~ d r e a m b o r n ~

New home

2009-03-21T11:13:00.002+11:00

I've moved to a new domain, purely because I like its features just that little bit more.
So here it is: http://potterspimp.wordpress.com/

I know size doesn't matter ...

2009-03-08T08:12:00.005+11:00

Well I'm slowly but surely getting back into the swing of things. I haven't started setting myself a daily word count, but I'm definitenly beginning to try and write everyday. It's always in the back of my mind that I have school work too, but to be perfectly honest, I am really not in a school work mood. It's pretty much the exact opposite. But I do have to get half a page on staging for 17th Century Comedy done for drama. I know half a page isn't a lot, but it's more than I want to do.

Well I reached 10,000 words yesterday, and I also finished writing out a basic synopsis in my little notebook. It doesn't cover a lot of time in the world. Only about 2 or 3 weeks, but something inside me tells me this book might be bigger than book 2. I have no idea how big, but it just feels a lot bigger. Then again, it might just be me being hopeful again. I might only reach 80,000 words. Not that size matters, but it's the last book. I'd like it to be fairly long. But I do have a lot to cover, so who knows. It might end up being (not likely) 200,000 words long.

Well I should be off writing.

Link-x

The Darkest Umbra Wordcount

10,258 / 120,000
(8.5%)

Epigraph

2009-03-04T17:56:00.003+11:00

I've had this picked for some time, but have never actually said it here. I've got an epigraph for each book in the Atryniti trilogy, which I spent quite some time searching for. They had to be perfect and sum up the story quite well. And surprise, surprise, all three of the quotes actually come from John Milton. I will, however, only post the epigraph for book 1 here, as while the last two are just as good and almost set in stone, this one is most certainly going to be the one for book 1. So here it is:

O thievish Night,

Why shouldst thou, but for some felonious end,

In thy dark lantern thus close up the stars,

That nature hung in heaven, and filled their lamps

With everlasting oil, to give due light

To the misled and lonely traveller?

It is so perfect for the first book, I nearly fell over when I happened across it a few months back.

Also, I recently finished the first round of edits on book 2. I'm definitely going to do more, but not for some time. For the time being, I know the text too well.

I sent the manuscript for The Severed Umbra to Scholastic today, so let's hope I get a positive reply from them. If that fails, I've got another publisher to try, and then a couple overseas. Something that would be even better would be if the agent got back to me. I know Scholastic normally doesn't publish young adult fantasy, but they did publish His Dark Materials (One of my all-time favourites!), so I can't see any harm in trying. But we'll just have to wait and see. Fingers crossed!

I'm still feeling a little distant from The Darkest Umbra, which I can't remember if I did or didn't experience. I know that The Severed Umbra had a very slow start, but I think that was all my own fault. What's making this hard, I think, might be the knowledge that this is the last book of the trilogy, and that the 20 or so people who have/are yet to read books 1 and 2 would like me to do it justice. Either that, or I'm just not into my usual "swing" of things yet. To be honest, I don't know.

Well that's it.

-Link.

The Darkest Umbra Word Count

8,421 / 120,000
(7.0%)

Future Plans

2009-02-28T10:24:00.002+11:00

I'm feeling a lot better now that I've had time to think about why Random House rejected me, and it's helping. I knew I'd take it badly, but not quite as badly as I did.

But enough of that. There's no use whining about everything.

So what am I going to do next? Well, write, of course!

I'm just a little further through book 3. I'm just having a bit of trouble re-establishing my voice, especially as it's been so long since I've pumped out 1000 words. I'm finding myself being very under-descriptive, which is pretty bad since I'm very stark with my descriptions, anyway. I just have to remind myself to slow down with my writing, and get back to my normal ways. I'm still in 'last-fifth-of-the-book-mode'.

Also, I've sent a manuscript email to Scholastic Press Australia. It says on their site they don't normally accept unsolicited manuscripts, but also that there's no harm in trying anyway. If that falls through, I'm going to try some overseas publishers. Then, if everything else just dies, I'll probably be finished the entire trilogy, and will self-publish an omnibus of the trilogy, and also get one for anyone else who might desire it. I don't want to make too much money out of that, as a hardcover Lord-knows-how-many-page book generally doesn't come cheap. Probably over $50 given the exchange rate at the moment.

But the real question is what am I going to write once I've finished the trilogy. At the moment, I really like the idea of going back to Sinspell, my first story, and reworking it. It'll end up being an entirely different story, but the basic premise of the original will still be there. It helps, too that it is a stand-alone novel, so if it doesn't get published either, I won't be investing my time to writing things simply for friends (not that I really ever write for any other reason. Getting published though would make it just that little bit better).

Link-x

Back to Square One

2009-02-26T10:08:00.003+11:00

The last 24 hours have been very dichotomous to say the least. On one end of the spectrum, my first adult reader read The Severed Umbra and enjoyed it thoroughly. When she posted the book back (she lives some distance away), there was a letter inside it from her, and everytime there was a reference to my characters, I got all excited and giddy. Also, she had a small list of corrections where I had the wrong character's name written down in some scenes, which was a big help. It was a very good feeling.

And at the very other end of the spectrum, I recieved a reply from Random House, and it's a rejection. Six months of waiting, and I'm back where I was six months ago. I'm not taking it fantastically, as this is literally the furthest I have gotten through the publishing process, but I'm sure after a day or so, I'll be better. I was a constructive, but very short letter. The editor said that they enjoyed the main concept of the story, but not the writing itself. It was nice to recieve something like that alongside the rejection.

Luckily, though, I've still got the agent looking at the sample chapters I sent her. I'm still deciding though If I should tell her about the rejection as I had told her about being considered by Random House, which may have had some explanation to her consideration.
Link-x

Excuses?

2009-02-16T13:33:00.003+11:00

I'm not quite speeding through the opening chapters, but that's because I've now got to keep editing book 2. I've only just started part 2, and the person that types in my edits is expecting it. But then again, I haven't been writing much either. The last few days have just been an utter debacle. So I think I've got about 1 and a half hours to go until I have to be back at school, and I'll use that to ....... edit. I'll write more tonight if I don't want to edit more.

Or maybe I should do some homework. Maybe?

The Darkest Umbra Wordcount

5,543 / 120,000
(4.6%)

Re-introducing the Introduced

2009-02-12T09:55:00.004+11:00

I'm about half-way through Chapter 10 of book 2 in editing, which I am actually not happy with. I was hoping to be a little further by now, but everything has just been crazy that I'm surprised I'm nearly 4000 words through Book 3. That's probably why editing has slowed down.

Book 3 has begun with a bit of a bang, in more ways than one. I've forshadowed some stuff, and finally sorted out how certain concepts are going to be revealed. The one thing that I'm finding really hard is re-introducing characters. It's just annoying to try an not do it in obvious ways. I've sorted out most of it, by looking through the eyes of a character not in the know, but it's still hard to make it not sound forced.

Well I'm off now. I'll probably reach 4000 words today before I have to go to school.

Link~x

The Darkest Umbra Progress

3,830 / 120,000
(3.2%)

The Beginning of 'Blah' Correction

2009-02-08T20:01:00.002+11:00

I've begun editing The Eclipsing Umbra, and I've really been enjoying it, especially when I read things that I had forgotten were foreshadowing events. I always had a shiver of excitement each time I read something that I knew was foreshadowing things.

I'm up to the 8th chapter (Of 35) so far, and REALLY looking forward to having my friends read it. Then, once it's edited, I can begin book 3. So now all I have to decide is whether I'll give it to mu friends in the 3 separate parts book 2 is divided into, or to give it to them in one big hit. To be perfectly honest, I'd love to give it to them in 3 parts, because each of them end on a cliff hanger, so the waiting will only increase excitement, and probably speed up my editing, too. On the other hand, the person who'll read it first will probably tell me not to do that, just to give it to him in one big part.

Link-x

Recollection

2009-02-02T19:31:00.003+11:00

This is something I've been meaning to post here for ages. I wrote it a fair while back. I think probably early last year for a school assessment. It was a task to write a story of around 1000 words, on any topic. It's actually a small section based on a small section of my first novel, Sinspell. It was actually pretty much the twist at the end. So this is super condensed, and probably has very swift pacing. It's only got a few concepts from the original story in it, so that I could keep it as short as possible, so please bear with the pacing. But other than that preface, read if you want, and enjoy (hopefully) my short story, 'Recollections'.

***
Jarvis Rhyd wandered down the familiar streets of Little Rowledd, the village he’d been brought up in. The aquogriff beside him, Ace, had, too been brought up in this village and joined in with Jarvis’ excitement at being home.

The aquogriff was wolf-like. It stood just a few inches taller than a common German shepherd. Jarvis kept his hand entangled in the cool, azure fur of the pet he knew as one of his greatest friends.

Very little had altered since his last visit home. The village seemed free from the developments time brought with it, which prevented the village from becoming too modern, or too urban.

The shops were inviting and warm and every single one held fond memories for Jarvis. He reminisced about eating at Mrs Yeast’s Bakery, or helping to dust at Mr Archae’s antique shop. Every store held tender memories, except for one.

Jarvis shuddered as he passed Madam Binding’s Book Store. The shop was still just as inviting and Madam Binding was a perfectly kind and good-natured woman, but the alley adjacent to the store put Jarvis on edge.

As he peeked into the passageway, craning his head to see what he already knew was around the corner, he sobbed.

“Do you remember that place, Ace?” he asked the aquogriff. “Do you remember what happened there?”

Ace nodded, his golden eyes peering into Jarvis’ green ones. “It’s not a nice thing to think about, but yes, I do.”

Jarvis smiled. “You were only a pup back then. Dad had just given you to me for my birthday.” He looked up to the clouded sky. “It’s amazing how much you’ve grown in a few years.”

Though he abhorred it, his mind cast back to the night of his tenth birthday. The night he remembered all too vividly. The night five years ago, when his father had been killed, trying to protect his only son.

***

Jarvis and his newest friend, Ace, hadn’t been playing in the garden long when twilight had fallen.

His mother opened the front door of the house and said, “Jarvis, come inside now with Ace. I don’t want you playing outside in the dark, especially while that Little Rowledd killer is still out and about.”

Jarvis groaned. “I wanna keep playing.” Ace, standing no more than a foot tall came out from within the bushes and ran back to Jarvis, carrying the stick in his mouth. He dropped it before Jarvis and sat obediently, his tail wagging back and forth madly. “Besides,” continued Jarvis. “Dad doesn’t even know Ace’s name yet!”

His mother sighed, defeated. “Fine, stay out. But the moment dad gets back, it’s inside you come.”

Jarvis cheered and continued to play with the aquogriff.

Ten minutes passed and as Jarvis made Ace turn to water for the twelfth time that night, the bushes behind him rustled.

Jarvis shot around and called out to the darkness, “Hello?”

Silence.

“Hello?”

Nothing.

He shrugged and returned to Ace, who quickly barked and continued to frolic about.
The bushes rustled again.

Jarvis jumped and quickly found himself reaching for the silver handle of his dagger.
“Hello?” he whimpered. He threw up a brave façade and stood with his chest pushed out. “If you try to hurt me, I will retaliate with my knife.”

There was no reply.

Jarvis wanted so very much to return to the confines of the house, where he was safe with his mother, but that meant passing the bushes, where Jarvis thought the Little Rowledd killer was hiding.

There was no way about it.

He would have to run.

He turned towards his secret track through the forest toward town and dashed into the brush, the aquogriff following swiftly behind him.

He puffed and panted, as he ducked beneath overhanging branches and leaped over fallen logs. The ground was slippery from the wintry chill in the air and so Jarvis slid and slipped as he tried to escape his pursuer.

He pushed on, the glow of the gas streetlights of the main road breaking through the gradually thinning canopy.

He squeezed his way through the tight gap between Mrs Yeast’s Bakery and Mr Green’s fruit and vegetable market and out into the deserted main street.

Of course it’s completely empty, he thought. Because of the killer, no one’s coming out after dark. I’ll never get anyone to help me in time.

“Oi!” came the gruff voice from behind Jarvis, snapping him out of his thoughts.

Jarvis panicked and found himself sweating profusely.

This was it. He was going to die. There was no doubt about it.

For what he knew was going to be his final act, he ran down the alley beside Madam Binding’s. It went in for ten metres and then turned right, into choking shadow. Knowing it was his greatest protection, Jarvis ran into the darkness and hid behind a set of trash bins. He would be safe here.

He caught his breath and sighed. Surely now that the killer was in the main street he’d give up his chase.

There was the echo of footsteps on cobblestones, which slowly became louder with each step. Jarvis felt himself quiver with fright and grabbed his dagger automatically once more, this time pulling it completely out of the sheath.

He peeked over the bins and watched in horror as the shadow of the Little Rowledd Killer grew, until he could see the shadowy figure of the man himself. The light shining from the street lit the back of the man’s body, but kept the front of him completely obscured by darkness.

Will slowed his breath and tried his best to cease his shivering and knew he was safe.
The aquogriff pup growled.

The man’s face spun to the bins and stared directly at Jarvis.

“Got you,” said the man triumphantly.

He took great strides forward towards the bins and with each step Jarvis began to decide his plan of escape. The image of the wanted poster came back into his mind.

Wanted:
Dead OR Alive

He knew what he was going to do. He stood up and faced the man. He still couldn’t make out any of the killer’s features, but it didn’t matter. He knew he was going to survive.

The man moved forth to grab Jarvis, but the boy was too quick. He lifted his dagger and thrust it into the man’s chest. The man roared in agony as lifeblood began to flow from the wound.

Jarvis withdrew the bloodied weapon and watched as the man stumbled back, before falling into the light of the lamps.

The man’s face was revealed.

He appeared familiar to Jarvis for a moment, before everything fell into place.

“DAD!” cried Jarvis as he leaped between the bins and to his father’s side.

He kneeled down and stared into his father’s dying eyes. They’d never have that kind sparkle again. “Ace! Go home and get mum.”

The aquogriff dashed off. Jarvis didn’t notice this, however, as he stared at his father.

“Ace; that’s a … fine name.”

Jarvis watched in horror as his father’s body turned lifeless and began to cry.

Almost on queue, the heavens opened up and released a torrent of rain. The water mixed with the blood and began to flood the cobblestone alley. The dyed water flowed into a drain.

It was as if nothing had ever happened.

***

Adelle Rhyd felt something inside hear t twinge.

She wiped the knife in her hands on her apron and placed it back in the draw.

Someone had already done her job for the night.

Plotless

2009-01-30T21:46:00.002+11:00

I re-read the outline for book 3, amd though I'm certain much of the story will remain as it is, or that many of the majoy events will occur as they were intended to, I feel that a more free way of writing may assist and be beneficial in the writing of the final volume of the trilogy. There is a lot to write, but I feel that if I stay too closely to the outline, it will lose that ... whatever it is ... that is needs.

This idea was born from what I was thinking while reading the outline I wrote what must've been late 2006/early 2007. I realised how much of the plot had now changed, and required some sort of update. I was really quite unsure of how to go about it, because what I have written there is really something workable, but there have been certain plotlines and concepts and characters that have changed since writing that. I could just do a search/replace on my outline, but I believe that would be just too lazy on my behalf. It would be a kick in the pants to my friends who enjoy reading my books. The order of events may change in the final manuscript, the way certain twists or plot points are revealed may change, but it really will ultimately be the same story, and ending (unless the new plot lends itself to something better). I've also come to notice that when I let myself go, the characters often become stronger and control more of the story. So I sort of am flying blind as to how everything will turn out, but if I find it really doesn't help the writing process, I'm going to outline the story from beginning to end with something new.

I'm happy to have chosen to wait a while, till the time is right to start Book 3. I have been given at least five books to read over the next few weeks, some study of other works that I have to look over, I have to keep up to date with my major work for both Drama and English Extension 2, and every two weeks, I'm going to be given a creative writing task to assist in helping us improve our writing skills. I honestly have no idea as to when I will be able to begin book 3, but when I do finally get around to it, I will not be giving myself a daily word count goal. I just have too much other stuff that's far too important to put off until later. This is my final year in high school, and so I have to make sure it counts. I can't put my story in front of my studies without risking my future.

So that's the plan (or lack thereof).

Of Names and Reflection

2009-01-25T12:28:00.002+11:00

I can't help but think that is to try and have a break, instead of diving into book 3. I know I can wait on the editing front *sigh*, but the next book is like a hooker calling out to me, flapping their eye lashes promiscuously and saying, "I promise that working into me won't make your 'pee pee' pee razor blades." I'm sure once I start though, I'll be quite content and bla bla bla ....

Recently, while reading an entry on w i n d r o a d s, Ben's blog, I read about two of the blogs on his blogroll. One is mine, the other is his friend, Lolly's. Upon looking at hers, I noticed that she too had a really interesting and different name for her blog. It made me feel sort of lazy for having the title 'Lincoln's Writing Blog', and so to try to have something to keep me distracted, I'm trying really hard to come up with a good -- or rather, original -- title for my own blog. It's proving itself to be quite a good distraction.

Also, on the earlier topic, over the last 24 hours, I've been reflecting on my original intentions for what i was going to do about finishing book 2, and then writing book 3. I honestly don't think I have it in me to wait too long. Okay, I know book 3 will not make me urinate razors, but once I start, I won't be allowed to stop, and so I'll have to wait for the break at the end of that book.

I know it sounds like it has a simple solution: "Just wait 2 weeks and you can write again!" but it really isn't that easy for me. I found this especially prevalent after my very first book Sinspell. I look back on it now, and I see that while it was a great project to start on, it would perhaps be no better than a primary grade book (until, that is, I add the little tweaks that have been boiling over in my head since finishing it, in an attempt to perhaps include concepts in a later story, or to rework it into something better entirely). It allowed me to write the initial 90,000 words of crap, and get it out of my system, before beginning on The Severed Umbra, which I know is not utter gold, but is most definitely not crap. But I digress (it's so easy for my mind to wander)! After finishing my first book, I had something going on with me which I diagnosed as Post-Novel Depression. No! I didn't feel distant form my baby. It is perhaps best described as feeling a little lost after not having a project to come home to. Sure, I had what would become T.S.U., but at that point, I didn't know anything would come from it. At the moment, I really do have nothing. I can work on book 3, but like I said, I really would like a break.

"But why do I have to take a break?" I ask myself. It is quite simply to make book 2 as distant from me as possible. I've got to forget key passages, dialogue, and bring myself back to, not-quite square one, but definitely to the state-of-mind where I was at the beginning of book 2. I knew what was going to happen, I knew what characters were going to appear, but how all that was to be written down was going to me a mystery to me. So, why can't I start book 3? Well I honestly don't know why. I think it might be just to recharge my batteries. I just really feel like I need to start it now, for some reason.

With all this in mind, this is what I'm planning to do now.

I will probably begin book 3 today, tomorrow, the day after. Soon, anyway. I won't give myself a wordcount aim because I'm beginning the most important year of my high school career, and I really do have to focus on my studies. Also, it's so that it feels as if I had a break. I haven't had my boss telling me to pump out 1,500 words. Instead, I'll just do what feels right, and then stop. Until I've finished editing book 2, I won't give myself a wordcount aim, or force myself to write. I'll just go as it comes, so that it doesn't feels like work.

I'll hold off editing book 2 until I am so distant, that I know I'll only need a few editing passes. If I had my way, I'd give it to all my friends as is and say, "Deal with the errors, bitches," but I get embarrassed by all the mistakes, especially when they're really obvious. Also, until it's edited, one particular character gets a name change half-way through, and some accidentally get sex changes. I've even had characters laugh with themselves. Whent he time feels right, or my friends' whinging becomes unbearable, I'll edit it.

So, with all of this in mind, I'm off to either write/read/come-up-with-good-blog-title/something else.

The Eclipsing Umbra!

2009-01-24T11:08:00.006+11:00

The Eclipsing Umbra is complete at 138188 words. This is definitely my favourite book so far.

Now, I'm going to have a good break, which will be good since I'm going back to school on Wednesday. Year 12! AHHHHH!

After I've edited it, I'm going to start book 3. I can't believe I'm saying this!

Not Much Left ...

2009-01-22T01:16:00.002+11:00

It's so, so, so close. I've got 3 chapters to go, probably about 5000-8000 words between those chapters (maybe more. I'm just guessing based on content and how much description/dialogue/stuff will be required.

I can't believe in two days I've written nearly 10,000 words. Tomorrow, I'm taking a break to do all the school work I've neglected over the holidays, and give my brain a moment to breath. If I finish ALL that early enough, I'll probably write another chapter. Friday, though, is almost certain to be the day I write THE END on book 2. Also just wrote 6700 of that 10,000 today, whcih was one chapter (the longest chapter in the book. The second longest is chapter 16, with about 6500).

I also sorted out my problems with making sure my climax is really climactic. I didn't have to do anything, really, just read something to help with the writing of the thing. Should be good.

Anyway, it's late. I'm buggered. I'll probably be up a little longer to get a reaction from my friend, and then I'll go to be and sleep in till midday. Thank god I don't have any work tomorrow!

Lincoln -x

The Eclipsing Umbra Wordcount

130,166 / 120,000
(108.5%)

Thoughts on the Climax

2009-01-20T10:06:00.002+11:00

Well the day has finally come that I'm allowed to start worrying about the ending of this book. I know what's going to happen, I know pretty well the final words of this book, but I have one problem -- This climax can't be too climactic, and, on the same token, his to be just that little bit more.

Why? It's the end of the second book in a trilogy, and so I still have another climax to get through -- the very final one -- so this one can be remembered, and can be enjoyed and can be someone's favourite chapter, but in no ways can it be the very best of all the ones throughout this series. Another problem with this is that throughout this particular book, I have literally had two climax-level sections, which means this one still has to be the slightest notch more exciting. Each of my books in this trilogy are divided into 3 fairly even 'parts', just like how each Lord of the Rings book is separated into two 'books', and whereas the first books divisions were at pivotal points for my main character, this one is set around the battles which occur at the end of these. So there's two battles, two really cool battles I have to better, but in turn, not make as good as the final climax. So that' my problem.

On the other front, I've finally reached my original goal of 120,000 words, though the moment I begin editing, one scene of about will disappear, reducing it by 2000 words. But this is the draft's wordcount, and that scene isn't disappearing until editing.

At the moment I'm trying to get through Promise of the Wolves, though I haven't even read 1 chapter since last time. Because I'm finding it a tad boring, I'm also reading The Ruby in the Smoke, by Philip Pullman. I loved His Dark Materials, which I read a number of years back, and though I've only had the chance of reading one chapter out of this one, I can tell I'm going to enjoy this one.

Well I'm off to keep pumping out those words.

Lincoln-x

The Eclipsing Umbra Update:

121,611 / 120,000
(101.3%)

All caught up!

2009-01-17T23:22:00.002+11:00

I had a spark of insane inspiration today, and pumped out 3000 or so words to catch up on all the days I'd missed. It's nice to be back in the swing of things and up to date again. The best part about it is that I feel that much of what I wrote is quality, rather than 1500 words of utter dribble, and 1500 of absolute horse poo, especially as it can be so damn mentally draining. I also review the outline for the last few chapters, and found one of them was redundant, bringing the final pages ever closer. Woooopeeeee!

But that's about all I can report.

Lincoln -x

The Eclipsing Umbra Wordcount

116,000 / 120,000
(96.7%)

Go now! Kill Me!

2009-01-16T08:26:00.003+11:00

I didn't write yesterday, no matter how long I sat at the computer screen for. I bought Heroes Season 1 on DVD, and so that's about all I did. I'm definitely going to write today, though, because I'm up to disc 5, I think.

Adding another project to the mix

2009-01-15T09:00:00.004+11:00

Contrary to what's suggested by the word count metre below, I did hit my daily word count yesterday. The thing is I wrote most of it the night before (though it was time that passed over to 12am, so I sort of did write it yesterday), because I knew I would be out all day.

But as is being suggested by the title, I'm adding another project. This one isn't as urgent yet, but it will gain deadlines as I write it. It's only a 6000-8000 word short story, but I'm going to take my time with it. I've picked the song Mr. Curiosity by Jason Mraz, and set the story around the lyrics, which was really only an afterthought. I'll post about it here, too. It has a tentative title, but that will remain a secret for now.

It's an interesting concept which I took from the saying "write what you know", in which I use not only the main character's actual life, but also what he writes to tell his story. It has two layers of meaning, which is what they're looking for in Major Works in the HSC for English Extension 2 (which is, obviously, what this story's for). I haven't written anything other than a very rough outline, but once I start, I'll be giving it a word count metre, too.

Also, I've come up with a soundtrack for The Severed Umbra. I'll keep it to myself for the time being, simply because I still haven't finalised it, but once I think it's absolutely right, I'll probably post it.

Something I've found recently while writing is that some of the best ideas for a planned out story, are the ones I come up with on the spot, while listening to a character's dialogue or just while I'm wandering about. This particular idea was something which grew from something a character had said in the very beginning of the book, and then when I enquired further into another character's past, I realised that they were actually closer than I originally though, simply because of the earlier dialogue. Mind you, I have to reoganise one other section of said dialogue, but I'm sure it will all work out. I think because of this 'discovery' way of writing, the book I embark on after I finish the trilogy will have to be one not so well planned out. I might perhaps have a few scenes in my head, and probably a glossary I'll add to along the way, but other than that, I doubt there will be much more in the way of planning and plotting.

Lincoln -x

Currently Reading: Promise of the Wolves by Dorothy Hearst.
At the moment, I'm only about 40 pages through, but it's been pretty good so far.

The Eclipsing Umbra Update

112,000 / 120,000
(93.3%)

2009-01-14T08:48:00.003+11:00

Well it looks as if it's nearly done, but it's not. It's nowhere near finished. I still have so so so much story to tell. I'm just going over my intended wordcount. However, I won't change the wordcount bar. The aim will remain 120,000 words, and we'll see how far I go beyond that.

I finished reading Royal Exile by Fiona McIntosh, and I LOVED it. As you can see it's up there with my favourites (see: influences).

Anyway, I'm off to write for a bit, and then I'm off.

Lincoln -x

The Eclipsing Umbra Wordcount

111,295 / 120,000
(92.7%)

2009-01-12T11:38:00.003+11:00

I'm hoping by the end of Tuesday I'll have 110,000 words. However, after today, this book will be officially larger than The Severed Umbra, which is a scary thought, but at the same time, it's exciting. It's when I hit that point later on today that I'll be able to celebrate with some chocolate.

I've also begun editing The Eclipsing Umbra simply because I feel ready to look at the beginning of it (at the moment) objectively and with a fresh face. I know the rule is to wait a while after you're finished, but I know because I'm writing a trilogy that until I've finished the final words on the final volume that I'll still be attached to these characters. So I' just starting earlier than normal. It's going to be rather sporadic with my editing. I'm not going to force myself to do it, because writing will still be the first thing on my list, and something I have to keep pumping out. But until I've actually finished the draft of The Eclipsing Umbra, I'm not going to make myself do it.

Now that the end is in sight, I'm making plans for what I will be doing once I'm done. At the moment, my intention is to take one or two weeks off writing, just so I can have a bit of a break. I might edit during that time, or I might not, depending on my mood. Also, I'll be starting Year 12, so I'm probably going be drowned unter a torrent of homework. The first few weeks are always the worst. And at the rate I'm going at, I'll probably be finished before the end of the holidays or shortly after, which will mean it's a perfect time to have a break. But knowing me, I'll get impatient, and start writing book three the moment I'm done with book 2. I just have to tell myself "my friends are willing to wait if it means a better book", especially when it means I'll look at the next book with a fresh face, and with the plot and tone of the book ready to go. Also, hopefully by then, I'll have a reply from the publisher with an acceptance or rejection. No matter what, I will start book 3 and end it before my own personal (or hopefully the publisher's) deadline. It's so exciting to know the trilogy which began in 2007 -- 2006 if you include planning -- will end (draft-wise) probably before the end of this year.

The Eclipsing Umbra Wordcount

107,064 / 120,000
(89.2%)

2009-01-11T08:02:00.002+11:00

I've been really happy with my wordcount lately, especially with how quickly I've been getting chapters out. My friend who reads all the unedited stuff has been really pleased with how it's going. In November of last year I said I would have this book finished by April, and it's now definitely going to be finished before the end of February (well, the draft anyway). I'd imagine I'll have the firstr few edits done by April, and hopefully into my wonderful reader's (a.k.a, friend's) hands. It will be exciting to see their reactions to everything and leave them hanging for book 3 and (Waaaaaaah!) the end.
I actually had a bit of a scare a few days back where I knew I had a plot twist I was revealing at a specific point ... but not what the twist was ...
Naturally it would be as I'm turning a tight corner in a car park that I remember, at which point I bumped into the guard rail. "WHY ME?!?!?!" he cried in an emo-ish sort of voice.
So I think I should go off for a bit and write something (or perhaps do that drama essay that I really should get out of the way).
Lincoln -x
The Eclipsing Umbra Update:

105,420 / 120,000
(87.8%)

17 weeks ... sigh

2009-01-07T12:51:00.002+11:00

I can't believe it's been 17 weeks since I sent my full manuscript off to the publisher, and there's still no reply. I'm just gonna take a guess that the longer it takes, the better off I'll be.
Well I wrote another 800 words, and I'm certain I'll write more later on tonight after work. I think I might just be a little tired after my 2 day 5000 word stint. I might read some more before I got to work, and hopefully spark the creative juices some more. It might help too if I go to my room where there are minimal distractions.
Anyway, I'm off.
-Lincoln -x.
The Eclipsing Umbra Update

100,809 / 120,000
(84.0%)

one moment ...

2009-01-06T22:24:00.001+11:00

... Ahem ...

That is all.

It's getting closer!

2009-01-05T17:24:00.002+11:00

I finished Chapter Twenty-Three today. It was such an exciting chapter, so much fun to write, and there's just so much happenning within it that I wrote all 5000 words of it in 2 days. If it was a more fitting place to end the book, I would do it here, because it really is the perfect climax to any story. So much left hanging! But oh well, I don't think the real meaning by the title's been revealed yet, so i have to keep soldiering on.
I'm now about 300 words through Chapter 24, and a little annoyed that all the action has died down in this chapter. It's a nice change to have a little calm. I still have the true climax of the story to look forward to.
Still waiting for a reply from the publisher. I'm trying to stay patient, but visiting the post office every day to check the mail isn't helping that. It'll be 17 weeks on Wednesday since I sent the full manuscript off, which I'll just take as a good sign.
So I better get back to writing.
Lincoln -x

Currently Reading:
Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring - J.R.R. Tolkien
Book 1 only for the time being. I'm not very good normally with old(er) prose, so I can only take so much of it at a time. I'll tackle Book 2 of Volume 1 after I finish the next book I'm going to read.

Reading Next:
Royal Exile - Fiona McIntosh
She's a good, Australian fantasy author, and if you ever get a chance, read her. I snuck in reading a few chapter while in the store, and I'm already hooked.

Listening to:
Jason Mraz - We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.

The Eclipsing Umbra Update

97,172 / 120,000
(81.0%)

Holidays!

2009-01-04T08:56:00.003+11:00

Well now that all the celebrations (excuses to not write) are over for now, I've been digging my claws into The Eclipsing Umbra. As you can probably see, I'm over three quarters done, which means that if I stuck religeously to this word count, I'll be finished this month (maybe). I think though that it's going to be somewhat larger. Perhaps around 130,000-140,000 mark. I may hit 150,000, but that really is only if the chapters remain as large as they have been lately, and if I continue to have to divide chapters into two just to make sure they don't become too large. There are just so many characters that I have to look out for, and expand on, and explore, that they're now very much so more important than the plot (as they should be anyway).
Anyway, If I want to finish this book befor the end of this month, I ought to go and keep writing.
Lincoln -x

The Eclipsing Umbra Update

93,410 / 120,000
(77.8%)

I'm well overdue for an update!

2008-12-13T08:28:00.002+11:00

Well I suppose and update is needed now ...

Writing has felt ... well ... less than productive, but some how has sped ahead. I'm really quite happy with how it is growing, and how the characters are growing, too. It just astounds me to see how much these characters feel like real people. It's also really great to see that my chapter-by-chapter draft reader is enjoying it.

As much as I'd like to hurry up and finish, I know all too well what it is like when you rush something. It never turns out as good as it could be. So, with that in mind, I'm quite happy to take my time. With the holidays coming up, I'll probably be knocking a fair few words out, and so may be finished The Eclipsing Umbra (yes, it has a new title) by January-ish. I really can't wait to get more reactions.

All is quiet on the publisher front. I'm still awaiting Random House's reply (it's now been 14 weeks, I think), and I'm really hopeful that I'll see an acceptance letter in my hand within a week or two. However if it is a rejection, I'm probably going to be turning to self-publishing, just so I can have a book in my hands, and so that anyone else can have a book, too. Also, the site I'll be using has free distribution over amazon.com so, if I market enough, that is, I might have a slowly growing audience.

I'm now well into Year 12, and really feeling the workload. I've got to write a 1000 word essay on W.B. Yeats, a musicology report on Jason Mraz (I'm fun with that one), a Drama performance and essay, and all the while try and keep to my daily word count. Well I've already got 200 words out of the way with Yeats, so I'm one fifth of the way there.

Well I might be off now. I hope I might update more often from now on, so I should be back on soon.

Lincoln -x

The Eclipsing Umbra Update:

85,879 / 120,000
(71.6%)

Chapter 6 done.

2008-07-24T19:31:00.001+10:00

Honestly, I hated this chapter. It was so hard to write it, but I got through it. I'm so not bothered I'm not even going to put up a wordcount.

Chapter 6 is coming also very, very slowly.

2008-07-17T23:19:00.002+10:00

My muse must currently be on vacation. Damn.

In the good news department, my friend just finished reading book 1, and he said he loved it! I'm so happy.

Well it's late so I'm off.

Lincoln.

The League of the Covenant Wordcount

22463 / 110000

Currently Reading:

'Artemis Fowl'

Page:

202/280

Chapter 5 Done!

2008-07-16T13:53:00.005+10:00

I broke the back of the school work I had to do, which was good -- it's just going to make it so much easier to finish it. It's actually to do with Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (can't be bothered to put the two dots over the top). I didn't mind the story, it was just really, really weird.

I don't mean to blow air up my own skirt, but this story is just becoming so much better as it continues. I forget where I heard it, but stories are meant to be character driven, not plot driven, and this is definitely character driven. Everybody has a motive, and that's what I was looking for when I wrote it.

I haven't recieved any more replies from agents so far, but I'm still taking that as a sign that they are reviewing them in depth, and that they're considering my work. Fingers crossed!

I'm going off now to read another chapter or two of Artemis Fowl. I only read one chapter last night, but that chapter was about 50 pages long (as are the rest of the chapters in the book). I'm still really enjoying it, and I'm considering going out and getting book 3 today. I can get it for about $10.50 at work when I use my staff discount. Plus, I want to get another bookshelf, and in order to get that, I have to have enought books to put on it. I also want a new desk, my old one just doesn't seem big enough (plus I want a proper computer, not a laptop -- the key board's falling to bits).

I haven't started that piece of writing, and I probably won't until I've got all my schoolwork out of the way.

Anyway, I'm off to read or draw or ... something. If my muse comes back after reading, I might write some more. I also ought to print out a hard copy of my book so I don't lose it like what almost happened with my first book, Sinspell. Which reminds me, if worst comes to worst, and I have to start something completely new, I have two ideas that could work. One that's a little cliche, but I still think I'd enjoy, and the other one a (removed idea as I'm going to be using it one day). I'd go for the latter, but at the moment I'm not very good at romance, unless I know the characters well enough.

If I write some more, I'll update tomorrow.

Lincoln

-The League of the Covenant Progress-

21861 / 110000

Currently Reading:

Up to Page:

161/280

2008-07-15T18:40:00.002+10:00

I had some trouble with writers block today - though it's probably because I have only a very vague idea as to where this thread is going (in other words, I need to write it out).

Other than those few problems, writing is still going well. One problem I'm facing, however, is that out of the 15 or so email agent submissions, I've only got 5 replies to go. I still have the postal ones, but I'm losing faith. The problem is that I'm not sure what I'm going to do if it's rejected. I have a few friends who will probably want to know how the trilogy ends, in which case I would like to finish. If my friends are not interested, I'm going to be picking up a new project to work on, and I'll ensure it's a single novel, but whatever it is, I'm completely stumped.

On a more happy note, the first person reading my story is about 5 chapters off from finishing. I can't wait to find out what he thought about it overall.

I also think I've figured out what my first rant will be, but I won't say what it in case it's not what it ends up being. Here's a hint though: it's one of the most over used part of high fantasy fiction.

I'm off now. Wish me luck in my agent hunt.

Lincoln.

The League of the Covenant Progress

20000 / 110000

Currently reading:

Up to page 118/280

Meh

2008-07-14T10:10:00.001+10:00

I wrote something. That's always a good sign. It's still early though, so I think I'll go off and read or something and come back to it later.
Lincoln

The League of the Covenant Progress:

18408 / 110000

Chapter 4 is done

2008-07-13T20:47:00.001+10:00

Yeah, I got bored. I decided to finish the entire chapter. Nuff said.
Lincoln

The League of the Covenant Progress:

15.98%

Well, chapter four is half done ....

2008-07-13T13:46:00.002+10:00

I've been having a little trouble getting this chapter down. Perhaps it's because I'm reading Eldest - it must be stifling my imagination. I ought to read another book at the same time so my writing doesn't go bad.
Anyway, that's pretty much all there is to report for today.
Lincoln.

The League of the Covenant Progress:

14.01%

Chapter 3 Done!

2008-07-11T12:24:00.003+10:00

Well I've finished chapter three, and already I've revealed more than I originally intended to. It's quite nice to see that the plot does what it wants to, as do the characters. For me it just means that the characters are just that little bit more real.
At the moment its freezing here, like really cold. We've got the air conditioning on and I'm still having trouble feeling my toes.
Anyway, that's about all to report for now.
Lincoln :)

The League of the Covenant Progress

12.17%

We're definitely uner way!

2008-07-10T19:30:00.002+10:00

Well today I got my first good rejection! Is that even possible you ask? YES IT IS! Instead of the standard "Dear Author" letter, it began with Mr. L Law, and that was just the beginning. There were some personal comments in it, like "this work shows promise" and stuff like that, and I'm just really excited about that.
I've passed the second milestone with TLotC (The League of the Covenant) and that's reached 10,000 words.
1st Milestone: Finish Chapter 1
2nd Milestone: Reach 10,000 words
3rd Milestone: Finish Part 1
4th Milestone: Reach 55,000 words (1/2 way!)
5th Milestone: Complete it
6th Milestone: Edit it
7th Milestone: Get it Published!!!!!!!! (that's the big one)
So now I've got a plan, I should reach the next Milestone in about 7 or 8 chapters time.

That's it for now.
Lincoln

The League of the Covenant Progress:

10.21%

The Leaguew of the Covenant has begun!

2008-07-09T11:57:00.002+10:00

That's right, already work has started on Book 2 of the Atryniti Trilogy. I've just finished Chapter 2, and already picked out the titles for the three parts in this story, as I did with The Severed Umbra.
Speaking of The Severed Umbra, I finished editing it and I've sent out a tonne of email queries, and 4 postal ones (the postals cost $14!). I've already recieved the first bout of rejections, and they were within the first 72 hrs. I'm hoping that means some of the agents are reviewing them as I speak. I really can't wait to hear a reply.
Anyway, I think I might go off and write or read or do something for a little while.
Lincoln
PS. The League of the Covenant is around 9200 words so far.

The Severed Umba Finished

2008-05-27T21:15:00.002+10:00

That's rights! It's complete at around 108000 words. Less than I hoped, but it's a better story than I could ever have hoped for. I am in awe (however arrogant it may sound) of this story. I'm just so, so happy!

Chapter 27, done!

2008-04-28T19:41:00.002+10:00

Along with writing chapter 27, Ive also edited chapter 1 completely, and I'm really happy with it. It's sort of renewed my hope that this story is publishable, because I went through a bit of stage where I was a bit "Will this get published? Should I bother?"

The Severed Umbra Update

87,370 / 110,000
(79.4%)

Phew

2008-04-24T13:16:00.002+10:00

3000 words in one day. It's nothing like that 10000 words in one day I had with Sinspell (let's not go there) but it's still a hell of a lot. Chapter 26 is done!

I think I might either start playing Mario Kart Wii or edit some more of my story, though I think I'm done writing for the day.

The Severed Umbra Update

82,999 / 110,000
(75.5%)

Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

2008-04-23T09:00:00.002+10:00

I'm just going to begin with: BRING ON MARIO KART!!!!!! and HURRY THE FCUK (YES THAT'S RIGHT SPELLING) UP WITH SSB:B!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There, now that that's over we can return to our normally scheduled news.

I've been enjoying the writing during the holidays (though theya re far from over) and I'm really proud of this tale. People have commented on how much my writing has improved, and I've been really excited about that. I'm also not trusting so much on my outline, as I get ideas along the way which help with increasing the story. i've added things, and increased my vocabulary (with the help of thesaurus.com) so I'm hoping that that will help with my chances to get published. BRING IT ON!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm reading the Amber Spyglass again, just because the His Dark Materials trilogy are a major influence over this story, and I'm hoping it will help witht he plot of the third book. I can just see it being much, MUCH better.
BTW, I can't wait till the Twilight film, it looks so good, and it's becoming more exciting for me than harry potter (which is a difficult thing to do with me.
I'm thinking of starting editing before I've finished so that way I don't have just editing to go through when I've finished this one. I'd also like to brush it up a bit and improve it so I can post a sample chapter on the net. I've got one on my Myspace, but I'd rather not.
Anyway, off I go. Cya, Lincoln.

The Severed Umbra Update

79,945 / 110,000
(72.7%)

My Daemon

2008-03-28T20:15:00.002+11:00

This is completely unrelated to my writing (though I would like to one day write a His Dark Materials Fanfic), here's my Daemon.

It's been a while

2008-03-25T06:11:00.002+11:00

I think it's time I made a post.
Well, I've done another 20000 words since I last wrote, and during the two week holidays I hope to do another 20000 (in other words, 10000 a week, which is what I was doing during the christmas holidays. I just find it near impossible to find time now that I'm in year 11 (god, imagine what it will be like in year 12).
I've put Sinspell away for now, and I don't know when (and if) I'll come back to it.
Well ... bye.

The Severed Umbra Update:

61,121 / 110,000
(55.6%)

Sinspell Update

2008-01-17T11:31:00.000+11:00

Well, I've been editing Sinspell more. I'm up to chpater 4, and finding it a little difficult to go through it.
While I was away, I did write more. Don't know how many, but let's just say that there's a fair few words.
I will also so, I've come up with more titles for my stories, but I won't reveal them. The current titles will be codewords for each of them, but at the moment, have more.
Well, the Zantokou metre isn't working so I have to go with the crappy one again.
On a side note, I'm so excited to see the cover and title for book 3 of Inheritance. Brisingr is a cool title -- I'm a little bit annoyed they didn't stick with the E----- theme, but oh well.
See ya all later,
Lincoln.

The Severed Umbra Update:

Well, here's the map.

2008-01-15T12:56:00.000+11:00

I said yesterday that I made a map, and here it is in all it's glory.

I did drawded a map.

2008-01-14T07:53:00.000+11:00

Yes that's right. I finallt got around to it and drew a proper map of Yeliesia, one that I can put on my wall and actually understand it. It should also help me when writing about certain cities and towns as they now have sizes. Yay!
I've been writing a fair bit, and the characters in this story are much more human, and I've actually begun to notice when I use passive voice and all those other things that I know I'm not supposed to use.
I'm thinking of putting it up on fictionpress, or something like that. Perhaps a blog ....... Just for now anyway.
The Zantokou Word metre still isn;t working so I'll have to use the crappy one again.
PS. The "Drawded" in the title is an intentional mistake.

The Severed Umbra Update:

Damn zokutou word metre!

2007-12-29T11:37:00.000+11:00

The word metre I normally use is broken, so I have to use the crappy one again. Sigh.
Anyway, I've written a fair few more words since I last updated, and I've enjoyed it. I'm happy with how christmas went. I got my Voldemort wand replica, so that's good. I've given it a few waves already.
Now, something a bit more author like. I'm really happy with how characterisation is coming along with the Severed Umbra. The characters are more there own being rather than copies of me thirty times over.
I find that my main character, Will, does have some of me in him, though he's not as much me as Jarvis was in Sinspell.
Also, my mentor character is, if I may say this, very Dumbledore-ish. He's a very wise person, though is also humourous in many ways.
Well, I'm done for today.
Lincoln.

Severed Umbra Update

I'm sick - and I still wrote.

2007-12-19T18:25:00.001+11:00

Well, I feel a little unwell, but I still wrote a little. Bye.

The Severed Umbra Update

19,724 / 110,000
(17.9%)

Working Titles. YAY!!

2007-12-17T09:23:00.000+11:00

Well, I think i've finally figured out the three titles for books 1, 2 and 3 in the Atryniti Trilogy. These are only working titles, though I'm that happy witht them that there's a huge possibility they'll stay.

Book One: The Severed Umbra
Book Two: The League of the Covenant
Book Three: The Umbral Relics

Well, there you are. Three very, VERY decent titles.

More Visuals

2007-12-11T11:11:00.000+11:00

These following pictures are, though from a card game, my inspiration for a race in the Severed Umbra. They're called draks.

Also, the character Zant in the Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, was my inspiration for the looks of the Arbiters.

Well, thanks for reading.

And Another one bites the dust.

2007-12-04T11:28:00.000+11:00

I was right. Last night, after typing out a little bit of a blog entry, I got right into the writing. And it just flowed, and this morning wrote another 1000 words. I also finished chapter 5 and started chapter 6. It's turning out quite nicely.
I think now I might go off and read a bit, and then outline a bit more. I just feel like doing exactly that.
Bye.

The Severed Umbra UpdateL

17,678 / 110,000
(16.1%)

A few pics

2007-12-03T22:00:00.001+11:00

I won't take any credit for the drawing of these, they just give me an idea of what my characters may look like.

Though according to the artist, it's a dark elf, for me it's Solomonari. I won't say who he is in relation to the characters, but he is very important.
I can't find many other pic that look even slightly like characters so I'll have to draw up my own.
Dark Elf Hunter (c)2004-2007, yrindale

Damn It!

2007-12-03T15:59:00.000+11:00

I just haven't been in the mood to work on my book, so I'm hoping that writing here might help break me out of my quagmire (now there's a good word).
I'll probably work a little more on it tonight, I'm just not completely happy with how the last about 300 words has turned up.
In fact, I've just opened up chapter 5 and started so I suppose my writing block has just broke so I'm gonna go off and write.
Cya!

The Severed Umbra:

15,697 / 110,000
(14.3%)

Well ... it's been a while.

2007-11-26T17:11:00.000+11:00

Firstly, the Zokutou word count metre isn't working so I've changed to another one. I don't like it as much, but it does it's job.
I haven't done much writing, but outlining is just going along great. I think I'm up to chapter 11 of book 2, so I have a fair idea of where it's going, but I'm still not entirely sure.
I'm just starting chapter 4, in writing book 1, and I'm a little annoyed that in the earlier parts of this book, I'm still trying to make the chapters long enough. I'm sure in the end, it will be plently big, but until then I'm having to stuff it with descriptions. Quality over quantity ... I know, but it's just so annoying to not have a lot of stuff.
I'm now missing the Sinspell story. I loved it so so much, and I just want to write more in that world.
That's it for today, I think I might go and continue outlining.

The Severed Umbra Update

Bah, it's writing

2007-09-03T19:54:00.001+10:00

Well today I got my Electronic Baby to see whether I'd be an ideal person to have a baby. And t just cried. Needed a nappie change.
I don't know how many more words I've written though it's writing so it's not as if I haven't written at all. I just don't want to force the words out. I want to take my time with this.
I can't wait till my birthday which is now only 4 days away. Apparently one of my friends is getting me a box of condoms as I'll now be 16. It's only a gag present though because *sarcastic cough* I'm so the type of person that sleeps around *Another sarcastic cough*. But it should be fun. I'm having a few friends over for a Wii off (I know how wrong that sounds) and on the invitations it said, "Come Wii with me". It took me so long to come up with that bad pun.
Anyway, I'm going to go now.
Goodnight.

The Severed Umbra Update:

2,129 / 120,000
(1.8%)

This is the slowest start ever

2007-09-02T18:01:00.000+10:00

I never remembered it taking this long the start writing Sinspell. Maybe I just need to get my ideas worked out a little better. I am enjoying writing, I'm just taking my time with it. I don't want to rush it though.
My friend (who's reading Sinspell) describes it as a little corny, but still good. I understand that the first few chapters have a little more corn(iness) than the rest of the book so I'm hoping she can help me de-corn them. There's also a love arc that I want to remove because it's a little underdeveloped.
I just finished reading Betrayal and it was very good. I'm going to read something else before moving on to Revenge, the sequel. Maybe Harry Potter again.
That's all folks (5 days till my birthday)

The Severed Umbra Update

1,859 / 120,000
(1.5%)

Back into the swing of things

2007-08-29T21:13:00.000+10:00

All of the writing that has been added was done tonight. I haven't been feeling like writing for the past few days (I call it post novel depression (LOL)) and getting back into the swing of things feels good.
As I'm sure you have noticed, this story that I'm working on is going to be far larger that Sinspell. I hope it will be this big anyway. It's, I guess, a personal test more than anything to see if I can write a huge story. Once again, this will have about 30 chapters of 4000 words which is larger than 30 chapter of 3000 words (uh, duh) so it's going to be a nice size. If I can get it bigger great, if I can even reach 100,000 words, that's still cool.
I have a couple of pages worth of notes on story, characters and the start of a glossary which has already paid for the amount of time it took to writing, but throughout the whole trilogy, it will ALWAYS be a working document.
May I right now say thank you to Mur Lafferty for being with me the whole time while writing Sinspell with her words of wisdom about writing. It sort of spurred me along.
I gotta go because I am buggered.
Potter's Pimp.
PS, my 16th is in 10 days

The Severed Umbra Update:

946 / 120,000
(0.8%)

Novel no. 2

2007-08-26T19:01:00.000+10:00

I've just begum my second novel, Book 1 in the the Atryniti Trilogy ... "The Severed Umbra", while I'm waiting for my story to be edited.
Can't wait till I can send Sinspell away to agents.
I think this is all the writing I'll get in tonight. I don't want to force it. So below is a new update.
The Severed Umbra Update

309 / 120,000
(0.3%)

Finished at last

2007-08-24T17:11:00.001+10:00

Well, I finished Sinspell on Tuesday but I've been so overwhelmed with excitement that I couldn't blog about it.
I'm about 70 pages into editing, though I'm going to leave it for a while so I don't look at it like a new born baby. Well anyway, I'm starting to plan another story, well a trilogy actually and I've got a couple of pages worth of notes (a glossary, character list and general notes).
Can't wait to finish editing and begin searching for an editor/publisher.
Lincoln (PS. I know it says 90000 words but it was actually only about 88900 or so word.

Chapter 21 finished

2007-08-05T18:37:00.000+10:00

Well, like I said before, I was going to change the title of this chapter and it's now Chapter 21 - Planning as the Eastern Desert wasn't as prominent in this chapter as making plans were.
The next chapter is Chapter 22 - The Festival of the Scarlet Feather. I've only got about another 9 chapters to go, but the Epilogue is the part that will make me sigh. I'm still not sure how it will go. I'm sure I won't decide till the end.
I feels so strange to be doing this now. It doesn't feel as if I'm drawing to the end of the story. I think I might go now and draw a map.

Sinspell Update:

68,605 / 90,000
(76.2%)

ZOMG!!!! Another 1000 words

2007-07-31T20:50:00.000+10:00

Another 1000 or so words done to Chapter 21 - The Eastern Desert .... Though I'm pretty sure that title is going to change sooner or later. I really thing it will.
Today I saw real DNA for the first time. It looked like spiders web inside a clear glue. My friend chose to mush up a sheep liver instead of a banana and in the end, the bananas did a better job. We stuffed our up.
I can't believe I'm now 3/4 done. I can't believe it's nearly been a year and a half writing this.
If I keep working at this pace I should be done late September, early October. After that I can send it off to my friends to read and double check and then off on an agent hunt.
I really hope that I get it published (but who wouldn't want their book published).
My friend said he read the first two chapters and couldn't put it down. Must be his type of book.

Sinspell Update:

66,776 / 90,000
(74.2%)

And Another One Bites the Dust

2007-07-29T19:41:00.000+10:00

Well, Chapter 20 turned out to be longer than I expected. 1500 words longer actually. Most of my chapters average around 2500-3000 words and this one turned out to be 4500 exactly.
To tell the truth, really only expected it to be around 2000 words long because it was something that I really couldn't do much with but hey, look what happened.
I'm about 1/4 of the way through Sabriel by Garth Nix and I'm finding it pretty good. I think what I'll do with this trilogy is I'll read one and then read a different book. Read number two and then a different book and so on. I don't think I can last long times with the same stories and characters.
I gave up on The Book of Lies because I couldn't see it going anywhere in a hurry. that was a waste of $22. Oh well. Think of the author as I always say.
I better go now.
Kitsune

Sinspell Update:

65,720 / 90,000
(73.0%)

Deathly Hallows was the bomb

2007-07-28T21:59:00.000+10:00

Yeah, Deathly Hallows was the best book so far in the Harry Potter series.
Anyways, I didn't write as much as I wanted to during the holidays but I did get in some writing. I'm finding it more and more surreal that each day that passes brings me even closer to the end.
At the moment, I'm about half way through Chapter 20 - The Tome of Light. And I was writing today and though, I'm not sure if I like the final ending that I chose. I felt it was a bit too generic. Over used (and no, it's not "And it was all just a dream.") I just think that may not use it. I may, I may not, but only my closest friends know what my original endings and for all they know, it's still that ending.
I still can't believe how much closer I am to finishing. Really, only one third of the book to go.
Anyway, I wrote about 1000 words today, but it was a Saturday so that can be epected. Tomorrow, I don't have work but I am going out for lunch so I will probably only write about 1000 words tomorrow again, maybe a little more.
Well, it's 10:05 and I'm going to be now so goodnight
Kitsune.

Sinspell Update:

62,838 / 90,000
(69.8%)

Big Blue Blah

2007-07-06T11:02:00.000+10:00

It' now the holidays and I'm getting into the writing. For the past few weeks I haven't been writing because I've been caught up in video games. Pokemon Pearl came out on June 21 and I'm stll playing that and I just finished playing Order of the Phoenix on Wii (which was soooooo much fun).
I can't wait till the final book of Harry Potter and I can't wait till the movie which should be awesome.
I finished The Amber Spyglass and nearly cried because it was so touching and now I'm reading the Book of Lies by James Maloney. I'm only about 60-80 pages in but I'm not really getting into it. Hopefull it will be good thought. Anyway, I think I better get back to writing.

Sinspell Update

56,009 / 90,000
(62.2%)

My Bad

2007-06-13T20:58:00.000+10:00

Well, I made a mistake yesterday. I said I wrote about 1000 words when I really only wrote 500. Oh well.
Tomorrow, I'll probably be getting a day off school so I should be able to get at least 1000 words, though I do have work that night so yeah. Damn I'm hating work at the moment.
Anyway, I'm tired and I'm ready fo a good nights rest so good night to all.
Kistune

Sinspell Update:

53,286 / 90,000
(59.2%)

2007-06-12T21:03:00.000+10:00

Well, I'm not sure how many more words that is, I think maybe a thousand or so. I'm not sure. But that's all there is to say.
Kitsune.

Sinspell Update

52,811 / 90,000
(58.7%)

Another chapter done

2007-06-11T13:49:00.000+10:00

Well Chapter 16 - A Memorial for a Friend may have only been 1000 words long but it was the most touching 1000 words in the book so far. I'm about 500 words into Chapter 17 and I'm stuck ... a little. I'm not sure how I'm going to write this fight scene. It's 7 against 1 and it's going to be one hell of a fight. Then after that I'll be moving to the South-East of my world.

It's getting closer to the finish line and when I reach there it will be a huge *sigh*. I think I may have already said it.

Anyway, I might go and read or write or draw or something today.

Sinspell Update:

52311/90000

Chapter 15 done.

2007-06-09T11:07:00.000+10:00

Well I've just finished chapter 15 - The Temple of True Sin and I'm very happy with how it ended up. There was a death that I wasn't expecting It really just sort of appeared. I had my own little *tear* to myself because I thought this character was never going to die.

Anyway, the Sinspell update is below so I think I wrote about 500 words or so. I want to write a few more so i might get some more in tonight.

Every Sunday I've been saying "I'll write a chapter today" and usually I find I don't write anything. It annoys me. It's the only full day I get to write and I never take advantage of it. So tomorrow I'll hope I write a full chapter.

Can't wait till pokemon Diamond and Pearl. I'm getting pearl and 'm finding the lead up so exciting.

The Deluxe Edition art for Deathly Hallows looks really good and I think the dragon on it is Norbert. I'm using it as a wallpaper at the moment.

I don't really like the art for the UK version which is sadly the one I'll have to read. It looks good as a whole book but the art is a bit strange.

Anyway I'm going and hopefully I'll write some more.

Kitsune

Sinspell Update:

50,844 / 90,000
(56.5%)

It's a bit late

2007-06-06T06:20:00.000+10:00

I'm updating for last night as my internet wasn't working. I wrote a fair bit last night, about 1238 words. I'm very happy with that amount. I had a bit of difficulty to write a scene where two characters kiss. Oooh, lovey dovey. Though I think I might have to rewrite it because it just doesn't flow right, mainly in the lead up to it. I might post the chapter and see if there's anyone reading this that can help me.
I can't wait till the school holidays because last holidays, though I only had seven days out of the usual 14 because I had to work, I wrote about 12000 words. Maybe more and these holidays, as far as I can tell I'm only going to be working shifts a week and those are only three hours. So I may, depending on how much I write, finish my story. I hope I do because I was hoping to get it finished by September (my birthday) which means I'll get it done in early to middle July. After that, I let all my friends proof read it just to make sure have no typos and then I'll have to (like Mur Lafferty) go on an agent hunt.
I really hope that I will be able to make a name for myself if it's published. And (again IF it gets published) I don't know who I'll dedicate it to.
Anyway, I might go and write for 25 minutes and then get ready for school.
Kitsune.

Sinspell Update

49,814 / 90,000
(55.3%)

Yay for new Printer

2007-06-03T21:01:00.001+10:00

Well, let's get technical, it's actually a Printer/Copier/Scanner. So I took advantage of a full ink tank and printed out all (of it so far) 92 pages of Sinspell and put it in a folder for safe keeping. And though most of the ink tank is gone, I'm glad to know I have a hard copy so that if the computer fails, I have a hard copy.

I'm also beginning to go from Blonde to my original colour, brown. Though at the moment it's a bit more burgundy coloured. More red than what hoped for so I'll be getting more brown in it. And it is only a rinse so yeah.

I'm glad to see JK Rowling helping in the search for the missing girl in the UK. It just shows she's not just a greedy cow who's only in it for the money.

Also, using the scanner for the first time, I scanned my first picture, though i took photos of the other ones. I'll post the pic at the bottom of the page and also you can have a look at my deviant art page.

Kitsune.

It's Iorek Bynison from His Dark Materials.

Sinspell Update:

48,196 / 90,000
(53.6%)

Well, I got more writing in.

2007-06-01T19:41:00.000+10:00

Another 1000 or so to be exact. Finished "Chapter 14 - A Pet, a Companion and a Friend, Ace". I got the title for this chapter from the last few words written and due to the fact that what happens in this has a lot to do with Ace. I'll have to look back on my last few posts to see how long it's taken me to write this chapter. Which reads: "In the morning, he found himself, curled up in his cloak, head resting on one of the many tails of his pet, companion and friend, Ace."
We had all day choir practise, so being able to write another 1000 words (for me anyway) is a big feat. I'mm going to take maybe a 10-20 minute break and the if I'm in the mood get back into the writing. If not, I might just bum around.
An interesting thing to note is that while I was watching Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, as the credits were rolling, I saw the line "No dragons were harmed in the making of this film" which I think is really quite funny, even if no one else does.
Anyways, I finished "The Subtle Knife" yesterday and I recomend it to everyone, even those who hate fantasy. It's a fantastic series. I've started "The Amber Spyglass" and even though I'm only like 36 pages in, there have been so many twists that my head's in a spin.
50 sleeps to go till Deathly Hallows and personally, I am just too excited. Can't wait to read it but at the same time I don't want it to end. It's really just a bitter-sweet moment.
Anyway I might go because I can't think of anything else to write.
That's my say,
Kitsune.

Sinspell Update: (just to be different, let's try a green one).

47,699 / 90,000
(53.0%)

Sex, Sex, Sex

2007-06-01T07:08:00.000+10:00

Just thought I'd grab your attention.
Well a thousand words is good for me in a couple of days, and I did write everyday, so for that I feel good.
Which reminds me, I've got another 500 words to write on a (albeit really, really short) story. According to the rules, it has to be about making some noise, so don't ask me what else I should do.
My muse just isn't awake at the moment, and it hasn't been for a couple of days. Hopefully I'll get around to writing this afternoon. I began writing but couldn't think of anything to write, so stopped. My story at some points, makes me feel stupid when I can't. Anyway, I just thought I'd write a little update.

Sinspell Update.

46,515 / 90,000
(51.7%)

2007-05-27T09:53:00.000+10:00

I'm going to try a blue colour just for the hell of it. I went away to a Model United Nations Conference and had a tonne of fun. I didn't get much writing in there because I didn't have my laptop.

But I did catch up a little. Not a huge amount, but I did write every day which is what I hope to do.

Anyway I'm going to finish up because I've got nothing else to speak of.

Sinspell Update

45,515 / 90,000
(50.6%)

Chapter 13 - Shadows Revealed

2007-05-21T21:21:00.000+10:00

Well I'm happy to say that chapter 13 is finally done. YAY! And I was very happy to discover it ended with a bit of a cliff hanger when you consider what had happened in the past chapters, it's a cliff hanger-and-a-half.
I went to Port Maquarie over the weekend so I didn't get any writing in then but did get 50 pages into "The Subtle Knife" the second book in His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman, which so far is absolutely awesome. I can't wait to read "The Amber Spyglass". Nor can I wait till it gets into the nitty gritty of all the religious stuff.
I also got a really cool idea for a trilogy which came from the idea of Ragnarok, or the Norse version of the end of the world. It's partially from the Wikipedia article and from what I've been reading in His Dark Materials. It's going to be a trilogy based on the fact that Ragnarok can be seen in the future by three things. If you want to read about them you can find out about them in a link at the bottom of the page.
Anyway, may all your imaginations stay strong,
Kitsune.

Link: Ragnarok

Sinspell Update:

44,677 / 90,000
(49.6%)

Darn, darn and darn again

2007-05-17T16:39:00.000+10:00

I've got to go to work in an hour and a half for i gotta start getting ready. i wanted to write, but luckily I wrote another 300 or so words last night. Yay.

Got to go, Bye.

Darn it!!!!

2007-05-16T17:03:00.000+10:00

Don't you hate it when you're just not bothered. I'm just ready to kick my story up the bum and say "Get your fat, lazy, good for nothing butt out of here!" I really am. I'm just not bothered to write any of my story today. I'm bothered to write this, but not my story. I don't know why though.

Oh well, I wrote 120 words which is better than none. I'm just having a bit of trouble with one scene. I might be able to fix it up later (and yes, once again it's a fight). Anyways, other than that there's not much to report. I didn't get any late night writing in which was a shame because I was in the mood. Oh well. Maybe tonight?

Laters, Kitsune.

43,818 / 90,000
(48.7%)

Sinspell Update

2007-05-15T19:48:00.000+10:00

I didn't write many words today. Probably about 400 or so. I was hoping for a few more than that but I still might get some in later tonight. Oh well, writing 400 words is better than writing none at all.
I'm having a bit of trouble with my writing, especially with chapters between finding the Virtues. Most of the chapter have a small battle between my characters and one or two of the Sins. I'm worried this might make the final battle less epic. If anyone has any suggestions on improving this and what to put instead I'm open for suggestions. Just email me at kitsune_boy389 AT hotmail DOT com.
Anyway, progress update:

43,699 / 90,000
(48.6%)

What on earth is that creature at the top?

2007-05-15T17:48:00.000+10:00

I guess for those people who are wondering what the drawing of that wolf-like creature in my blog is. It is an aquogriff, a creature that plays a major role in my first story, Sinspell. He's got the really cool (albeit I did create it) ability of turning into water. He also doesn't always have wings. Those shoot from his shoulders as water and then form into wings. Ooooh cool. Many people have said he looks exactly like Ninetales from Pokemon. Many people have said that I ripped of the idea. The answer to that is yes and no. Yes, because the creature that the aquogriff is based off is the same as what Ninetales, a Kitsune (For all those who don't know what they are, I'll post it at the bottom). No is because I got the idea from the Kitsune and evolved from it.
Kitsunes are usually fire aligned creatures (hence why Ninetales is a fire Pokemon) and mine is aligned with water (though later on he does get some cool new abilities).
Kitsunes also have many tails but these are like something that shows what rank it is. The more tails, the wiser, stronger and older they are. Aquogriffs always have nine tails from the moment they are born.
That's about it. Now stay tuned, I may post the first chapter of my story sooner or later.
Thanks for reading, Kitsune.

Link: Kitsune

First Post

2007-05-14T19:01:00.000+10:00

Hey, this is my first post. I'm a wanna be fiction writer with a hope of finishing my first novel and getting it published and perhaps make a living out of writing.

~ d r e a m b o r n ~

New home

I know size doesn't matter ...

Epigraph

Future Plans

Back to Square One

Excuses?

Re-introducing the Introduced

The Beginning of 'Blah' Correction

Recollection

Plotless

Of Names and Reflection

The Eclipsing Umbra!

Not Much Left ...

Thoughts on the Climax

All caught up!

Go now! Kill Me!

Adding another project to the mix

17 weeks ... *sigh*

one moment ...

It's getting closer!

Holidays!

I'm well overdue for an update!

Chapter 6 done.

Chapter 6 is coming also very, very slowly.

Chapter 5 Done!

Meh

Chapter 4 is done

Well, chapter four is half done ....

Chapter 3 Done!

We're definitely uner way!

The Leaguew of the Covenant has begun!

The Severed Umba Finished

Chapter 27, done!

Phew

Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

My Daemon

It's been a while

Sinspell Update

Well, here's the map.

I did drawded a map.

Damn zokutou word metre!

I'm sick - and I still wrote.

Working Titles. YAY!!

More Visuals

And Another one bites the dust.

A few pics

Damn It!

Well ... it's been a while.

Bah, it's writing

This is the slowest start ever

Back into the swing of things

Novel no. 2

Finished at last

Chapter 21 finished

ZOMG!!!! Another 1000 words

And Another One Bites the Dust

Deathly Hallows was the bomb

Big Blue Blah

My Bad

Another chapter done

Chapter 15 done.

It's a bit late

Yay for new Printer

Well, I got more writing in.

Sex, Sex, Sex

Chapter 13 - Shadows Revealed

Darn, darn and darn again

Darn it!!!!

Sinspell Update

What on earth is that creature at the top?

First Post

17 weeks ... sigh