La Vie Boheme

Process needed badly

Now see, here's why I get grumpy when a short story idea turns into a novel idea. I know how to write short stories. I have a process to follow, and it works pretty well. I haven't figured out a good way to write a novel yet. For The Host, I followed pretty much the same procedure I use to write short stories: dive in and go, handwrite notes and journal my way through plot knots. I wound up with a big, confusing mess of a first draft that I have no real idea how to organize or edit.

So when I got the idea for False Light, I decided to take a different approach. I have a notebook full of plot notes, character notes, title ideas, subplot ideas, partial outlines, setting notes... and I haven't written a single useable word of a draft yet.

Then came my second attempt at NaNoWriMo, The Sword in the Mound. Now, admittedly, since I didn't really take this novel seriously when I first started, I did a rather Host-like approach, with only a few more notes than the first time. Now my problem there is that it got serious on me, and wants to be a real novel instead of an amusing bit of semi-pornographic fluff. So I'm kinda feeling stuck on it, 25,000 words in.

Now I have this urban fantasy thing that I can't even seem to find a decent title for. Grar. I'm trying a combination of all the above approaches. Since I started it as a short story, I've got about 5,000 words of a draft that I really am pleased with. I have characters that interest me. I've also tried to map out the whole mess, so I at least have a vague notion of where we're all going and how we might get there. Just something to follow in case I get lost--which based on experience, I will. I wrote a 500 word summary this morning of backstory, current plot, and where I see the novel going. I've got my notebook o' doom already set up, filling out character ideas, ready for relationship maps and research ideas.

It's almost like, for The Host, I just hopped in the car and started driving wildly off. I got to where I wanted to go, sort of, but now I can't find my way back home. For False Light, I've spent so much time carefully planning and mapping my destination, I've never even managed to pick up my car keys. Sword in the Mound? Hopped in the car, grabbed a random atlas, and forgot to fill up the gas tank. This time... I hope, I HOPE I've learned my lesson. I'm already in the car and driving, but I have a map with me, and am making little notes on it as I drive along, looking at the scenery so I can remember the way home.

Please God, let me make it back home on this one.