Blog No. 180
The other night I was in the car with my brother as he drove us to our weekly class at Boarder City Boxing Club. I made note that I didn’t have anything to write about for this week’s blog. Undeterred, he offered several suggestions that I summarily shot down with little thought.
“Why not write about us boxing?” he asked.
“I’ve already talked about it, besides, we’re not really boxing, just conditioning.”
“We’ve started playing Resident Evil 5. You can talk about that.”
“Sure, but Christian is doing this whole horror videogames thing on his blog and the last one was all Resident Evil.” (christianlaforet.com/2016/04/27/digital-death-part-2/)
“Gee man (paraphrasing). I don’t know then.”
“Meh. Thanks for the help, but I think I’ll just do an update. I’m due for one anyway.”
And an update I am doing. Right now.
As it stands, the biggest project I have on my docket, and the one taking up most of my time, is my novella. Since the story is one I have been wrangling for many years, it seems strange to be making any headway with it. Though, currently I am well beyond my deadline, and my second deadline, and I’m currently blowing past my third one. Headway may not be the best word.
I have passed the theoretical halfway point, which is something, but since the end point is truly undetermined (and I have a history of being super lazy and terrible) I can’t really know where the halfway point is.
I tried to explain how far I was by using acts, but even that doesn’t make a lot of sense. Technically I am ending the second act and getting into the third, but that would mean act one is rather short and act three would have to be huge (or there would have to be a fourth act). Plus, because it is part of a series, there is the ending that leads to the beginning of the next book. That could be six acts right there, and I may end up needing more space to finish than I planned, so we can’t rule out a seventh act.
Initially I wanted to write an action/adventure story set in space that would end up around forty thousand words. It would be a quick book with a tight plot, few major characters, and a concrete ending. Amongst that I wanted to pepper in some larger elements that would connect with future books, leading to a story that would take place in the middle of other, smaller stories, over the course of the series. If that makes any sense. The books themselves are meant to be clean and quick with an overarching narrative that takes place across them all.
It’s all still in the air, but the fact is, I am not working on it enough. Refocus, rededicate, reallocate. Tighten my boots and try again.
Pilot: Book One
Word Count: 26000 of 40000 (or so)
First Draft Deadline: March 31st
April 30th
Soon(ish)
Ben Van Dongen 
I think you are trying to write on the fly, and its not working for you. It seems to actually cause you distress. MAYBE you’re really a plotter. I would strongly suggest your read the book “Outlining Your Novel” by K.M. Weiland. It is a simple approach to outlining your story, before you start writing. Even if you never use an outline, this book will give you another way to look at writing structure. You’re a talented writer – never be afraid to try a new approach.
I’ve actually tried outlining my stories before. I can never stick to them though. It only takes a chapter before I’m off on some tangent that becomes the main plot. I’m one of those weirdoes who believes that my characters take over and drag me in the direction they want to go.
I may try to outline again one day, but I think it’s a tool that best works for me when there are strict deadlines and multiple projects on the go.