AQATWA: I used to write a novel in six months...

[inverarity]

Okay, I am up to 189K words now. So I'm averaging about 5000 words a month. Yes, I can do the math - I am not even going to finish this year at that rate. I'm working on it, which means, among other things, cutting back on some of my other time-sinks. Sometimes that is not easy.

The story is slowly moving towards the third and final act, though that act is going to be long, and multi-part, and there is a major segment that I am not yet sure will fit into this book or needs to be moved into the next.

Alexandra: Sometimes more Chaotic than Good

Alexandra will be doing some things in this book that some readers will not approve of. (Well, when does she not? But she's really crossing a few boundaries this time.) Partly it's because she's going to be pushed pretty hard, and partly it's because it turns out that she's not always iron-willed when it comes to resisting temptation. Also, she's got a bit of her father in her, which will be more obvious in this volume.

Which makes this new piece of fan art, sent to me by KadinD on DeviantArt, appropriate, as it's a rather fierce-looking Alexandra.



The way things are looking right now, you will be seeing a lot more of Alexandra's sisters, but significantly less of her friends. That's not to say Anna, David, and the Pritchards have no role in AQATWA, but this book will be kind of like Alexandra's adventures in Dinétah, only moreso - she spends much of it on her own.

I know many readers don't like it when her friends get sidelined, and they want to see more of the dynamic that characterized the Harry/Ron/Hermione relationship. I do have even more important roles for her friends (even poor David) in future books. But Alexandra was never Harry, parallels notwithstanding. Her friends are important, but often she goes her own way - even when she shouldn't.

The draft is currently kind of a mess, though, as I've said before, so there may be substantial changes after I finally get around to revising and then getting it beta-read.

(And I just clicked back through all my aqatwa entries and found my "New Year's Resolution" to finish the book... in January, 2014. And that these update posts sometimes repeat themselves. Now I am really bummed.)

Comments

[yllems.livejournal.com]

Well the Dinétah section might be my favorite section of the books, so I'm happy to hear that book five is going to be more of that. I think Alex is a strong enough character (my favorite character) that the story doesn't need to be propped up by her friends' personalities to be exciting.
I mean, character relationships are still important obviously, and I might miss her friends if they're totally forgotten, but Alexandra forging ahead on her own is a pretty appealing part of her character. As long as she's got Charlie, she's good.
Alexandra crossing boundaries is interesting too. She has been pretty moral so far, but I can easily see her going mini!AbrahamThorn. Her dramatic moments have all worked, and even if I end up disagreeing with her actions, they will probably be fun to read.
You seem a little worried about what people will think of this book, but everything you've said about it sounds good to me.

[graeme sutton (from livejournal.com)]

Yes, yes, but what of Brian and Larry?
And as for Alex going all badass, all I can say is BRING ON THE PAIN!

[inverarity.livejournal.com]

Brian and Larry will both make appearances...

[agogobell.livejournal.com]

Thank you OH SO MUCH for updating us on your goings with AQATWA. You're going to get there eventually. I don't care if it takes you five years. I'll still wait that long, because I love the series so much.

And I KNEW IT! I was thinking we'd see more of her sisters - I imagine we'll probably see some of Lucy and Dru, because we haven't met them very much. This book will be very, very interesting to read - boundaries being crossed?

[wodcdre.livejournal.com]

Hoooray for updates!!! I'm intrigued about the possibilities. I'm glad Larry, and Brian will make appearances...but..oh well...guess we'll all have to wait to see what happens huh?! I'm just glad the rough draft will be finished soon. Hopefully the editing process won't be real long, and we (crossing fingers) hopefully will see AQ5 in 2016??? Great reads are worth the wait...and this will be WORTH THE WAIT!!! I've plugged quite a few folks into this series and they are excited to see what happens next as well...but like me are patient enough to wait for an awesome story.

Other than the writing throes....how are you inverarity?

Thanks for the updates!

[clanoblique.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you're continuing to write. I'll wait as long as I need for this story to come out. I can't wait to see more of Alexandra Quick's adventures - while I love her friends and the character dynamics you've set up, I'm perfectly fine to see her 'lone wolf' it (success or failure to be determined)...I admit I'm one of those readers who loves it when 'good' characters get a little bit 'dark' for a while. Who knows if that will happen... Can't wait.

[warren peace (from livejournal.com)]

Have you considered posting individual chapters in order, as you complete them? My other favorite one-word pseudonymous writer, Wildbow, says this serial writing process is what keeps him focused on always writing and always moving forward with the story. It also provides instant feedback from your fans, or reminds you on bad days that you even have fans, who are incredibly forgiving of chapters that you might feel stink at the time.

As an artist, I myself find it impossible to love any of my work as it's being created. Only after enough time has passed that I don't really remember creating it, can I have any kind of objectivity toward it. Even having "beta listeners" tell me it was awesome would hardly convince me! So I hope you aren't holding back 189k works of masterpiece, just because you know how much better it can conceivably be!

There's a balance to be found, obviously. I guess what I'm saying is I love the AQ series and am eagerly awaiting more! :)

[warren peace (from livejournal.com)]

Have you considered posting individual chapters in order, as you complete them? My other favorite one-word pseudonymous writer, Wildbow, says this serial writing process is what keeps him focused on always writing and always moving forward with the story. It also provides instant feedback from your fans, or reminds you on bad days that you even have fans, who are incredibly forgiving of chapters that you might feel stink at the time.

As an artist, I myself find it impossible to love any of my work as it's being created. Only after enough time has passed that I don't really remember creating it, can I have any kind of objectivity toward it. Even having "beta listeners" tell me it was awesome would hardly convince me! So I hope you aren't holding back 189k works of masterpiece, just because you know how much better it can conceivably be!

There's a balance to be found, obviously. I guess what I'm saying is I love the AQ series and am eagerly awaiting more! :)

[inverarity.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the encouragement. But I treat AQ novels as actual manuscripts that need to be edited and revised. I often end up changing things significantly after I first write a chapter, and posting them as I write them would "lock in" whatever plot points I later decide need to be revised.

really glad to know you're even doing 5k/month.

[mako bates (from livejournal.com)]

Hello sir or madam!
I just finished reading the four extant AQ books this morning, and I found your blog while checking, pessimistically, if the project was orphaned. Seeing a post dated this year is better news than I expected.
I'm sure you've received a lot of pressure to finish your fantastic project, to which I will only add that the primary role I now see for Ms Rowling's books is as added context to AQ.
I guess what I really want to offer you is encouragement. You've already written a monument. We will all be sad if the series isn't finished (it would still be an excellent series, but a complete story would be so much greater). Don't make the same mistake as Ms Quick: have people you can ask for help if that's what it takes.
I'll post a version of this comment over at fanfic.net to boost your reviews count; it's far less than you deserve.
Thank you for your hard work, and best wishes will _all_ your work,
MPB.