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Today Book IV reached 150,000 words. I have twenty days left in the month to finish the first draft, and should be able to do it with a little to spare. Last year I reached 150,236 on September 21, so I’m eleven days ahead. Or I would be, if I wrote another 236 words today, but that’s not happening. Close enough, I say. Eleven days may not sound like much lead, but at the rate I write in the last half of a book, that’s very likely somewhere around 20,000 words.
Naturally, with an entire book-in-progress and most of a book in draft between what you’ve read and where I’m writing, I can’t tell you much about what’s going on in the story without having people hollering “No spoilers!” at me. I can say you’ll see more of Prince Camwyn, King Mikeli’s younger brother in this one. He’s not a main character, but he’s earned a speaking part on stage. He’s also gotten himself into a considerable fix. I think I know where he’ll end up but I’m not at all sure how he gets there. Given his personality, it won’t be the easy way.
For political reasons, much more than romance, marriages are cropping up in this book–or at least, discussion of them and concern about them. One person finds what may be–if not a love match–at least a compatible person with whom to be comfortable in later years. Another is beset with concerns about genetics (though they have no such science, any culture that breeds livestock understands something of inheritance) and political friends and foes. Nobody wants to make enemies by seeming to insult someone’s daughter or son.
At least Tsaians and Lyonyans and Kostandanyans don’t have the tradition of betrothing infants and toddlers.
Someone’s son is in a very bad place, having ignored precautions and been overly confident of his popularity. Someone else’s daughter is every boy’s mother’s nightmare.
I’m going off to knit, now, and let my sore knuckle rest.
Comment by Richard — September 12, 2011 @ 3:28 am
Thank you so much for the earlier revelation-teaser about Arcolin’s bride. I’ve just spent a happy tenday contemplating the likelihood and advantages of one particular match. It won’t spoil the book for me, but enhance it, thinking I know where that bit of story is going (with a frisson of uncertainty) but not how you and Dorrin will get it there.
(And if I have been chasing a wild goose then I’ve still enjoyed it.)
Think I’ll go put a comment about Dorrin into Spoiler Space.
Thinking of marriage (nothing to do with Arcolin nor anyone else in particular), you’ve explained all about paladins not marrying, but why not Marshals?
Comment by Jenn — September 12, 2011 @ 10:13 am
Happy knitting!
By the way I believe it is time for a snippet. Drool drool.
Comment by elizabeth — September 12, 2011 @ 10:30 am
You’re probably right. But it will be an Echoes snippet, not a Book IV snippet, because we’re in the last half of the major arc and anything from IV is too spoilerish.
Comment by Jenn — September 13, 2011 @ 7:24 am
Yeah!!!! I am very happy with book 3 snippets. Book 4 will be begged for this time next year.
Your latter books seem to be going faster. Do you find that it is easier to write the last books because there is less scene and story setting up and more of things coming together?
Comment by elizabeth — September 13, 2011 @ 10:07 pm
It’s hard to say, on the speed of ideas thing. For me, this is one very, VERY long story arc, and always–in any size story arc–there are slow bits and faster bits. (Book IV has slowed down again, for instance.) The very ends of things usually do go faster–there’s not new complication being woven in; the elements are already there. But aside from that–I think the Paksworld books, in general, move me along faster for their length than the others do…the original story (considered as a unity, as it was) took me a little over 24 months. Granted, I was younger and faster typing then, but still. Since I got back to the Paksworld books, I’m writing substantially longer books in the same amount of time as with the SF adventure books.