It isn't even November yet, and NaNo is eating my brain
In an effort to minimize any likelihood of not completing this insane thing I've decided to do, I'm trying to do as much pre-writing as I possibly can: timelines, individual character studies and backstories and even outlines of pivotal scenes. It's fanfic, a Harry Potter AU, but I'd like to keep it as close to canon as I can, since the _alternate_ thing in question isn't - at least, shouldn't be - a huge turning point as far as the main story we all know and love goes. And I know I'm a tease for leaving it at that, but if I start giving y'all details I'll spill _everything_, and this is a plot bunny I've been poking at since February. So there are a _lot_ of details thus far. And I still have most of a week left. God help me.
But yes, lots of research. I hadn't thought I'd have this much, but a character with whom I am wholly unfamiliar has wormed his way into the story and made himself indispensable, so I must learn about him. Also, despite that I want to stick to canon as far as the big pivotal events go, I want to resist taking the easy way out and just having characters stay the same except for their situations. One character in particular is essentially not even going to exist, because of the differences.
By the way, is there an official term for that point at which an AU diverges from canon? Breaking point? Off-shoot? Something clever and pompous that only literature geeks would know?
Anyway. I'm getting very excited about this, and barring real life asserting itself too rudely, I think I actually have a pretty good shot at getting this thing done. I have an entire plot (with an _end_ already figured out!! How novel - no pun intended - is that?!), I'll have all these little niggles of, "Oh, wait, why would character x do that and how does it affect the rest of the plot?" worked out, and so it should be plug-and-play. Knock on wood.
Also, no, this is totally not a not-so-subtle way to distract myself from Alan leaving again and to keep myself busy in his absence. Totally not.
But yes, lots of research. I hadn't thought I'd have this much, but a character with whom I am wholly unfamiliar has wormed his way into the story and made himself indispensable, so I must learn about him. Also, despite that I want to stick to canon as far as the big pivotal events go, I want to resist taking the easy way out and just having characters stay the same except for their situations. One character in particular is essentially not even going to exist, because of the differences.
By the way, is there an official term for that point at which an AU diverges from canon? Breaking point? Off-shoot? Something clever and pompous that only literature geeks would know?
Anyway. I'm getting very excited about this, and barring real life asserting itself too rudely, I think I actually have a pretty good shot at getting this thing done. I have an entire plot (with an _end_ already figured out!! How novel - no pun intended - is that?!), I'll have all these little niggles of, "Oh, wait, why would character x do that and how does it affect the rest of the plot?" worked out, and so it should be plug-and-play. Knock on wood.
Also, no, this is totally not a not-so-subtle way to distract myself from Alan leaving again and to keep myself busy in his absence. Totally not.