Progress on Imperfect Hope continues, over the last week, I finished another scene, and ground through about half of the next. Meanwhile, I went back and looked at the big picture, from storyline to outline to see how things are going. I've realized two things, that I'm nearing the half way point of my original storyline, and that I'm also nearing a natural break point. If I were to split Imperfect Hope into a duology, or add the "origins" prequel to make it a trilogy as I've been considering, the next three scenes would close out the middle of the three books (or the first of two). As a result, I'm eyeing the next three scenes with the possibility of considering it "the end" of my first draft of my first novel.
Okay, that's bigger than I thought, I could finish my first draft in a couple of weeks! Originally, my story estimate was about 90k words, right now, to finish my original outline it will take about 150k words, even without adding the prequel. If I end up with the chapter I"m working on, I'll be back to about 85-95k words, depending on how wordy I get with the next couple of scenes. As I said, this chapter seems to make a natural break point, though I'd have to add some foreshadowing to draw the tale to a satisfying ending and draw interest in the next book.
I am not sure if closing out is the correct thing to do yet, I've a couple of concerns about the viability of the storyline as standalone if I end with essentially a cliffhanger. The initial plot is unfinished, the heroes have not resolved any of their initial problems, though they have uncovered a major plot by the empire. They barely survived, and recovery for them is still in the air (at least as far as the current chapter is concerned), let alone stopping the empires spy. If I end with this next chapter, I am fairly certain I could make the ending make sense, and with the proper foreshadowing, build strong momentum for part 2 (3?). I probably would have to add a scene or two to close out empire activities (from their point of view), perhaps set the beginnings of the next stage of their plot in motion before closing out with our heroes splitting up in D'oril. I'm intrigued by the possibility.
However. Am I being too stereotypical? Perhaps, some good duologies and trilogies end with foreshadowing, unfinished business, and cliffhangers. I suspect that many more bad ones try to do the same thing and fail miserably. Am I "giving up" too easily, tired by the long drag through chapter 7, and dreading the next 8 chapters as too much to chew? Is my inner critic (hah, he's not capitalized, that must mean something...) subtly trying to take over. I'm going to mull these, and other questions, over the next few days while I finish chapter.scene 8.2. I have made my own comparison to my d'oril minigame efforts leading up to Sha'te. In the IFGS games, I allowed for minor PC victories in each minigame, but left the PC's with many more questions and worries each time, building toward Sha'te, where the conclusion (as far as the PC's were concerned) settled affairs in the north for a time.
In the meantime, I'm going to finish chapter 8, scene 2 as is, then hopefully be able to look at 8.3 and see what kind of changes I'd need to make if I go for the finish early. I suspect it will require some considerable changes in format, but nothing plot changing. 8.4 would have to be a change of viewpoint, back to the empire's minions to close out their actions for IH-1, set up the plot for IH-2 and such. 8.5 would then close out IH-1, back in D"oril, where I'd have to add some content, possibly in the form of a vision from Elorna, or prophecy news from the Sen, or perhaps just a reasoned realization from our heroes as to what's happening. Another possibility would be to add another scene, taking place at southport, which is the next major action point of the empires plan. At any rate, dark clouds on the horizon promise black times for the confederacy, but are our heroes ready to take their place on the stage of fate? Or are they just plain tired...
Stay tuned while I argue with myself while walking around the FAA air traffic control center, there may be yelling involved. Hope the neighbors don't call the Longmont PD to resolve a domestic dispute... ;-)
Okay, that's bigger than I thought, I could finish my first draft in a couple of weeks! Originally, my story estimate was about 90k words, right now, to finish my original outline it will take about 150k words, even without adding the prequel. If I end up with the chapter I"m working on, I'll be back to about 85-95k words, depending on how wordy I get with the next couple of scenes. As I said, this chapter seems to make a natural break point, though I'd have to add some foreshadowing to draw the tale to a satisfying ending and draw interest in the next book.
I am not sure if closing out is the correct thing to do yet, I've a couple of concerns about the viability of the storyline as standalone if I end with essentially a cliffhanger. The initial plot is unfinished, the heroes have not resolved any of their initial problems, though they have uncovered a major plot by the empire. They barely survived, and recovery for them is still in the air (at least as far as the current chapter is concerned), let alone stopping the empires spy. If I end with this next chapter, I am fairly certain I could make the ending make sense, and with the proper foreshadowing, build strong momentum for part 2 (3?). I probably would have to add a scene or two to close out empire activities (from their point of view), perhaps set the beginnings of the next stage of their plot in motion before closing out with our heroes splitting up in D'oril. I'm intrigued by the possibility.
However. Am I being too stereotypical? Perhaps, some good duologies and trilogies end with foreshadowing, unfinished business, and cliffhangers. I suspect that many more bad ones try to do the same thing and fail miserably. Am I "giving up" too easily, tired by the long drag through chapter 7, and dreading the next 8 chapters as too much to chew? Is my inner critic (hah, he's not capitalized, that must mean something...) subtly trying to take over. I'm going to mull these, and other questions, over the next few days while I finish chapter.scene 8.2. I have made my own comparison to my d'oril minigame efforts leading up to Sha'te. In the IFGS games, I allowed for minor PC victories in each minigame, but left the PC's with many more questions and worries each time, building toward Sha'te, where the conclusion (as far as the PC's were concerned) settled affairs in the north for a time.
In the meantime, I'm going to finish chapter 8, scene 2 as is, then hopefully be able to look at 8.3 and see what kind of changes I'd need to make if I go for the finish early. I suspect it will require some considerable changes in format, but nothing plot changing. 8.4 would have to be a change of viewpoint, back to the empire's minions to close out their actions for IH-1, set up the plot for IH-2 and such. 8.5 would then close out IH-1, back in D"oril, where I'd have to add some content, possibly in the form of a vision from Elorna, or prophecy news from the Sen, or perhaps just a reasoned realization from our heroes as to what's happening. Another possibility would be to add another scene, taking place at southport, which is the next major action point of the empires plan. At any rate, dark clouds on the horizon promise black times for the confederacy, but are our heroes ready to take their place on the stage of fate? Or are they just plain tired...
Stay tuned while I argue with myself while walking around the FAA air traffic control center, there may be yelling involved. Hope the neighbors don't call the Longmont PD to resolve a domestic dispute... ;-)
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