So I finished the first draft of my novel last night. Yay me! It’s been a long road, but I’m happy with the way everything turned out. I say that of course without rereading a lick of it. I need to take a break from it, but I still love the way it turned out! So how long has the road been, you ask? Well, several years ago, I wrote a story, 120 pages long called An Elf’s Tale. It was about a young elf named Nano who is told that “All great people have tales.” but he hears it as “All great people have tails.” So he goes on a mission to find a tail. It was a cute and fun story about Nano’s journey to find a tail, the characters he met along the way (a dog named Dodger, a lizard named Jilo), and the adventures he had. Upon returning home he learns that he was great all along and everyone lives happily ever after. Like I said, totes cute.
At the time, I tried to find an agent to get it published. I was young and naive and thought agents would flock to my wonderful story. LOL! Well, I still have the stack of rejection letters tucked away somewhere to prove me wrong. So my story was set aside as life progressed without it. I moved to Brooklyn, got a new job, watched entire series of television shows, read hundreds of new books and stories, started drawing comics, and moved back home.
After a while, it was time for me to bring back Nano. For another few months, the story of Nano evolved in my head. Like me, he became a little older, a little wiser. I dropped the tale/tail misunderstanding aspect of the storyline and instead built a larger arc that could be told over a series of books, while still trying to form the basis of a novel that could stand on its own. Rather than being the young, eager elf, Nano became the reluctant hero. Like Bilbo Baggins before him, he was pulled into an adventure, rather than seeking one out, which from my standpoint made for a much more interesting story to write. He would still team up with Dodger the dog and Jilo the lizard on his journey and would meet most of the other fantastical creatures he had before when it was called An Elf’s Tale. But as the story evolved, so did the title. No longer was it just Nano’s tale. It was a tale of three ordinary creatures who were capable of doing extraordinary things. The title then became A Tale of Ordinary Creatures.
I started writing A Tale of Ordinary Creatures over a year ago. I struggled with finding time to write between blogging and watching copious amounts of television. Over a series of months, I wrote about 24 pages of my new novel, and then I stopped. I’m not sure what happened, but I struggled with the story and the writing, and I just stopped. It wasn’t until Meg suggested we all do a Novel Writing Month back in August that I was able to continue writing. Over the month of August I wrote more than I had ever writen in my life. The goal for the month was 50,000 words, and I succeeded. My novel was now about 180 pages long and I felt great. I only had another chapter or so to go and it would be complete. Well once again, the novel sat untouched until January, where I finally finished it last night, and damn does it feel good.
Clocking in at almost 220 pages, a full 100 longer than An Elf’s Tale, A Tale of Ordinary Creatures feels like a much more complete story this time around. It feels like a novel, rather than just some story I wrote. I’m not the best writer around, but I found a voice that worked for me (writing more naturally and using humor to mask the fact that I am actually a terrible writer) and I’m thrilled with what I was able to accomplish.
Now it’s time to take another break from Nano. Time to let me and him mature for a bit. Time to let friends and family read what I’ve written and gather their thoughts before I dive back in and start making revisions. It will still be a long time before I seek an agent or publication. Like Nano learned at the end of An Elf’s Tale, it isn’t a single thing, the tail, that makes you great. And for me it isn’t publication. It’s the tale, the writing, that makes me feel great. The fact that I am so proud of what I’ve written and to even say that I wrote a novel. That’s my tail, and for now that’s all I need.
Congratulations! I’ve actually been writing in the past few weeks. I have a bunch of half-started stories tucked away and I’ve written entire fantasy/sci-fi world guidelines but I’ve never been able to sit down and actually get down to using any of them in a story; until now.
Right now I’m writing a story about a father and son who flee Iceland in a yacht after the financial crash because it turns out the father had actually been doing a whole lot of illegal business and people are throwing red paint and eggs at their house. The father actually isn’t quite well in the head, it turns out and he doesn’t really know a whole lot about sailing. So when the son thinks they are basically screwed, they find a really weird half broken volcano crater with whose side has fallen off so it’s open towards the beach on a part of it. A really old city is built inside the crater, called Rhombus City, because it’s shaped like a rhombus (diamond). As they stay longer, they realise this city isn’t your average metropolis and the people there aren’t quite normal.
Congratulations! You should be proud, you’ve achieved a major goal in a relatively short period of time. I’m impressed!
I’m not a creative writer, so I don’t fully understand the process, but several of my friends are and much of what you describe sounds familiar. I hope that over the next few months, you and Nano grow together and can achieve the next set of goals you have set out for yourselves.
Oh, and just not to be too serious, I bet Polt thought your tail was just fine without this goal, but I’m also sure he would also say it is only that much better now.
good jerb! Writing is fun but also frustrating and depressing! Glad you didn’t hemmingway urself! My goal is to put together a semi-substantial manuscript of poetry before the end of 2010. Most poets don’t get their debut book out until their 30s…so “my cyclone” [read as: my creatively curious title] will have a good six to seven year to ferment before publication! Yay!
Yay you. Just getting to the end is a major accomplishment. Yay to your friend Meg for getting you fired up again too. I wrote something and I was racing along and …. it sat for a couple of months until someone said “Hey, what about that were-kanga thing?” Oh yeah, pushed through the hump and then it went better. It happens to all authors. I think taking a break is good too, coming back at it with fresh eyes. Personally I HATE editing my own work. I like to throw ideas down and then let someone else fix it all up. I’m lazy that way.
So enjoy your break before the next plot bunny starts hopping around in your head and you feel compelled to start a new adventure in writing.
Hooray! So when will you be having your first book signing?
Congratulations, Craig!
Tam: Wait a minute . . . That’s not a plot bunny! It’s Evil Bunny. Craig, the call is coming from within your head!
GOOD JOB!!! When you say 220 pages, do you mean in Microsoft Word? How many actual pages in a book would that be?
How much of this story is autobiographical btw?!!
Thanks everyone!
Yes, it’s 220 pages in MS Word.
Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone is 76,944 words and 309 pages.
Mine is 69,392 words, so using Harry Potter books as a template, mine would be 279 pages.
I haven’t worked on my own novel since 2005. I had 55 chapters (and about 10 left to write) or somewhere in the neighborhood of 150,000 words – but it was split into two books. As much work as I put into that one, I never did finish a complete first draft, so you’re doing way better than me.
The story itself sounds really interesting. I really enjoyed the insight in how you took an initial idea and let it sit, while you went and grew as a person, and then returned to the story to give it new dimensions. Everything I’ve learned since starting National Novel Writing Month in November has indicated that most authors go through two full re-writes before the start spot-editing towards a finished product.
I was reading an article by Neil Gaiman last night and he explained how he was rushed to publish Neverwhere to accompany the BBC television program it was based on, but then had extra months to revise the story for the US publication. Later, he felt the two versions were so different and incomplete that he convinced his publishers to release the “Author’s preferred text” version that included much of the humor of the UK version and the depth of the US one. It’s nice to know that even (very) successful authors feel the need to revisit and redevelop their stories.
Wow, that’s really impressive Jere! You should get back into it!
Thanks Adam! I love Neil Gaiman’s Stardust and it was definitely an inspiration for my writing which makes that story even greater!
Good for you Craig!!!!! Cheers!
I am impressed that you were able to complete your novel. I know the time commitment required to write something of that length, especially when there are so many other things vying for your attention.
I think it is a good idea to let your novel sit and marinate a bit before you come back to it for revision and editing; I know several successful writers that will wait a year or more so they can edit with a fresh mindset. Usually, they will do their editing while taking a break from writing a new novel, or if they get writers block.
The joy of accomplishment is without parallel.
Congratulations, Craig.
I’m really looking forward to reading it.
I’m honestly wondering where and when you had the time to WRITE it, between having a full-time job, watching all the tv you watch, putting out this blog, etc. Do you actually sleep?
I stopped to see a weeping willow cryin’ on his pillow. Maybe he’s a-cryin’ for meeeeeeeeeeeeee.
I think this post shows that you’ve got great skill as a writer. It is its own little entertaining mini-novel. Applause for your dedication!
Craig’s blog already shows he’s got great skills as a writer. The creative output of the combined Puntabu-Josh-Richo-and-friends-industrial-complex is simply astonishing
Yay! Congratulations — and see, it’s only Jan 6 and already you’ve made progress on your New Year’s resolutions!
As queen of the unfinished projects I commend you for finishing. Especially after taking such a long break. Hurray! And now Stewie can’t give you a hard time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWsGvWwUctk&feature=related
Cupcake – I’m laughing at your When A Stranger Calls reference.
Reading this post made me really happy for you, and happy to have found you and added your awesome aura into my life.
I love your attitude! I love that you are still a starry-eyed dreamer, and yet have maintained a grounded pragmatic world view. The greatest success is in creating something amazing. The trappings of recognized commercial success are nice, but all of that is secondary to the power, beauty and joy of the creation itself!
You are one of my heros. I think you will have an exciting future in whatever directions you pursue. I look forward to seeing it all unfurl.
DOES ANYONE’S HEART GET BROKEN IN THIS STORY?
Michelle M.: *I* am the queen of unfinished projects.
Reminds of the Sandman comic book (Written by the aforementioned Neil Gaiman), and something mentioned therein called the Library of Unfinished Stories, which is a library that held every story every started, but never finished. I’m fairly certain I’ve got a wing of the library named after me.
But now we know Craigger’s Tale won’t be there! It’ll hopefully be found in REAL Libraries! The world round! Congrats, buddy!
HUGS…
Chris – you ARE just THE sweetest guy. xoxoxo
Enrico – I’m curious: do you require that all literature you read HAVE broken hearts or LACK broken hearts
It’s rather a tall order either way.
Polt – You BASTARD! *I* am the queen of unfinished projects!!!!
Justin: Love is the most important thing in the world. Not money…not sex…not even Ali Lohan’s Xtinamas album! So YES, hearts need to pumped with love and then viciously broken for Enrico and I to be amused!
Cuz these are…these are confessions…of a broken heart.
“… for Enrico and ME…”
“Some say money is the most important thing in the world,
Some say sex; some say it is Ali Lohan’s Xtinimas album;
But I say it is the one you love”
– paraphrased from the Divine Sappho, c. 600bc, Fragment 16
Sappho = funky and played out. Modern-day version:
“And I don’t need no G to take care of me.
Cuz shorty’s got a job, shorty’s got a car, shorty can pay her own rent.
Don’t wanna dance if it is not in my heart.”
- from the divine P!nk, 2000, pre-chorus
I’m sure someone will get their heart broken at some point during the series, but in this book, there is no heart ripping out. Though characters did cry from time to time due to other tragedies, and it may or may not have made me cry as I was writing those scenes.
Justin: Don’t correct my grammar, nerd! Only Enrico and I are allowed to do that.
Enrico: I LOVE that passage of hers! I also love…
“I don’t wanna hear that you adore me.
And I know that all you’re doin’ is runnin’ your mind games.
Don’t you know my game beats these games?
So your best bet is to be straight with me.”
- P!nk, first chorus of the classic 2000 scripture “There You Go.”
Pffff Is “nerd” supposed to be an insult? I am PROUD of my nerdhood!
Though in this context, I would have accepted “friggin pedantic douchebag”
Justerz: The only nerdz I like are the kind that ruin my teeth, hurt my tongue and occassionally come on a candy string that is always stale! Derrrrricious! Nerds that correct my grammar bruise my ego, which in result turns me into a mean grrrl (just like Cady Heron!).
Ha. *I* have faith in the strength of your ego, O Trashy One
I’m excited for you, Craig! After starting no less than three would-be novels myself, I’m impressed beyond belief that you’re successful in actually completing one! Well, a first draft of one anyway.
Can’t wait to see it in print someday. I’ve always loved your style and prose (or is that ‘style *of* prose’? Well, goes to show why I never finished anything — I can’t write worth a damn unless it’s a quip attached to a Grindr screenshot…).