The Lifespan of a Novel

The most amazing thing has happened :). The book that would never end ended today. And with a powerful scene as far as I could tell. It almost had me in tears as Wardah rediscovers Diggory only to have him reject her story as fantasy. But they manage to work it all out by the end. I promise little in the ways of comfort with my novels, but everything always ends on a positive note :D.

As far as the writing and the outline went, it turned out the last 3-6 scenes were actually parts of the same scene. Since this scene is right at the end and is longer than any of the previous chapters, I'm thinking I'll find a place to break it up during the edit, but we'll see.


And stats:
New Words: 8909 words
86 scenes
86 complete - 100% of the novel
0 Scenes remain
0 Remaining word count
110219 Estimated length - with an average of 1282 words per scene.
110219 Current Total

And here I was sure I had nothing left in me for the day. I managed to make a simple task into yet another barrier come to hold poor Wardah back. Still, she works her way past it and will shortly be on her way to the capitol and the defeat of her bitterest enemy, if not in this life then in every other one to follow. Nah, she doesn't hold a grudge ;).

And stats:
New Words: 1060 words
87 scenes
76 complete - 87% of the novel
11 Scenes remain
14663 Remaining word count
115973 Estimated length - with an average of 1333 words per scene.
101310 Current Total

And back into writing for a sec despite what life is tossing my way. It was a relief to get this moment and have the words come to me, though I experienced a little difficulty because I'd done such a detailed re-outline that some aspects seemed already written. We'll see how many continuity errors I've introduced in taking so long once I get to the editing stage. The other thing I did was add more scenes. Luckily, a few have been short, but still, more scenes start to bump up the word count. You know, I don't really understand this book. It's depressing and things just keep getting worse. Every time Wardah gets a chance, something slaps her back. But the story really calls to me. I can't help but think there's something to like in it for all the depression. Maybe it's her resiliency. Maybe it's just that how life struggles don't knock her down, or if they do, she recoups and rises above it. Anyway, if all goes well, someday you all will be enjoying this tale too, though enjoying doesn't quite seem to be the right word.

And stats:
New Words: 1514 words
86 scenes
73 complete - 85% of the novel
13 Scenes remain
17590 Remaining word count
116362 Estimated length - with an average of 1353 words per scene.
98772 Current Total

I've added a few more words, but had to stop for a bit. Much of what I've already put in is just now coming into play in the outline. Whether the original choices or the new ones are the better, I don't know, but obviously these events had to happen in some form. Life happened to draw me away from actual writing, a not uncommon complaint, but I took some time right now to tidy up the outline so when I get to write tomorrow, as I hope to, I'll be able to move forward with an outline to follow. What's odd is that, according to the stats, I have only removed one scene. What I did was eliminate 4-5 and add 4 or so completely new ones :).

And stats:
New Words: 828 words
84 scenes
70 complete - 83% of the novel
14 scenes remain
19308 Remaining word count
115847 Estimated length - with an average of 1379 words per scene.
96539 Current Total

Just a quick snatch at progress. Not much to say except that I'm one scene shorter. I took a good look at the next two scenes in my outline and, unlike the ones I did yesterday, these really didn't stand on their own. And nothing happened during the first part to change that assessment so off scene chopping I merrily went :).

Oh, and for stat mongers, I added my word count for the day I post to my little stats at the bottom.

And stats:
Today: 724 words
85 scenes
68 complete - 80% of the novel
17 remain
116638 Estimated length - with an average of 1372 words per scene.
93310 Current Total

Well, I'd hoped to get back into writing on this with some frequency, but it just isn't happening. I still have coding to do on my coding project and am finishing up other things as well. (Not to mention the novel crit I'm embarking on soon ;).) However, at least every other week, I will try to tuck some additional words into my file and before I know it, Wardah's life will be OH so much better :). At least I got the scene off my bathroom mirror ;). I did get about 2026 words done today with the chance of more tomorrow. If I can keep to 2500 a week, I'll finish at some point. I would like to be ready for a new novel by the end of March for March Madness if at all possible :).

And stats:
85 scenes
64 complete - 75% of the novel
21 remain
117960 Estimated length - with an average of 1388 words per scene.
88817 Current Total

My goodness. This story really wants to be written. Did another 4k today...yes, I was marathoning, but my goal was 3k. Then I ended up in the middle of a scene that demanded to be written. Interestingly enough, I think I've come up with a new way to get to where I was going so the last final humiliation doesn't have to happen. I may still use that scene, but it'll have a different flavor than the one I'd had planned. Thank goodness for Leenan :).

Stats:
83 scenes
60 complete - 72% of the novel
23 remain
116116 Estimated length - with an average of 1399 words per scene.
83939 Current Total

And once again, just slipping in a wee little bit, only 1108 words. I'm not quite done with the scene, and I don't know if it works, but progress is progress.

She's no longer a reliable narrator and she's the only POV, which makes things a little dicey. I'm skimming a lot of time since she's not really experiencing it either, but only crits will tell if the technique worked.

And stats:
82 scenes
57 complete - 70% of the novel
25 remain
108900 Estimated length - with an average of 1328 words per scene.
75699 Current Total

1 scene becomes 3, up goes the word count and the end stretches farther and farther away.

However, this 3/1 scene is a pivotal one and hard to write. I still have the last piece, but this is the one which makes her feral. Her master forces himself on her once, is interrupted, arranges things so he won't be, and is interrupted again, this time too far along to convince his wife he was innocent. Sounds all like he'll get in trouble and she's home safe, right? Now why would she go feral, you ask?

Well, that's the third scene I haven't written yet, but this should give a hint for those with a twisted mind.

From the master's wife:

"You're just lucky I didn't catch you with a tavern girl or our revenues would suffer. And it wouldn't be me that felt the bite."

Ah this just makes me want to leap into the next scene :p.

One more thing before stats. For those of you who have been steadily following my not so steady process, I will be putting Bring Out Your Dead aside for a month. Yep, that's right. I've been sucked into the National Novel Writing Month. Though I may end up doing some work on Dead, my focus will be on a new novel that is much lighter than this one. Could that have been a factor? Maybe. I still believe in this novel and absolutely intend to finish it. However, come Nov 1, my progress will be even more sporadic than it has been.


And stats:
78 scenes
51 complete - 65% of the novel
27 remain
104,090 Estimated length - with an average of 1334 words per scene.
68,059 Current Total

Made some good progress with the rest of the 48 hr marathon for a total of 10k and change. Then, managed to have a chaotic week and just barely managed 6501 from Sunday-Saturday. It's below my goal of 7k per week, but I'm making good progress. Wardah's getting two very different impressions of Talib's desires between the slave minder and Talib's sister.

And looking at the stats below, odd how the percentage doesn't seem to change no matter how much I write :p.

And stats:
75 scenes
37 complete - 49% of the novel
38 remain
104173 Estimated length - with an average of 1389 words per scene.
51392 Current Total