2008 Three Day Novel: 80,901 words
I cut it real close this year. I came up with the final line at 11:59 right before the finish deadline. At the line. By a nose. I did this one by a nose.
I then spent the next five minutes editing chapter 22 because I saw a continuity gap once I finished the end.
The subplot of the edit is going to unfold in more depth in the sequel, Mornalak which will be one of at least two Nanowrimo novels. I know it can stand alone. But so will Book Two, which is the founding of the Magecroft rather than of the Kingdom of Arkatyr. Book Three will also have a place name as a title, but I haven't come up with the place name yet.
The final editing on Arkatyr can't be done until I have the trilogy done. At least things like place names need to be edited back into the first volume for continuity. But that's fine. I know what happened and any place where things have Happened Yet got named. One major character did not get Named yet, but he's more important in Book Two. So when I write it, The Black Duke will get a name instead of just being The Black Duke of Mornalak, Princess Yllandre's Father.
I didn't have time to stop and name him. I was riding deadline so hard.
It even got a cat in it. What a cat. I like the cat. He probably stuffed in the extra five thousand words with his cat tricks.
I am happy with the book. It needs editing but the things I thought were flaws aren't. They are instead a matter of subgenre.
For years and years I meant to do a fantasy novel like James Michener's "place" novels. Use that structure. Stand back in third person and tell its history without it having a single hero, the place is the character. That's this trilogy. That's actually what I did, and it worked. IT didn't even have to be 150,000 words to work. But I may expand it in the rewrite because if I did take this and expand evenly throughout, give it more descriptions and more of Michener's tone, it might have the framework to stand up to that treatment. It's like looking at someone with very big bones who's a bit skinny. But strong, not anorexic either.
It worked and I am happy with the book. It's done, it's done, it's done! Yayy!
But next year when I pay the entry fee I'm also going to try to tighten a bit sooner, start winding toward the end earlier so I'm not riding deadline so hard.
I then spent the next five minutes editing chapter 22 because I saw a continuity gap once I finished the end.
The subplot of the edit is going to unfold in more depth in the sequel, Mornalak which will be one of at least two Nanowrimo novels. I know it can stand alone. But so will Book Two, which is the founding of the Magecroft rather than of the Kingdom of Arkatyr. Book Three will also have a place name as a title, but I haven't come up with the place name yet.
The final editing on Arkatyr can't be done until I have the trilogy done. At least things like place names need to be edited back into the first volume for continuity. But that's fine. I know what happened and any place where things have Happened Yet got named. One major character did not get Named yet, but he's more important in Book Two. So when I write it, The Black Duke will get a name instead of just being The Black Duke of Mornalak, Princess Yllandre's Father.
I didn't have time to stop and name him. I was riding deadline so hard.
It even got a cat in it. What a cat. I like the cat. He probably stuffed in the extra five thousand words with his cat tricks.
I am happy with the book. It needs editing but the things I thought were flaws aren't. They are instead a matter of subgenre.
For years and years I meant to do a fantasy novel like James Michener's "place" novels. Use that structure. Stand back in third person and tell its history without it having a single hero, the place is the character. That's this trilogy. That's actually what I did, and it worked. IT didn't even have to be 150,000 words to work. But I may expand it in the rewrite because if I did take this and expand evenly throughout, give it more descriptions and more of Michener's tone, it might have the framework to stand up to that treatment. It's like looking at someone with very big bones who's a bit skinny. But strong, not anorexic either.
It worked and I am happy with the book. It's done, it's done, it's done! Yayy!
But next year when I pay the entry fee I'm also going to try to tighten a bit sooner, start winding toward the end earlier so I'm not riding deadline so hard.