Ryleigh Berkenpas's Blog - Posts Tagged "draft"
pre-planning?
I've never actually plotted, schemed, or planned a book before writing it, but, seeing that I know my characters already, decided to try it for the sequel I'm writing for The Fallout From Finding Emily, and I've got to say, I'm surprised at how much I'm enjoying it. True, nothing ever goes exactly as planned, but because I have a plan I am not finding myself avoiding writing because I've hit a block and have no idea what to say. I do avoid writing certain scenes that I just don't feel like tackling, but all in all, when it comes down to it, I am feeling extremely good about how productive I've been - six weeks in and I already have over 40,000 words to my first draft! Yay! That doesn't mean I'm anywhere near done, as the first draft is extremely rough and the entire thing will most likely require a re-write, but just the fact that I'm getting it all on paper is super encouraging - every time I hit an additional 10,000 words I feel like celebrating! Whooo-hoo! I am loving the pre-planning thing! Now I just need to add the additional scenes to my cue cards and sort everything out - and write the rest, of course. This is me, wishing you more and more happy reading (and writing)!
Laura who?
Those of you who have read through my book, The Fallout From Finding Emily, and its 'dear readers' section know that I am currently writing a sequel in Laura's perspective, and while Arlene may have thought Laura shallow, reputation obsessed, and power hungry, that isn't all she is. She's actually a little... complicated, not unlike Arlene.
To be completely honest, I initially had a very difficult time while trying to write the next portion of the Kelsey O'Brien story, which belongs to Laura, because I didn't really know who Laura was. I knew who Arlene thought Laura was, but I hadn't quite worked out the kinks and details of Laura's past or worked through the events that made her who she is. And I've lived with Arlene - grown up with her, actually - since I was thirteen, when I wrote the first version of her story, and yes, she has changed and evolved over the years, but who she is, her character and what she stood for, essentially remained the same. And therein lies the problem, because prior to writing Laura's portion of the Kelsey O'Brien saga, I didn't know who she was. I knew of her, but I didn't know her, you know? But I digress. And will continue to, because I don't actually plan on divulging any of Laura's secrets to you via blogging; those will need to be discovered when you venture forward to read her story, which I am working out as we speak. Or type. Or whatever.
Either way, I should have the first draft done by the end of April if all goes as planned, but it will probably be another few months before you see it anywhere because I'm pretty sure I'll need to do a complete rewrite, as is required with most stories.
toodle-oo!
To be completely honest, I initially had a very difficult time while trying to write the next portion of the Kelsey O'Brien story, which belongs to Laura, because I didn't really know who Laura was. I knew who Arlene thought Laura was, but I hadn't quite worked out the kinks and details of Laura's past or worked through the events that made her who she is. And I've lived with Arlene - grown up with her, actually - since I was thirteen, when I wrote the first version of her story, and yes, she has changed and evolved over the years, but who she is, her character and what she stood for, essentially remained the same. And therein lies the problem, because prior to writing Laura's portion of the Kelsey O'Brien saga, I didn't know who she was. I knew of her, but I didn't know her, you know? But I digress. And will continue to, because I don't actually plan on divulging any of Laura's secrets to you via blogging; those will need to be discovered when you venture forward to read her story, which I am working out as we speak. Or type. Or whatever.
Either way, I should have the first draft done by the end of April if all goes as planned, but it will probably be another few months before you see it anywhere because I'm pretty sure I'll need to do a complete rewrite, as is required with most stories.
toodle-oo!
