Thursday, November 8, 2007

Writing Update

Ya know, I'd really slacked off in my book writing duties lately. The main reason is because it felt like everytime I'd start working on Book Two, my editor would call me or email me with something I needed to work on for Book One. Here's a sample list of the types of things I'm talking about:

* Actual content of the book itself
* List of ideas for the artist
* Write riddles for the teaser chapter booklets, upcoming website, etc.
* Review the galleys
* Review the infamous "blue lines"
* etcetera

Well, I'm pretty much done with any possible thing I could do for Book One, so I set a goal to really get hot and heavy in writing Book Two beginning with November 1st. In fact, staying true to my nerdy self, I set up a timeline and some goals to ensure that the first draft of Book Two will be completed by mid-February. I really want to be done with it before I go on tour for the release of Book One.

Well, it's pretty easy when you look at it. If I average 1,000 words a day, six days a week, from now until mid-Feb, then I will succeed. So far, so good. As of today, Book Two, which is tentatively titled, THE PLAGUE OF DARK INFINITY, stands at
12, 784 words. When it's complete, I'd like it to be around 95,000 to 100,000. That means I'm more than 10 percent done! (do the math, you'll see I'm right)

I would tell you some cool stuff about what I'm writing, but since not many people have read the first book, it wouldn't sound very cool, now would it?

Here's a tidbit: the names of the first 7 chapters:

1: The Two Faces of Reginald Chu
2: Burnt Spaghetti
3: Something Odd is Happening
4: Intense Pain
5: Master George's Interview Room
6: A Major Rule Violation
7: A Very Strange Place

Well, if you're actually still reading this post, I say congratulations! You have a high tolerance for painful boredom.

Hope all is well out there. I'm having a lot of fun, a LOT of fun, now that I'm back in writing mode. This is the best job in the world.

Sidenote: A hearty congratulations to Michael Phipps. Talk about a successful art show: someone agreed to buy ALL of Mike's pieces when the show is done in a month. Is that amazing or what!? (and trust me, that ain't chump change)

12 comments:

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

Hate to break it to you, James, but you need to practice up on the boring people to tears routine you think you've mastered. Nowhere near, nowhere near.

Sounds pretty overwhelming. I'm thinking lulu.com might be my publishing house of choice when the time comes.

Tamra Norton said...

Any clue where you'll be touring?

Annette Lyon said...

My son was the coolest kid at the jr. high fantasy writing club when he brought your teaser booklet.

Good luck with your writing--and enjoy filling in the nerdy chart. :) I'm not a CPA, and I like charts. Okay, but I am a nerd.

Heather Moore said...

I had to read THREE chapters last night of your 13th reality book to my kids. My 10-year old is going nuts. She was actually holding still while I read (she takes after her mom and can't just do one thing at a time). In a few days, I'll ask her the big question: Is this better than Harry Potter? They are dying to know what the mechanical whirring sound is coming from.

James Dashner said...

Kim, I shall continue my quest to bore people. :-)

Hey, don't settle for lulu yet, are you crazy? Set higher goals, girl!

Tami, still don't know yet on the tour places. I think they'll be setting that up in a week or two, however. I'll definitely post about it when I find out.

Annette and Heather, thanks for working to build my ego. If your kids like it, maybe others will, too!

(btw, these two awesome ladies are in my critique group, which is why they already have ARCs.)

Hopefully those of you who earned a copy will be getting them soon. I will follow up with my publisher.

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

I'm in the midst of nanowrimo, so while I'm beginning to believe it's possible that I may write a complete book some day, I still do the tilting my head to one side and saying, "Wow, this is crap" bit. Ah, but you inspire us fledgling authors, James. Thanks for that!

Luisa Perkins said...

Love the chapter titles. And Kim is right; you're sadly mistaken if you are getting all puffed up about how boring you are.

Rachelle Christensen said...

James,
I've been checking my mailbox for my ARC and I can't wait. I really, really am excited to get something addressed to me that is not a rejection letter or a bill! I thought you might like to know that in my Vocalize workshop I did last weekend I actually had a student with the last name of Higginbotham. I couldn't believe it when the name came up on the caller id of my phone. I was thinking you probably made your name up but now I think there probably is a Higginbottom out there too. It made me smile, so I had to share.
Can't wait to meet your character.

Shanna Blythe said...

So I noticed that you haven't mentioned proofreading a CERTAIN book as something that is keeping you busy. Ah hem!

Autumn Ables said...

*Yawn* I'm thoroughly bored to tears and close to death. I don't know how I even finished reading your blog entry. I was about to walk away when...

:O I'm totally pulling your leg! Woke you up though didn't I? teehee

I agree with Luisa- your chapter titles are very cool.

My 10 year old son, Conner, just finished reading the 3rd 'Leven Thumps' book. He really enjoyed that series so far. We are excited to move to 13th Reality. ;) If I was a good mommy...I would wait until Christmas to allow him to open the pages of this anticipated novel- but seeing that I'm impatient and I would love to read it as well...I'm cheating. We open the first page tomorrow night at FHE. Please, please don't tell Santa!

We live in Phoenix. Will you be coming to this part of the country on your book tour? Conner and I will be right there if you make it. :)

Amazing and congrats to Michael Phipps! What a wonderful blessing and compliment.

Unknown said...

Good luck with finishing book two.

James Dashner said...

You guys are hilarious.

So, Ajoy, does that mean you got an ARC? Has anyone else gotten theirs? Do I need to light a flame under my publisher? They have the list and addresses.

Rachelle, there are definitely Higginbottoms in the world. Although, ironically, the name was inspired by a kid named David Higginbotham I knew in school as a kid.

Shanna, I'm on track for your December 5th deadline. I... can't... take... the... pressure! :-)