I have discovered I can get no farther in TLOS until I have *gathp* organized my materials. Now, I have been writing this story on and off for three? four years? without any sort of, um, system. I've pretty much jotted down what ever came into my head in the various notebooks that litter my room to this day, save for one master notebook that follows the story as it will be told... someday. In the past I have indeed taken a few steps toward an orderly writing desk; collecting all my photo references, scribbled lines, notes, and mostly empty notebooks into one vast binder. Well, this binder now weighs eight stinkin' pounds. In other words, if I chucked this thing at your car, it would leave a vaguely book-shaped dent.
This still does not fix my organizing problem by a long shot. Because a) I hardly ever get this tome of information out, and b) when I do I have struggle for several minutes afterward just to get the zipper to close. Sitting on it is usually required.
So, in order to have a 'pleasant' access to all my reference materials, the past few days have be largely used to convert written snippets to computer pages and files.
I'll warn you now: If any of you have a story you are writing by hand -- get copies on to your computer's desktop now. Don't wait until you have Mount Etna in the corner of your room!
because i can't stand a post without pictures :)
I am kinda-sorta about half way done, but golly has it been a journey! I'm finding bits and pieces that I would believe I'd written if it weren't for seeing the handwriting as my own.
Also, in organizing, I have forced myself to face a monster that has been plaguing me forever: The Plot. Of course I've always had an idea where my story was going... sort of. But I kept changing it and adjusting it, and even now it keeps growing extra limbs. Which is why I can go no farther until I get this figured out. So I'm in the process also of writing a detailed online of the entire first book {TLOS will eventually be a series}. I've got three pages down already with maybe three more to go.
I'm excited because thing are really staring to shape up too! I've already cut out a lot of *sigh* unnecessary stuff, mainly the first three chapters *gasp-shrivel-die*, because Cilla being 'adopted' by nobles for unknown cause? Pfft. Out the window. I decided that aside from being extremely improbable {I could make it work if I tried, I suppose...} it's pretty much just 'fluff'; interesting twist and all, but really not relevant to the rest of the book.
Besides, now I get to delve into Cilla's gypsy side. *claps hands* Very excited about that. Though, I do need some reference... Has anybody read a great gypsy/thief-ish book recently? Otherwise I'll just have to wing it for the first daft.
Ha. Winging it: Story of my life.
-Gwyn