Day 67 - Creating Kezra

As we continue our challenge to write a Sci-fi novel in a little over a year, we've learnt that developmental feedback is only helpful if it is not completely demoralising.

After keeping our cards firmly against our chests, we have finally allowed out respective partners to read some (not all) of our masterpiece to gain useful feedback and insight from a couple of readers who aren't as close to the story as we now are. The results are in and were not as good as we had hoped.

Feedback from A's partner to A:
"I like it but some sections have too many things happening one after the other. Needs filling out."

Feedback from S's partner to S:
"Ooh yeah, thats really, really bad sci fi. But that's what you're going for right?"
"Not really"
"Oh.."

The friend who inspired our efforts in the first place has also been sending helpful emails such as this:

"This is what you two need for your 'book' -
http://fiverr.com/gigs/search?query=review+kindle&order "

Conclusion:Don't show other people your work unless you are mentally fit.

Progress report We recently had the conversation about writing a sex scene. It was bound to come up but we had successfully avoided it until now. Both of us have clearly declared ourselves unable to write such a thing and still maintain the ability to look each other in the eye. Our partners have suggested getting totally BBQ'd one night and writing it together; reading it once and never speaking of it again.

We could always get an outsider in.. maybe the 'friend' mentioned above or maybe you? Let us know if you're interested.

S

Day 52 - Creating Kezra

Two novice authors with little knowledge of sci-fi + a challenge to write a sci-fi novel in 1 year and 1 month, self publish and raise £600= welcome to our world.

And so, the Sci-Fi convention has been and gone. I think we learnt a valuable lesson from attending. Simply put, Sci-Fi conventions are not our natural habitat. This became clear almost immediately whilst collecting our name badges. The nice man with the guest list failed to hide his obvious confusion when he asked for our "full badge name" and we gave our actual names, rather than our Avatar names. We'll know for next time and maybe by then I might have one.

I was also surprised to only see one "Trekkie" but I presume more appeared over the course of the convention's weekend. On the flip side we were intrigued by lots of folks carrying around their beeblebears/Toys, complete with their own individual name badges...

We did get a goodie bag  though and heard GRR Martin read the first 2 chapters of his next, yet to be released, instalment of something called "Game of Thrones". I was only slightly uncomfortable watching him read a sex scene. I think I did well.  

Big news

We've knocked a few years off Kezra. This might not sound like big news, but, and I speak only for myself here,  I have found that she is speaking for herself these days. I am merely the person who types the words.

Is that a good thing? I think that's a sign of progress, right?

S

Day 46 - Creating Kezra

Attempting to write a sci fi novel in under a year and self publish it to prove a point continues... Despite seeming increasingly unlikely that we will be successful.


The day of the sci fi convention is upon us. I'm struggling to decide what to wear. I've ruled out dalek costume.


I have been sent a brochure/ progress report from the convention folks which leads me to believe that if I were a sore thumb, I would probably blend in better.


I shall be sending a progress report myself, assuming of course that we survive.


S

Creating Kezra - Day 44 (definitely)

And so, a week later than expected I have returned. I see A has kept you in the loop regularly...


Despite her panic though, I have in my inbox this morning 6 whole pages of text and some ideas for new characters. I've just read it and although I'd like to say it looks like a rush job, alas, it is of decent quality and even has exciting levels of punctuation.


I'm just about the email the latest installment of my efforts, written whilst lazing on a beach. I can honestly say that I spent hours thinking about Kezra and her troubles. However, my email will unfortunately consist mainly of phrases like "I know I said 10 pages but.." and "I just don't know what happened to the time"... I fully expect serious amounts of backlash.

Perhaps I should invent some kind of incident involving a shark and subsequent missing limbs to explain the reason for my pitiful *whispers* 2 pages.

 Today though, is the first wednesday of the month, and therefore we should mention the Insecure Writers Group. I think "insecure" is an accurate description of me today. Having read A's efforts, I'm almost ashamed to send her what I have. We both also feel, that perhaps, maybe, we ought to speed up just a little. With only 350 days to go, we are a long way away from the finish line. Impending failure seems likely. Our friend may have been right all along.. maybe we are just not cut out for this..

We need tips. Anyone? We've tried bullying. We also tried healthy competition - both seem to have failed. Perhaps we should set ourselves a minimum number of hours per week that we spend writing. 5 hours? Is that reasonable?

Anyway, I'd better get on with sending that email...

S

Creating Kezra - Day 45 (ish)

So. Abandoned.

While S was swanning off on holiday, I was quietly confident that I could make plenty of progress on my section.

Inexplicably, it is now the day before S returns and I've written NOTHING. Somehow, all this time has past and my secret life as a sci-fi writer hasn't featured at all. What have I been doing?!

But all is not lost. I have one evening to write down everything I've been thinking about (the whole thing is stored safely in my head). S will never know I left it to the last minute err...Oh. Damn.