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The ramblings of a designer turned writer turned computer geek turned writer turned designer with way too much time on his hands.
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FFC #47 - Everything is perfectly fine

Posted February 21st, 2020 at 07:30 PM by TGRF
TGRF's Fan Fiction Chronicles - Entry #47

My last update essentially boiled down to me saying I had no idea what I would be writing next. If you've followed my signature, you know that I eventually decided on writing Jandar. Now... I'm not so sure.

Everything is perfectly fine with Jandar. There were only minor problems during development. It's actually the fastest story I've ever created, and I'm already a few chapters in.

BUT... the interest is flagging.

In my last update, I mentioned how I need inspiration to carry me from start to finish with my stories. I don't think I was 100% right about that. I'm perfectly capable of just thinking something up and writing it without any moment of brilliant inspiration. And I think I know why.

When asked if he used a notebook, Stephen King once replied that he thought a notebook was the best way in the world to keep track of bad ideas. I think some of the assumptions behind this statement are flawed, but the takeaway is sound enough: if the idea is good, it will last.

For example: I was eager to start on Eternity, but I didn't have any ideas which were sticking. I had plenty of ideas in general, but they all fizzled out or went nowhere. But at the same time, I kept going back to one of the backstories I had created for HiS: specifically the backstory for Utgar, about how he started imprisoned in the Volcarren. For some reason that idea just stuck with me, and I finally decided I should write it. So that's where the prequels came from.

Now I'm facing a similar situation. I'm trying to write an origin story for Jandar, and while everything is technically working just fine, interest is flagging. My idea for Jandar (and Einar for that matter) wasn't given the test of time. I thought it up, and immediately began to write it. And now I'm beginning to realize that's not a good approach to writing.

This is of course a problem. Does this mean I can't write anything unless I've thought about it for several months first? That's hardly productive, and certainly won't work once I start publishing novels. Perhaps it means I will always be focused on the story which comes after the one I'm currently working on.

That will work itself out. Right now though, as I said, I have a similar situation as I did with Eternity: while trying to find an idea for the prequels, there is one idea in my head which will not go away. And ironically enough, it's an idea from when I was first trying to start Eternity.

That idea has stood the test of time, while my ideas for the prequels have not. I have written the story of Utgar I had in my head; perhaps now it's time to skip the other prequels, and start Eternity with this other idea which won't leave.

As always, watch my signature for updates. Until then, keep reading. And do leave some comments/criticism on Utgar.

~TGRF.
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So a quick update: I've switched gears to Eternity proper, and am now neck deep in the structure. One thing I want to try out is writing a mini-series, which involves structuring (in a basic sense) all of the books in the mini-series before I start detailing the first book. Which I'm doing right now. As always, you can watch the progress in my sig. There will be three or four books, and once they are all 99-100% structured, I will start developing the first book.

Also, remember if you have any criticisms about things you think I need to work on from Utgar, now is definitely the time to let me know.

~TGRF.
Posted February 25th, 2020 at 03:29 PM by TGRF TGRF is offline
 
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