What are you working on right now?

[BT Jones]

I've been talking to a local (Australian) producer who has worked with Netflix and who expressed some interest, but I sense he's either gone cold on the idea or is understandably distracted at the moment. I have a list of other companies I'll approach in a few months, but they will be cold pitches.

Although I'm convinced the novel would make a terrific TV series, it would be a big budget production and getting anyone interested is very much a long shot. That's never put me off, though!

Sounds fantastic. I've had the same dream for my work, although its very much in the 'pipe' category and I haven't even finished my first novel yet. But I'm convinced it would make a great TV series!

 

[BT Jones]

Yike

Hey Bren G,

Thanks! You’re right, my post is unclear and I omitted the most important figure which is a total word count of 250k. The 97k refers to how much of the 250k I’ve edited this week. So you’re not out to lunch at all; my mistake.

So I put in the 250k number into the above link out of interest, to see what my estimated page count would be (12pt; Times New Roman, single spaced) and got 665.

My story is a sort of historical horror mystery set over 1000 years.

pH

Wow, @Phyrebrat, editing 97k in one week is spectacular. It's taken me 2 months to get about 60k through the 4th draft of the first act of my current 300k epic. It's not been 10 years like you, but it's been a serious work since mid-2014, prior to which it was a bit of a juvenile past time. And that screenshot of yours: what is Scrivener? I've never heard of it before. Is it Mac only?

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I've been talking to a local (Australian) producer who has worked with Netflix and who expressed some interest, but I sense he's either gone cold on the idea or is understandably distracted at the moment. I have a list of other companies I'll approach in a few months, but they will be cold pitches.

Although I'm convinced the novel would make a terrific TV series, it would be a big budget production and getting anyone interested is very much a long shot. That's never put me off, though!

It’s finding the funding that’s the killer! I have had interest in Inish Carraig for a long time but would need to get off my ass and find some funding.

 

[Steve Harrison]

It’s finding the funding that’s the killer! I have had interest in Inish Carraig for a long time but would need to get off my ass and find some funding.

Yes, that's the big problem.

One of the short films I made with a friend, who is a professional props guys, utilised the skills of a bunch of his professional pals, who provided their services for free. As did the main actor. It was shot in a day in a single room of a friend's house. No special effects and one camera. We spent about US$2,000 on catering and a case of wine for each of the helpers, but afterwards we costed the entire production at minimum rates to see what it would have cost us and it came to US$55,000. Our next film had a much bigger volunteer cast and crew, including an Oscar winning sound guy, and I dread to think what that would have cost. (After that we decided we wouldn't make any more movies without paying people, so apart from one we shot without any outside help, we haven't made another in some years).

I know there are economies of scale with a movie or TV show, but the sums are mind-boggling. That's why I'm only interested in finding a producer for my TV series!

 

[Toby Frost]

Well, it's finished now. Book 4 of a 4-book fantasy series, each book being about 200,000 words long. It's kind of the 30 Years' War with magic and monsters. I've done a rough edit and sent it off to my agent. I'm not sure what happens now, but presumably we try to sell the whole thing.

I realise that I've subconsciously expected the lockdown (and the virus) to end once I'd finished my book. As the virus continues, and I run out of stuff to write, I think I'm going to find the next few weeks rather anticlimactic.

 

[Phyrebrat]

Well, it's finished now. Book 4 of a 4-book fantasy series, each book being about 200,000 words long.

Congratulations! I came here to post now that I have finished my novel, too, three minuts ago I edited the final scene...what an odd feeling. Kind of like going back to school or work after Christmas.

I'm not sure what happens now,

How I feel.

I realise that I've subconsciously expected the lockdown (and the virus) to end once I'd finished my book. As the virus continues, and I run out of stuff to write, I think I'm going to find the next few weeks rather anticlimactic.

Did we say this to each other on Twitter? I'm sure I said that, too, re finishing my book.

I don't know what I'll do tomorrow.

pH

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Congrats to you both!

 

[Juliana]

Congratulations Toby and Phyre!!!

 

[sknox]

Working on figuring out where the penultimate battle in my novel will take place. It could be anywhere, which makes deciding rather difficult. So I'm going back to my tried-and-true: look more closely at what the main characters are doing, what's in their heads and hearts, and see if I can't find a clue there. Then let geography get a vote.

 

[Toby Frost]

Thanks guys. It is a very strange experience: the realisation that I've come to the end of a huge project and yet, the only place in which it's made any difference (so far) is the inside of my own head. Very few people know that I've done this, and nobody except myself, at this point, has read it.

Then there's the feeling of stopping writing these characters, which entails stopping thinking about them. My "default thought", especially when I used to commute, has been generally "What will I write next?" which often means "What will X do next?". And of course on top of this is the weirdness of the current situation, which is both grim and surreal. My main way of distracting myself from all this has gone - perhaps I should have added some more appendices!

Anyhow, the best plan, until my agent has read it in full, is to start again and edit the first book! It feels really weird reading about the characters, before they know what's coming their way...

 

[Phyrebrat]

Then there's the feeling of stopping writing these characters, which entails stopping thinking about them.

My "default thought", especially when I used to commute, has been generally "What will I write next?" which often means "What will X do next?".

I think that nails it for me, too. This whole 'ending' process has me thinking about book-writing in terms of psychology, spirit, and mental health. I wonder what science would say in terms of separation issues/anxiety, loss and grief when you've been working on something so big.

It's populated the thoughts for so long, there's been a certain amount of habit or routine that, when finished (whether creating or editing), just disappears. I have to wonder how healthy that is for individuals whose pursuit is so solitary (unless we're co-writing with others), such as writing. I suppose it depends on the prevailing personality/optimism of the author, but I do feel a little rootless today.

I was thinking about @Brian G Turner and his first Chronicles book, the link to these forums and how it must be even more complex for him. But Chronicles of Empire doesn't stop with Gathering, so he still has a key into that world and characters. I suppose if you write a series you may get to a point where you look forward to new projects.

And of course on top of this is the weirdness of the current situation, which is both grim and surreal.

The thought of getting on a bus or the tube and not having anything to write is terrifying. That I can pop on my VR headeset and play PS4 games or watch the Youtube VR channel is a blessing. I've decided that - having lost so much weight over the past 7 weeks - I'll fill my day with exercise and weights. Maybe implementing such a physical, grounded routine will help shift the sense of 'now what'?

I might, however, look at a WIX website - ugh, the thought of setting myself up online has my gag-reflex doing the equivalent of eye-rolling if not throwing up

 

[Abernovo]

Well done, and congratulations, both Toby, and Phyrebrat!

 

[Phyrebrat]

Well I lasted three days not writing the follow-up book to the one I just finished (there was only going to be one but as I had to cut the entire Victorian era from it, I'd decided to write a book two set in the future.

So I've just ordered books for my research on Quakers, the Underground Railroad, and skyhooks. And I feel rather bloody happy about it.

See you in eleven years.

pH

 

[Astro Pen]

So I've just ordered books for my research on Quakers, the Underground Railroad, and skyhooks. And I feel rather bloody happy about it.
See you in eleven years.

Hmm. Your research sounds more interesting than mine at the moment. Currently on protocols for handling 'walk in' defectors at an embassy.

US embassy cables: How to handle a defector - a how-to guide for embassy staff

Cable sent 18/11/2009S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 11 STATE 119085

www.theguardian.com

 

[Kerrybuchanan]

Having sworn off short stories so I could spend this year editing a novel, I just realised I’ve written five shorts in the last four weeks, totalling around 25k words, plus I’ve tidied and edited a few more and submitted them so (not counting our Chrons Sisters antho and another antho I edited) I think I have six or seven stories out subbing right now.
So much for avoiding short stories.

 

[HareBrain]

I've finally managed to plot my way through to the end of the third Fire Stealers book, right up to an ending that seems to fit nicely but which I would never have guessed a month ago.

At the same time I'm on the first few chapters of a sequel to my recently completed YA eco-fantasy novel. This is also going into some unexpected places.

So much for avoiding short stories.

A few months ago I was determined to swap writing for painting. Seems to be a bugger to get out of, doesn't it?

 

[Dragonlady]

Just passed the 25k mark on my wip, hurrah!

 

[Toby Frost]

Well I lasted three days not writing the follow-up book to the one I just finished (there was only going to be one but as I had to cut the entire Victorian era from it, I'd decided to write a book two set in the future.

Funny you say that, PB, because I've been thinking about sequels too!

 

[Phyrebrat]

Funny you say that, PB, because I've been thinking about sequels too!

Well, there was only so much trolling we could do on Twitter, right?

 

[Toby Frost]

I think of it as screaming into the abyss, but true!

I really ought to be doing the edits, but the idea of the Spanish Armada with giant sea monsters - a weird mash-up of Francis Drake and Dune - is strangely appealing.