A little resolution

[rowyn]

I'm still wrapping up quota for September, but I thought I'd note down a couple of points for myself.

First, if I get to 220,000 words on Prophecy, I'm going to consider the rought draftfinished. 220,000 words is freakin' long for two books and this is only supposed to be one. If I've written 220,000 words, I don't care what plot points are left to be covered; it's over.

Second: as you might guess from the first point, I am too long-winded by far in writing this monster. For example: at the end of August I had 39 chapters left to go (that includes ones started but not finished; I often quit in the middle of a chapter, or almost to the end of a chapter, even, as my inspiration runs out). At the end of September, I expect to have 37 chapters to go. This is not the level of progress I want to be makign. My revised estimate of the draft-completion date, based on the rate at which I am getting the plot-crucial elements written, is that I'll need until March of 2004. And it'll be about 217,000 words. *sigh*

In an effort to Do Something About It, I am going to give myself an alternate quota system and try it out in October.

The alternate quota system works like this: I currently have 20 unwritten chapters, and 17 incomplete chapters. I will assign the unwritten ones a factor of two. This makes 57 "plot points" that I need to write. In order to reach my year-end goal, I need reduce that count by approximately 5 points per week, or 19 per month. October is supposed to be a short month for writing (a week of "non -writing work" is supposed to get done in there), so let's say 15 for October and 21 each for November and December.

So, here's the deal: If my count at the end of Ocober is 42 plot points or less to go, then I will consider myself to have made quota for October, even if I've written less than 7500 words. Similarly, any week in which I reduce the remaining plot points by 5 or more counts as "making quota", even if I write less than 1500 words.

The idea here is not, however, to encourage me to write more, but rather to write more concisely. I'm afraid my current system encourages rambling and sloppiness on my part. I'm not sure if this is right or if it'll work. So I'm also keeping the old system as a fallback. I can either complete plot points, or I can reach the appropriate word count. Either one works.

I'll see how this goes in October. I will generally trust myself not to game the system and cut corners. Even I have to trust myself occasionally. ;)

Comments

[jordangreywolf.livejournal.com]

Bwah. Well, yes, you could probably TELL THE STORY in far less words, but would we be really enjoying it quite so much? I think you put far too much weight on the "efficiency" of your words for this. There are things to say, things to be told, and I think they're worth telling at as much length as you have.

As for "of little interest to anyone but me and Greywolf" ... well, obviously, I'm not the one who could speak to that, unless someone else chimes in. ;)

One more person who reads these

[telnar.livejournal.com]

The Master Plan (TM) is far too big a part of your life not to be interesting to those of us who are simply following your current events. So, add me to the list of those who read these posts.

Re: One more person who reads these

[rowyn]

Right, right, I forgot, cut-tags saying "of little interest to anyone else" are, in fact, flashing neon signs signifying "READ ME NOW!!" :D

Y'know, when I look back on my entries saying "I wrote 647 words today! Yay!", even I think they're pretty dull. :)

Re: One more person who reads these

[telnar.livejournal.com]

I didn't say that they were all riveting reading (although some are well written), but they offer some insight into your day-to-day life.

One gets a very different sense of a person's activities by hearing only about the "interesting" things. One of the advantages of an extended visit is getting a chance to know a bit about what someone's life is like when the visitor is not there (the fact that I'm often not really a fan of extended visits for other reasons doesn't matter, since the main disadvantages don't apply here). The writing about writing journal entries provide a sort of long term visitor's window on at least one piece of your life.

[rowyn]

As for "of little interest to anyone but me and Greywolf" ... well, obviously, I'm not the one who could speak to that, unless someone else chimes in. ;)

Well, judging by the responses on this entry, you're right and I'm wrong: it is of interest to other people. And hey, who am I to argue? I concede the point. :)