The first draft

The first draft - surely the best part of writing?  This is where you can have all the fun; this is where you can get all those ideas down and worry about whether they're right or not later.  This has got to be the easiest part of the whole writing process, right?

Well it should be.  Of course it doesn't always work out that way. In a previous post I mentioned how I deliberated over a particular chapter and whether or not it should be included in the book, now when I look back I realise I should have ditched all the deliberation and just gone with it.  There would be plenty of time during the re-writing and editing process to decide whether it should stay or not.  Sometimes, also you've got to see it in print before you really get to feel whether it's right for the story and you can't do that unless you write it!
The first draft should all be about getting the bones of the story down, getting a feel for the basic outline.  Adding the flesh comes later!  Too much pondering at this stage is a bit of a waste of time.  Just get that first draft done and then you can pontificate all you like!  After all, the first draft is never, ever, ever, ever the final edit, so go for it, write from the heart and let it all come out.

I suppose you could argue that the more time you spend on the first draft, the less time you'll need in the editing, and as some writers seem to find this the worst part  this may be a good thing.  Personally I quite enjoy the fleshing out and fine tuning part.  I find it quite satisfying somehow, although I am still guilty of spending too much time worrying about the first draft.  It's hard not to sometimes.  This is your little creation, you want it to be perfect!
 The thing to remember is that there are lot's of parts of the self publishing process that are really difficult and not a lot of fun - like marketing, still not really doing all that I should here - so we need to make the most of the fun bits.  Enjoy your first draft; no one is going to see it but you; no one is going to judge it but you and you will know best whether you have achieved what you set out to do.

Happy writing!

Kim

Dark and Light - creating a balance

I have just written probably one of the most difficult chapters of the Prudence trilogy so far.  I had deliberated over it for so long, but somehow the story just couldn't seem to move forward without this happening; I had to kill one of the characters.  I now feel dreadful!  I invested so much emotional energy into getting this chapter right and I'm hoping that they way I now feel is just an indication that I got the feel of subject as I wanted it.  The whole of the Prudence saga has so far been written from Prudence's point of view and so how this death effected her was really important.  The character in question had been with Prudence since the beginning of the first book and so was someone she had come to rely on; someone she believed would always be there.

How Prudence deals with this death adds to an already sombre mood to the beginning of the last book.  The city and palace of Ealdhun are under siege and food stocks are running out.  Tempers are starting to fray and an air of tension and only slightly subdued panic is beginning to build. Add to this the tragedy of the death of a very dear friend and Prudence's world has suddenly become a very dark place.

Like I said it was important to get the feel of this subject right, but it was also important not to become too depressing.  This is not a gritty true life drama it is an older children's fantasy story and so I felt I needed something to counter the darkness.  It actually turned out to be quite easy to do this. Although as I have said the whole of the story has so far been written from Prudence's view point at the end of the second book it became necessary to write also from another characters perspective.  Prudence and Rupert are separated from Sam and Maggie by a prophecy that leads them on different ventures, and whilst Sam's and Maggie's story is not quite as dark as that of Prudence and Rupert, it is none the less adventurous.  Sam and Maggie also have the advantage of having Emrys the wizard and Bob the dragon with them and the banter between these two will always add a little humour into the narrative. The relationship between Emrys and Bob whilst a vital part of the story also allows me to pit two somewhat eccentric characters against each other.  They both have a grudging respect for the other, but often differ on how things should be done - much to the frustration of those around them.  They are the perfect foil against any dark element in the story.

I hope I have managed to get the balance right.  I have spent so long on this that I have (once again) fallen behind schedule with my writing.  I know, I'm rubbish with schedules!  I really don't know why I bother!  Anyway this is just a little update.  I'm not going to say when I'm expecting to have this third volume ready for publishing because you and I both know that I will not stick to it!
So I will just keep you updated on here with progress reports on this and my other projects.

Kim