The Current Writing Status of a New Epic Fantasy Novel and Series and Preparation for Camp NaNoWriMo

Since I wrote the last blog post, I have scrapped the former start I had of writing Book 1 of the Cirtolia Series and have been planning, outlining, and writing. I hope by the end of this week, or the beginning of next week, I will have a title and will be able to tell you what it is about, other than a fantasy series based off of my family tree.

I have about 9,500 words written so far and have 25% of book 1 planned. By the end of the day today, I hope to have more written and planned.

Also, I have decided to take place in Camp NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month).

Camp NaNoWriMo starts on July 01 and lasts through the month. My goal is to write 31,000 words at least during that time.

My normal writing goall is the least 7,000 words per week, but preferably 10,000 words. When I complete the gol, then I work on more planning and outlining of this novel, as well as future novels.

Refining Book 1 of the Cirtolia Series and Writing in Composition Books

CURRENT WRITING PROGRESS

Well, I have been changing the title of this first book as often as I change my clothes. Therefore, I have decided to keep it blank for now. It's probably safer that way.

I have been writing like crazy for the last 5 days and have discovered a new way to write. I am now writing by hand in Composition Books. I have filled one already of 100 pages and am working on the second one. Hence, I have 22,500 words written so far. Each composition book is about 21,000 words for the size of my handwriting.

I am not editing. Nor am I typing it up as I go. I am just writing at this point.

If I keep going at this pace, I should finish writing the first draft of book 1 by the end of August.

I would love to tell you what it is about, but I am still staying to figure it out for myself. I have a general idea, but am writing at this point to help me figure out what exactly this book and series will be about. We shall see.

I will be quite as I write like crazy and will not blog every day. But, I will sure try to make it count when I do.

USING COMPOSITION BOOKS TO WRITE

Using composition books to write is a whole new medium for me. (Medium as in a way of writing.) I have heard of others using them, but I didn't think it would be appealing for me. However, when I realized I really need to handwrite my first drafts, I decided to go on a search last week to see what I might find.

Needless to say, I headed to Walmart, but my car took me to the dollar store here in town. I figured it was on the way to Walmart, so it wouldn't hurt to look. I went to the store trying to find spiral notebooks smaller than letter size of 8.5 x 11. The spirals they had would work, but I wanted something else. But, I had no idea what that something else was.

As I squat on the aisle, looking on a tiny shelf of writing supplies near the floor, I found a composition book. The size of 9.25 x 7.5 had appeal and I loved the thick and hard front and back cover. Plus, it laid flat for easy writing and for later when I have to type up everything. Moreover, it would store nicely and not take up too much room. Huh. Those reasons appealed to me. Well, for a buck, how could I go wrong? I bought three just in case. I know when I start writing, I go tend to write fast and in large amounts. There isn't anything more frustrating than getting on a writing kick and you realize you don't have another blank book of any kind to write on, so you have to stop and go to the store. Thus, three seemed a good amount.

I started using the composition book and within a couple of hours, I was... In. Love. It seemed as though it were exactly what I needed. Hallelujah! Phew.

By the end of the next day, I realized I was hooked on writing in composition books.

I have since shopped around and found them in town for 80 cents. Hence, it will cost me about $20 with pens and paper to write the first draft of this book and the books hereafter. I can handle the cost, that is for sure.

I really recommend writing with composition books if you are a writer or a journal keeper.

Now, pardon me, please. It's time to get writing.