No status update on Dark Horse this week

I've mentioned this already, but in light of the resent crashing & burning of V1 of chapter #8 I've decided to hammer out the outline for the rest of the plot a bit more before pressing on.

So long-term it should let me do more fore-shadowing and make sure everything clicks a bit tighter, but right now its going to slow things a bit.

Still, these once a week updates have been mostly well-received, so I thought you guys deserved a head's up anyway.

Comments

[Ranakastrasz]

Well, Worst case scenario, you can update one of your other stories.
Hint Hint.

[wlam]

Did you really just give an update that there is no update? I mean, really?

[Adin]

I do like to hear a weekly update from you, it lets us know what the score is even when there isn't one.

[Lord Of Dorkness]

3417001

Did you really just give an update that there is no update? I mean, really?

*Shrugs.*

I've written a 11489 words slash 48 pages outline of the last arc of the story, plus 2616 words slash six pages for #8 V2.

So... yeah, progress, but nothing that's going to set anybody's heart ablaze.

That, and as 3417018 mentioned I'm trying to keep these things weekly.

I do like to hear a weekly update from you, it lets us know what the score is even when there isn't one.

Glad to hear that, by the way.

[wlam]

3417030
I suppose. Don't blame me for finding it funny, though.

[Canary In The Coal Mine]

Thanks for the heads up.

That you didn't have the rest of the story plotted though, or weakly plotted: Yikes! There are so many factors in play currently, it could easily become a mess if you didn't have a plan in mind.

[Adin]

Okay, just found a Jim Butcher quote that I think applies to you a lot and felt the need to share it (this being your most recent blog post it seemed like the place since it applies to Dark Horse):

Always write a story as lean as you possibly can (and still be happy with it). Every scene and every sequel should be planned to move your story forward--and you should have the purpose of the scene in mind as you write it.

...

It is SO much easier to flesh out a story that's too lean than it is to trim down a story that's too bulky.

Jim Butcher

I've watched you progress as a writer, from your earlier work where English was still notably a second language, to now. And I say with confidence that this is your last major hurdle to conquer as an author. If you can internalize that bit of advice, I doubt you will ever need to scrap a chapter again.

[Lord Of Dorkness]

3417159

Thanks for the heads up.
That you didn't have the rest of the story plotted though, or weakly plotted: Yikes! There are so many factors in play currently, it could easily become a mess if you didn't have a plan in mind.

Actually, I had as you put it plotted Dark Horse out 'weakly.' So I've had a plan.

The big set-piece moments. What arcs the major characters should be going through. The big themes.

So its more upgrading to the rest of the story being 'heavily' plotted out.

A rough take on the dialogue. Who shows up where to do what down to the minor cast. The general flow of each chapter, and what note it should end on.

But yeah, me sitting down and doing this now's going to make the story better long-term. No doubt about that.

3417949

Snip.

Hmm... not bad advice at all. Thanks for sharing it.

I've watched you progress as a writer, from your earlier work where English was still notably a second language, to now. And I say with confidence that this is your last major hurdle to conquer as an author. If you can internalize that bit of advice, I doubt you will ever need to scrap a chapter again.

Thanks. Always nice to hear from the outside source that you're improving.

Still, niece vote of confidence aside, I doubt #8 V1 will be the last thing on the cutting room floor. Sometimes an idea simply won't work even nearly as well on paper as it did in your head, and the best thing for quality is simply to drop it and save what you can for later.