Heroic Attempts

[rinue]

Just finished watching the Wimbledon men's final with a room full of grad students from around the globe. I don't follow tennis, or any sport, but I always feel wonderful at the ends of important matches, and am very happy for whoever has won. And as it happened, this was an historic and dramatically fought match, and I was watching with people who knew a lot about the players and who trash-talked back and forth but clearly loved both of them. There is something incredible about watching something and knowing that people all over the world are watching the same thing. Especially when that thing is purely about humans and what we can do when we are at our best.

(I initally typed that sentence "they," but realized I probably ought to include myself as one of the humans.)

I don't know whether any of you can answer this question, but I need some writing advice. I've been working on the underpinnings of a novel since about three years ago, although I put off writing it while I was in school. Only it's not a novel; there's an awful lot of plot, and while it's not quite as mammoth as, say The Song of Ice and Fire, it's not inconsiderable. It's historical urban fantasy. There's been a lot of worldbuilding, and a lot of character development, and a fair amount of plotting (although some things are still up in the air).

I feel like after a certain point, I just need to start writing the thing. Only it is intimidatingly huge. Not only in that it's going to be a lot of words - I can get through a lot of words - but in that there's a lot of story to tell. I feel like it will be easy for me to get lost. And yes, I realize a solution is to write write write and sort it out in editing, but we're talking possible thousands of pages. I need to feel like I'm on solid ground. Right now, I can't even tell where I'm soft.

Do any of you know of any writing advice that is specifically targeted at strategies for attempting these epic kinds of works? There has to be someone somewhere interested in teaching that. I don't need help finding a voice, or my style, or learning how to buckle down, or how to come up with new ideas. I just need some kind of development plan - something less nebulous than "write every day!" and "do your research!" (If I keep researching, I will just do it forever. I really like researching. I need to stop.) Is there anything?

Comments

Same trouble.

[bluezybunny.livejournal.com]

I have the same trouble, but I figured that was the domain of story-boarding.

-Quip

[achates.livejournal.com]

Well ... you've probably already thought of and done this but you could do an extensive outline of the story before you start writing it. I've been trying to do that with "Things of Power". Also, writing down hotlists of the subplots you plan on including would probably help. Mostly, I mean, you're a champion of organizing your thoughts. I think "Romie" and I think "organized thoughts" amongst about a dozen or so other things, but you get my point. Also, I've been thinking about getting a dry-erase board, and maybe that would help you too. It makes the planning process visual and tactile as well as just mental.

Is this Digby your talking about? Because I know I haven't been properly expressive of such before, but I am really excited about that story. I'm elated to hear you're taking it back up.

[rinue.livejournal.com]

Indeed - it is Digby. And I finished my subplot hotlist just before I wrote this entry. LOL. I should probably do a more extensive outline, though. Augh it will be pages and centuries.

[achates.livejournal.com]

And I will be excited for all of them! Hooray!

[treehavn.livejournal.com]

Ah, I've just read the first book in that series, but for the life of me I couldn't remember who rec'd them to me. That'd be you.