts people positively, but if they don't tell me even that they liked it or anything, it can get pretty discouraging to publish the story regularly.

 

[izzue]

I had the idea for my mystery book club, as an additional project, to write our own mystery. We thought it would be more interesting if we settled on a phrase that would appear in each chapter. I won't write the one we settled on here (considering the one in a million chance ha, that it would be identifying information ) fear of posting identifying information, but were looking for a 'mystery-intriguing but humorous' phrase. Let's say, for example, we settled on something like "as lightening struck".

It's fun. I was tasked with writing the first chapter, since it was my idea, and I found that once I got started, the beginning of the story almost wrote itself. I based the setting on a unique and beautiful place my brother had spend time in last summer. Then, by simply drawing on what I knew about the place, the setting suggested all sorts of plot lines.

We had started it out simply as a fun process, "a hoot". Part of my suggesting it was remembering what fun I had with friends in elementary school when someone started a story, wrote a page or two, then passed it around for someone else to complete. A process not unlike the "Three Word" game that's going on here, except that each person wrote a good bit more, with more 'meat' on which to continue writing. (That actually might be a fun project for this forum?). As I recall, the story started out as an outer space/explorer type thing, and, being elementary schoolers, the story line quickly became ludicrous, but that in itself was pretty funny.

Anyway, I ended up being quite pleased with the Chapter 1 I wrote, sent it to my brother to read, since the whole idea came from his lengthy vacation last summer. He said he enjoyed it and concluded his email to me with, "I can't wait to see what happens." My response to him was, "I can't either"!

And so it moves on. A member of our bookclub who has actually written a short novel wrote Chapter 2, and as a group we have decided that we - seriously - like what we've written so far. Cliff hangers, red herrings. We're at the point now, though, where we have to decide who our murderer will be, what s/he will be like, and what the motive for the murder(s) will be, in order to know in a very general way, what kind of structure needs to serve that end.

 

[Laurë]

View attachment 41447
This. Is. So. True!! I find it very disheartening when I post a chapter of IC&SF and get maybe 1 comment if I'm lucky. I write primarily because I love seeing when my writing impacts people positively, but if they don't tell me even that they liked it or anything, it can get pretty discouraging to publish the story regularly.

Well that was nice to read! I'll stop worrying about being annoying for leaving kudos lol.

Time to go find your fic and leave a comment on every single chapter ehehehehehehh 😈

 

[david_wendelken]

After a solid month of carving my woodcut block, and also having to care for my wife after her surgery for the last week and a half, I got some new writing done. About 300 words. Awful, awkward words that describe what happened in a bare-boned, "Just-the-facts, ma'am." style. Felt great!

It's always important to remember, you can't edit a work into publishable shape if you don't write it first!

 

[Server Room Gremlin]

The fanfiction about Curufin and Celebrimbor which I spent over a year writing, 'The Works of Curufinwë' (TWC), is now posted in full here:

Fanfic - The Works of Curufinwë

The Works of Curufinwë (Or: Curufin and Celebrimbor) by S.R.G. 1. The Green Gem (you are here!) [1813 words] 2. His Son [2013 words] 3. Oath, Sword and Dagger [2735 words] 4. Band of Steel [1279 words] 5. Fortress [1442 words] 6. Dark Horse and Straight Shot [2013 words] 7. Fearful Hearts (...

thetolkien.forum

I am currently working on writing the third chapter of 'I Will Hold Your Hand Again' (IWH). Its first two chapters are already posted here:

Fanfic - I Will Hold Your Hand Again

I Will Hold Your Hand Again (A companion story to The Works of Curufinwë) by S.R.G. The first two chapters are set during Curufin's life in Valinor. The rest of the story is set far in the future, after the events of the books, and can be read as an epilogue to The Works of Curufinwë. 1...

thetolkien.forum

The rest of this fanfiction will serve as a speculative epilogue to the story of Curufin and Celebrimbor as told in TWC. I expect IWH to have four chapters in total, but I am not entirely certain, as many of the details are still unclear in my mind.

 

[david_wendelken]

It is my belief the elves in Beleriand knew of the Two Trees in Valinor BEFORE the Noldor came back to Middle-earth from Valinor. (Not how the trees died, just their existence and what they were, etc.)

Anyone disagree? And can point me to the canon text that backs up that point?

 

[Server Room Gremlin]

Anyone disagree? And can point me to the canon text that backs up that point?

Elwë (who became Elu Thingol) saw the light of the Trees, as he, Finwë and Ingwë were brought to Valinor first by Oromë, so they could report back to the other Elves about what Valinor was like. This is in Chapter 3 of the Silmarillion, 'Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor'.

 

[david_wendelken]

I've had a great two days, writing-wise! Woot!

I've long had an arch-villain whose modus operandi (MO) was well known and understood by me.

But I didn't have a good idea of WHY he was the way he was. What motivated him to pursue his destructive ends so thoroughly? What was it about our heroine that made his task to ruin her life (or better yet, corrupt her) so important and so personal?

I just didn't have a good handle on that. Well, truth to tell, I barely had a worn-away knoblet.

Now I've figured out his backstory. What made him what he is. Why he thinks as he does. And why his opposition to our heroine is so deeply personal and motivated.

In fact, I've figured out enough backstory to write a novel from his point of view detailing how he ended up the way he is, and with the readers cheering him on for the hero he (and they) would think he is. That could be a lot of fun! Now, at a certain point, folks will realize he's drunk too deeply from the cup of "the ends justify the means" to remain a good guy.

I also mentioned some of the things the fully developed bad guy did to two people I use as story sounding boards and both of them had their skin crawl at the creepiness. (And agreed it made perfect sense for him to do!) I like it when a villain (in fiction) is really good at what they do and how they are.

I've already integrated these notes into my overall story timeline. Now I'm adding in some "memorable details" to make it easier to turn this information into story bits (that will also be more interesting).

I've got one more problem to overcome, but I think I've nearly got it solved. As you may remember, I'm acting as a translator of historic documents that survived from Middle-earth. These documents were compiled by "the good guys", so any document whose source is from "the bad guys" needs extra explaining. How did the good guys get ahold of these documents? And why did the bad guys create these documents in the first place. Hoping to fully work out this remaining issue over the next two days.

Then I'll decide how much of it needs to be explicitly incorporated in the books and which part needs to be implied, and in which volumes.

I only have one scene in one chapter in Volume IV (the one that's finished) that must be extended to take this new info into account. That will be easy. I suspect I'll also add a few extra paragraphs to one of the appendices. Again, easy.

I'm so excited!

 

[david_wendelken]

Elwë (who became Elu Thingol) saw the light of the Trees, as he, Finwë and Ingwë were brought to Valinor first by Oromë, so they could report back to the other Elves about what Valinor was like. This is in Chapter 3 of the Silmarillion, 'Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor'.

Thanks! That's what I thought, but I wasn't sure I properly remembered it.

 

[david_wendelken]

I've worked in the flushed-out villain backstory into the series timeline. I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS! I think it will massively improve the series.

Most of the back story will be in Volume I, right at the first. It will appear the villain is actually the hero. And, in a way - at least at first - he is just that.

I've laid out the chapters and sub-chapters, along with (big picture) what goals that chapter will achieve. Note the use of the word "achieve" instead of using the word "include". I don't have much scene-level detail yet, that's the next step. Scenes are included in the chapter, but together those scenes need to achieve the chapter goals.

Woot! I am so jazzed! The lack of this material has been a gaping hole in my series and now I feel like it's all weaving together into an awesome pattern.

 

[WatcherWraith]

That's a marvellous feeling! I'm glad for you!

 

[Tyelkormo the Fair]

The fanfiction about Curufin and Celebrimbor which I spent over a year writing, 'The Works of Curufinwë' (TWC), is now posted in full here:

Fanfic - The Works of Curufinwë

The Works of Curufinwë (Or: Curufin and Celebrimbor) by S.R.G. 1. The Green Gem (you are here!) [1813 words] 2. His Son [2013 words] 3. Oath, Sword and Dagger [2735 words] 4. Band of Steel [1279 words] 5. Fortress [1442 words] 6. Dark Horse and Straight Shot [2013 words] 7. Fearful Hearts (...

thetolkien.forum

I am currently working on writing the third chapter of 'I Will Hold Your Hand Again' (IWH). Its first two chapters are already posted here:

Fanfic - I Will Hold Your Hand Again

I Will Hold Your Hand Again (A companion story to The Works of Curufinwë) by S.R.G. The first two chapters are set during Curufin's life in Valinor. The rest of the story is set far in the future, after the events of the books, and can be read as an epilogue to The Works of Curufinwë. 1...

thetolkien.forum

The rest of this fanfiction will serve as a speculative epilogue to the story of Curufin and Celebrimbor as told in TWC. I expect IWH to have four chapters in total, but I am not entirely certain, as many of the details are still unclear in my mind.

I literally can't wait to read the rest of it!

 

[david_wendelken]

Made a list of character traits for the main characters to introduce "somewhere" in the start and middle of Volume I.

Then I made a chapter (and where I know it sub-chapter) list along with a pretty vague idea of what that chapter needs to accomplish.

Then I assigned which chapter unit I wanted to first highlight each trait in those chapters. It really helped me get more ideas about what scenes might accomplish the chapter's purpose. My next step is to start the scene design.

I'm using FabulaDeck.com to brainstorm my initial ideas, and Final Draft to record and refine them. Final Draft will turn that info into an outline that I can use in the text. Even better, it will show or hide the info at the press of a button for when I just want to see the text, not the outline.

 

[david_wendelken]

I've started the additional entry in the Annals of Lorien (52nd year of the 4th Age) that the evil guy's backstory helped me come up with to explain how we know a portion fo the back story. A funeral scene in one of E.R. Eddison's books is particularly inspiring for my purpose.

 

[david_wendelken]

The Two Trees are destroyed.

The Sun and Moon are set in the sky.

The Kinslaying at Alqualonde takes place.

Sun and moon BEFORE kinslaying or AFTER?

 

[Server Room Gremlin]

Sun and moon BEFORE kinslaying or AFTER?

In the Silmarillion, the Moon first rises when Fingolfin and his host reach Middle-earth, and the Sun rises when they march into Mithrim. That's a long time after the Kinslaying.

 

[david_wendelken]

In the Silmarillion, the Moon first rises when Fingolfin and his host reach Middle-earth, and the Sun rises when they march into Mithrim. That's a long time after the Kinslaying.

Awesome! I didn't remember those precise details but I had the timing right, kinslaying before sun and moon.

 

[Fingon_Findekáno]

In the Silmarillion, the Moon first rises when Fingolfin and his host reach Middle-earth, and the Sun rises when they march into Mithrim. That's a long time after the Kinslaying.

I thought I’ve also read before, the Moon rose while Fingolfin’s host was crossing the Helcaraxë over those many long years, to give them some light in addition to the stars, no? Then the Sun rose as they finally marched into Middle Earth.

 

[Server Room Gremlin]

I thought I’ve also read before, the Moon rose while Fingolfin’s host was crossing the Helcaraxë over those many long years, to give them some light in addition to the stars, no? Then the Sun rose as they finally marched into Middle Earth.

I checked the Silmarillion before answering, and what I said above is what I read (in Chapters 11 and 13). If they were still on the Ice as the Moon rose, they must have been very close to Middle-earth's coast anyway.
"even as the Moon rose above the darkness in the West, Fingolfin let blow his silver trumpets and began his march into Middle-earth"