A Defined Strategy

For the start of the new novel, something original, just for this series, I think! Let me see; should it be a word count minimum per day? Or maybe, a chapter (or scene) count per session? Or, just write ’til the juice runs out, or the dog stares at me with desperate eyes, or the stomach roars to disrupt?

Usually, the process is simple: finish a project, let it sit, commence the new project to completion, pick up the first one again for editing and (more editing and on and on and on) finalisation, then go back to the complete draft.

This time, I’ve shot myself in the foot and I’m having trouble getting back on track. I put The Third Moment away before it is completely finished and started on a new project (Book II of the Narrung Sagas: A Dragon Dream). But the ritual, the habit, is broken. Something is missing, not quite right. The mind is not at ease (and those bloody musae are pestering like midges – bite, bite, bite!), and I’m so tempted to go back and finish the first one, not start the new one at all until the right space in the cycle comes along.

But I promised. I promised to get A Dragon Dream out by Christmas. I may have broken a promise or two in my previous life, but not to this person. He needs me to be straight, to say it as it is. If I don’t keep my promise, it’s a lie, and I won’t be forgiven. It would break his heart.

I can do it, I know I can. That numbers muse is telling me: just do 2k words in the am and 2k words in the pm for five days a week and it’s in first draft finalised by the end of four weeks. Simple.

Yes, it’s simple. But in my mind, the question/s remain: did I have sufficient time to consider each nuance of the story, and how does it go here, or there, or not? Who is the best person (of the three) to tell this story? I think Pax, and I’ll start writing with her as the main character, but . . .

Is there room to move or adapt to the situation with the magic and the creatures of magic? Do I know all about them yet?

There’s more – and at night, while trying to sleep, my mind is throwing all this at me – follow the procedure, finish the first one, do it the way it’s always been done. And those were the words that won me to the side of the new project.

Do it the way it’s always been done. If I did that, I’d write fantasy that was the same (contextually) to all the others: Tolkien, Roman, Greek, Viking, etc. I’m not doing that. This fantasy, the Narrung Sagas, is not European, or Roman, or Green, or Viking. It is authentic. It is mine. It is ours, Bear, and I will do this one first and I will have it for you by Christmas. I promise.

Now, do you want to help me with the cover? [and the map, maybe?]