A dwarven “durhaut?”
Progress on the novel has been slow. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been writing, but it’s been much slower than I expected it to be.
Probably because I’m afraid it’ll be labeled as “steampunk” and not “fantasy.”
Probably because I don’t even have a story.
I have three chapters written. One you could call steampunk, another fantasy and the third a western.
Yeah, I have no clue.
My idea was to take the traditional “high fantasy” story (typically set in a middle ages type era) and push it forward through time to something resembling the American west of the late 1800′s. How would dwarves and elves be living in that time period? Would there be other mythical creatures?
I wanted to explore the issues of racism, economics and technology (all issues that I feel strongly about personally) in this fantasy setting.
After writing three chapters focusing on three different characters, I realize I have no story. Which justifies something I have known for a long time: I may be a good writer, but I’m not a storyteller – and being a storyteller is kind of a requirement to writing fiction.
Sure, I have had ideas for a story, but they have either been done before or are too weak. I want to stay away from the typical Good vs Evil plot-line because it’s been done to death.
I want to write this. It’s important for me to do so for a number of reasons. I want to explore the issues I mentioned, but I also need to do this – to prove to myself that I can. If I can’t come up with a story, then I have proven that I can’t and should probably go back to fixing cars.
I need help. I need someone (or some-two) to bounce ideas off of. I need people to brainstorm with.
Any ideas?
Genre is so fluid as indie writers begin to push boundaries traditionally set by suits, I don’t think you need to feel locked in by one of them. As long as you stay true to the laws of whatever universe you ultimately create? Run with it. Dwarves piloting dirigibles over Deadwood? Sure. Just write!
“Dwarves piloting dirigibles over Deadwood” is a pretty decent way of describing the setting, Cam.
I know the boundaries are coming down, but my biggest problem is that I have no plot and I feel like I need one before I put too much work into this only to find that at some point down the road it becomes unworkable.
I love to bounce plots around. Look me up on gchat if you like.
Hi Eric,
I write mysteries these days but started out with sci-fi. But whatever the genre I’ve always spent the first few weeks of writing concentrating on a plot outline. Start with the Big Idea of the book, create two or three main characters who can reflect aspects of that basic idea, List out all the things that could happen, how the characters might react in a major life-changing way. Reject the weaker ideas that don’t go anywhere. Sleep on it for a few nights – you’d be surprised how the subconscious comes up with ideas and links them together. Write the synopsis. Write a few sentences planning what happens in each chapter. Make sure it builds from climax to climax. Write the first chapter. Write the last chapter. That’s the enjoyable part finished. Filling in the middle is the hard work.
Not a method everyone uses but it’s what works for me.
Good luck, have fun.
Thanks, Jack. I’ve decided that I do need to stop work on writing and work out the ideas first – I thought I had one when I began, but the writing got away from me and took me so far away from the original idea that I had to abandon it.
I’m going to take some time and see where the characters are now, where they’ve been and where they’re going. I think that will be a good starting point to getting a story.
Eric,
You are a great writer and storyteller. You have done a great job of crafting stories with Easy Money and the Linden Tree. I have no doubt you just need to press onward to get over the initial hump. I didn’t have a clear plot idea until about the sixth installment of my serial novel. Sometimes the story takes a life of its own as it progresses. Let the story dictate where it goes, while keeping it along the path toward the resolution you have in mind.
I’ll think some more on this and email you later. Just don’t lose hope because I have faith that you’ll be able to craft a story that will captivate us all.
Thanks, David. I have a basic plot in mind for The Linden Tree, it’s just crafting the individual episodes that I’m finding a lack of time for. It’s set up perfectly to be somewhat organic.
The novel (of which I’ve posted snippets) needs to be much more structured from the start. I understand that it’s ok to leave room unexpected things to happen – but I don’t even know what the book is about! That’s a problem.
I’d be happy to help you out. Not sure how effective I can be with cell phone only right now though. Email might work. If not, I’ll have computer access again starting Sunday.
Thanks, Krista. I will accept your offer gladly!
Lies.
You’re a great writer and a great storyteller. I’ve read enough of your writing over the years to know. If anything, you’re probably trying to take on too much while in the process of writing the story…
Having a plot (flexible or not) is one thing. Writing the story is another. Having an interesting, complex world to place it in is yet another and probably the most complex and important piece. I’ve seen you imagine worlds before. Amazing worlds. Have you done so with this one or are you trying to imagine it while you’re writing?
You say you want to explore racism, economics, and technology. I’m sure politics and religion are also in there. What are the major politic powers? Who holds sway over the economy? What is the class structure, who is wealthy and who is impoverished and what are their motivations for doing what they do?
If you’ve got a clear vision of the world that is your sandbox, crafting the plot and writing the story should be less intimidating and more fluid, cohesive, and believable.
Thanks, Rich. You’re right, of course. The thing I DIDN’T do this time around (and should have) was world build first. That’ll be what happens next.