Week Two of 2009 was pretty much a write off. All up, I managed around 3000 words for the week, which is what I am aiming for per day, not the week overall.
Admittedly there were some mitigating circumstances, with a few days out due to visiting my parents for their joint 60th birthday party, but that still left a number of days where I should have got more done.
I am also going slightly crazy – I have far too many story ideas reverberating around in my head wanting to get out, but not enough time to do so. This is the list of the current ones (though it changes fairly regularly).
Serial Story:
Cara’s Choice. Takes up a couple of hours a week – no plotting, just write what comes to mind.
Short Stories:
The Pit: Man and Beast are thrust into a fighting pit to battle for the crowds. Who lives, who dies and can they win their freedom? First draft complete. This one is set in the In Fire novel world.
The Bronze Man: A small Maedari village comes under attack by Chelosian sea raiders. Can they hold out long enough for help to arrive? First draft around two thirds complete, this is turning more into a novella than a short story
The Straits of Tuafi: Privateers and smugglers make a daring raid on the strategic islands at the center of the Straits of Tuafi. In conception/plotting stage.
The Charioteer: Beast stalk the ancient lands and Lahaenar the Charioteer must battle one such beast to save a village from its devastation. In conception/plotting stage.
The Professor: While investigating an ancient burial site, Hjalir and his escort come under attack by desert raiders. Taking refuge in the tombs, they find something that may be more dangerous that even the raiders. First draft one third done.
Cahuac and the Sun: The Sun has wandered from its course and abandoned the Aracan. The mighty Cahauc sets out to find the Sun and return it to its appointed way. First draft complete.
Ray and his Human: In the depths of space, their ship crippled, the sarcastic android Ray has to keep his ‘master’ alive. Conception/plotting complete.
The Village: In the far distant past, simple stone age traders arrive at a wondrous village, where hundreds live and possess vast wealth of copper, clothes of dyed fabrics and other unheard of treasures. This story was written for something else – I am in the process of rewriting it to fit into my world. Rewriting old draft.
The Duel: An old knight and a young knight exchange words and a duel is provoked. A surprise lies in store as the pair meet to settle differences by a trial of arms. This is a story I wrote back in high school, though I seem to have misplaced it. Conception/plotting stage.
Novels:
In addition to those short stories, I have a number of novels floating around in my head, plus more I am deliberately avoiding even thinking of.
Winter Wolves: Synopsis complete – 12K words done of first draft.
In Fire: Plotting/Conception stage.
Out of Time: Plotting/conception stage.
Queen’s Honour: Synopsis mostly complete.
Primal Tales: Uncertain as to whether this will be a novel or a collection of stories, but revolves around shapeshifters and beastmaster, berserkers and the wild magic of weather and beasts and plants. Still in the conception stage, but the concept leapt out at me recently and won’t let go.
Steampunk Tale: In a fantasy world where magic and monsters meet steampunk – guns and clockwork and steam engines and air ships – a young man joins up with gentleman explorer Sir Richard Hammerman and his entourage and embarks on a wild adventure. Conception stage.
So there you have it. Some six novels and nine short stories all fighting to be heard. No wonder I’m going stir crazy….
Mist and Shadows 