Okay, so I know that we haven’t done anything for weeks
now, and you might be wondering what’s going on and if this is the beginning of
a second end, but I promise you it is not. Things have just been pretty busy
lately.
Small update:
At
the beginning of the month, we managed to get to spend some time together in
person. For those of you who don't know because you haven't read all we've
written (not really that much unfortunately), Margaret and I met online.
We got to know each other through a mix of a writing website, email, chatrooms,
and Skype. We have met in person before, but this was the first time we
actually got to spend an extended amount of time together (it was two days).
While there was a TON of awkward giggling for the first day and a half, by the
end of the last day and the day she was going home, we managed to talk like
normal human beings and one of the things we discussed was the story I am going
to be writing for this blog. We (more I, but I'm sure something she said inspired
the idea to land in my head) managed to come up with an end, which mean that
I'm likely to start writing it soon. I have the chapter outline about 3/4 done.
She
went back to school on Monday August 12 2013 and my first day back at the evil
death trap called “High School” was today.
Begin
to cry young ones.
School
is coming upon us all. Not only did school begin today, but I have spent the
past two/three weeks frantically trying to finish all of the summer homework
from my AP classes I was supposed to spend all summer doing. I told myself I
could neglect it only if I was neglecting it for editing my book.
...
let's not talk about that. Last summer I wrote a book. This summer I completely
failed on the editing thing.
So
yes, school is here. That means let time for writing. Hopefully it will also
mean a return to structure and perhaps more steady uploads. Or it could have
the opposite effect and we'll be so distracted that we won't... but let's hope
for the first one, yes?
Hmm.
Anything else? Margaret managed to fill in two plot holes! Yay! That’s always an awesome feeling.
Now, this post is not all just
updating, though that probably will consist of about half of it. I just wanted
to share this one thought that was actually shared with me a few days ago. It
was actually used in a completely different context, but it was about goals and
setting them and all that and that’s what we’re doing, isn’t it? It also ties
in pretty heavily with some of the feelings I’ve been having myself lately.
The title of this post is “How
To Write A Novel” and I do have to apologize for the slightly misleading title.
I’m not going to be describing a foolproof THE way to write a novel, or even my
way of writing a novel. Personally I don’t think I have the right to write an
article like that until I actually have my name in print. But that’s beside the
point.
We all have an ultimate goal in
mind. Whether this goal is to get published, or maybe your goal is to be able
to live off writing, or maybe your goal is to be the next JK Rowling (I’m gonna
tell you right now, straight up, there are some goals and aspirations and
dreams I can approve… if you think you’re the next JK Rowling… Not to be
depressing or smashing your dreams to tiny pieces, but… I wouldn’t count on it),
it is a goal.
So imagine this goal as the top
of Mt. Everest.
And you’re standing at the
little village at the base of the mountain where people plan their expeditions.
Look up.
It’s a looooonnngggg way to go.
29,029 feet/8,848 meters.
It doesn’t just look big, trust
me, it is. And it’s not going to be easy to climb it. The people that climb it
have to go through a lot to get to stand on the top and proudly yell “I’M KING
OF THE WORLD!”
But every climb starts with a
step. And then more steps after that. And even more. And a lot of steps. And in
this case a lot of ropes and pulley systems and other people ahead of you to
lead the way and or hoist you up a sheer face.
With those lots of steps, frozen
sweat, ropes, and support system, even though you started at the very bottom,
you can wind up at the top.
