by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner
Well, I solved a long-running structural problem with this project. I now have a traditional trilogy. What’s more I have the first two books of an additional, more open-ended series ready to be finished once I finish the trilogy. This leaves me feeling pretty good.
Additionally, the focus of all of this is now worked out. The trilogy would be character-based and a lot more Mare of Easttown than Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. The trilogy would focus on a mother’s love, be it for her own child or for that of another (dead) woman. Meanwhile, the first two books in the open ended series would be about revenge, pure and simple and be meant to evoke the same type of vibe that the Millennium series does.
And I’ve managed to sketch out pretty quickly the structure of the now split in two first book. It occurred to me today that because of all of these changes I’ve reached quite and accomplishment — I’ve finished a (proto) first draft of a first novel.
It’s not a real first draft because the structure is all wrong (it’s just the first act and the first half of the second act) but it’s length — about 87,000 words — is a novel. And, you could read it and it would be a coherent — if very bad — novel. So, there you go — accomplishment unlocked.
Now, to sort of chill out.
They tell you to wait a month after you finish your first draft before you start to work on the next draft, but I’m not really going to consider what I’ve “finished” as my first draft, so while I’m going to chill out — because of my fucking broken ankle — I’m only going to do it so much.
Any pause I do for the next few weeks will be more about doing a lot of reading and development that I should have done years ago. I need to psych myself up for really throwing myself back into this project come come January 1st. Things could change a bit for various reasons, but I’m stoked.
While I’m still extremely delusional — and have to continue to be for some time — all the pieces are there for me to write a trilogy just like Stieg Larsson, while having two additional books in the wings which are a more direct homage to his work.
Hopefully I can avoid the whole dying of a widow maker heart attack that poor Larsson did.
