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I’ve been working on the second plot-bomb section, very slowly until today because it had gone cold. Today it warmed up and got all hot and bubbly and crispy at the edges. And threw new surprises at me. That was who? Why did that other have a long split in the boot upper but no injury under it? Why did the who that was do what he did? Why did the other….? Etc.
Over 2000 words today. I ate too much supper too late after that.
This is one I really must not tell you anything about, because it comes near the end of the last book–almost two books away from where you are now. But I’m hoping to finish it tomorrow…another 2-3000 words should at least get it down in first-draft form.
(The first plot-bomb from last week comes earlier in the book. It may even be nudged up to the beginning, because it could make a good opening chapter.)
Still, it can’t be snippeted either, at least until I run out of side-stories and Limits of Power snippets. Just too far ahead of the current situation. I will say that both of these plotbombs, which appear to have remote forward connections, maybe, are going to be waving-at-the-future loose ends. There’s not going to be room in this book to tie them up. In fact, the whole Paksworld universe is throwing things at me, now that I’m in the home stretch of the five-book arc, and reminding me that I’ve never dealt with…or this…or that other thing…and maybe…NO, I say loudly. Not NOW. Now is for Book V, getting this particular arc completed and tied off. NOT for starting new ones. To the characters who are crowding onstage, all in costume, I’m saying No, no, casting is complete, clear the stage, I’ll talk to you after this production IF YOU CLEAR THE STAGE. NOW!
Comment by Roberta — April 17, 2012 @ 2:03 am
Does this mean books after V? I am doing the I hope it is dance.
Comment by Moira — April 17, 2012 @ 3:02 am
Let’s hear it for the characters, the who and the what and the why! Yay! May they be rowdy (in a good way) and persistent (but well behaved and ultimately cooperative) and hatch many plot bombs!
Er, and may Elizabeth get enough sleep in between. *guilt*
Still, I’m reminded of the time the Chicago Bulls won their fifth championship with Michael Jordan: in the immediate post-game celebration, MJ caught Phil Jackson’s eye and held up six fingers, questioningly, then grinned and nodded. And we all know what happened the following year…
(Yes, I’m subversive, an instigator, a troublemaker – mwuaaahahaha!)
((Which is just another way of saying, we’ll happily and gratefully read all the books these characters tell you to write. Any questions, send the publishers our way.))
Comment by Ginny W. — April 17, 2012 @ 6:49 am
I like short stories, too. May all the characters who are now crowding on stage gather in the wings trading gossip and telling tales, perhaps over a bowl of Hebbinford’s best stew, or a jug of ale in Piter’s common room. But quietly so you can finish this book and I can read it…in two years.
Comment by Kip Colegrove — April 17, 2012 @ 8:46 am
According to Thomas Jefferson, “We seldom regret having eaten too little.”
But we probably have less regret for having eaten too much if it comes after a 2000+ word day at the writing desk.
Keep those plot bombs bubbling!
Comment by Elizabeth D. — April 17, 2012 @ 11:45 am
Short stories, like the Canterbury Tales… although all the characters are so interwoven that I couldn’t see them as short stories (unless they are).
At least make some notes after you finish the rest. Even if those characters or plots are rusty when you do get back to them, it would be nice to have an archive of possibilities.
Comment by Moira — April 17, 2012 @ 3:50 pm
It seems we are a community of internet orphans, à la Oliver Twist.
“Please, ma’am, may we have some more?”
(I know, it’s outrageous given that you haven’t even finished the current series of books. But there you have it: we’re happily and most appreciatively addicted.)
Comment by ellen — April 18, 2012 @ 5:28 am
Yep.
Comment by Naomi — April 18, 2012 @ 5:43 am
Hear, hear!
Comment by Iphinome — April 18, 2012 @ 6:18 am
So there’s leftover fallout from the plot bomb? It didn’t have a cobalt casing did it?
Comment by Jenn — April 18, 2012 @ 6:50 am
Orphan #4 registering agreement. Maybe if I set myself to read a chapter a day from the earlier books… I would be set for a year.
May God Bless your hands and wrists and keep them strong.
Comment by Jonathan Schor — April 18, 2012 @ 9:03 am
I can see rabid E. Moon fans in a hundred years trying to coax more stories from you via Ouija board.
Comment by Moira — April 18, 2012 @ 3:19 pm
Ah, I’m afraid I have to admit you got a good chortle out of me with that one, Jonathan. Poor Elizabeth!
Comment by Elizabeth D. — April 18, 2012 @ 3:22 pm
#11: She will be too busy singing in the heavenly choir, getting every note right.
Comment by chris Hero — April 18, 2012 @ 6:02 pm
Maybe Elizabeth will find the “copies” the Girdish scribes made of the papers Paks’ retrieved from the Underground elvish fortress (that I can’t spell with out the book in front of me).
There would surely be alternate stories a that don’t have to conform to the cannon but her readers would still devour.
In fact aren’t the Fellowship of Girds scribe’s recording everything they can find about Pak’s and her aftermath?
It would be a blast to read all the alternate and even incomplete gossip that the plot demon whispers in the night in the guise of Girdish field notes.
On the other hand maybe She’s to busy now?
Good writing and good life to you!
Comment by Genko — April 18, 2012 @ 6:25 pm
Elizabeth, hope you’re having as much fun as we are…
I’ve been slowly re-reading everything, and am up to Oath of Fealty. It definitely all holds up to re-reading, and I keep finding out more things, now that I know about this ‘n’ that.
Comment by Daniel Glover — April 18, 2012 @ 8:15 pm
@Hero
Elizabeth has already expounded on your topic shortly after her 12 days of snippets–so check mid January posts–give you some more to read in the meantime. 😉
Comment by Jenn — April 19, 2012 @ 9:10 am
Daniel,
How on earth do you remember where all this is? I am marvel at your memory.
Has anyone seen my keys?
Comment by Moira — April 19, 2012 @ 1:28 pm
@Jenn – I was thinking that, too!
@Daniel – I bow to your hippocampus!
Comment by SnowGator — April 19, 2012 @ 4:52 pm
The characters dictate Story, right? So if the characters are lobbying for the series to extend beyond 5 books (hopefully way beyond), shouldn’t they get to crowd the stage and get their way?
Comment by Daniel Glover — April 19, 2012 @ 7:55 pm
@Jenn,
It’s really a remembrance that the topic followed from our discussion of the said twelve snippets and asking the same–more, more, more!
😉