Some Things Just Have to Be Done

[queenoftheskies]

But, that doesn't make them any easier to do.

I split Xanali into two books tonight, in spite of the fact that a part of me still likes the idea of having it as one book.

It was that extra plot thread. If I'd stuck with my original plot points, this would NOT have happened.

Having said that, though, I have to admit that most of the information embedded in the new plot thread would have had to have come out somewhere in one of the other books anyway and it fits really well where I planted it.

Also, if I had left Xanali as one book, the first in a backstory series, then the second book would have sucked royally, if I hadn't come up with something better than the thusfar scattered plot I had for it. I assumed something would come by the time I was ready. Something usually does.

HOWEVER, with Xanali split, the second book just needs an opening, then what I've written so far and more information that I hadn't figured out how to integrate into the other book yet. It fits perfectly in this one, and finishes my second book.

It's meant to be this way. It's perfect this way. I don't know why splitting them was such a difficult decision for me. Perhaps it's because I waited until so close to when I could have, theoretically been done.

Except that it would have been long and I'd have had to cut, which would have left me with a really crappy novel.

So, I'm resigned and have done it and...well, I'm pleased. Warriors from the Stars is no more, having been combined with the second book, which is where it now fits.

I now have:

Out of the Darkness 106,939 words

and

Xanali 26,942 words

Obviously, since Out of the Darkness is the first book, I'll be finishing it first.

Sadly, I didn't get a lot written today. Mostly because I woke up too early and then work fried my brain, though I probably could blame part of it on the waffling about splitting the book, too.

However, I did write extra other days, so I'm not far behind for the month, if I'm behind at all. If I am, I'll catch up tomorrow.

Out of the Darkness

560 words today

106,939 / 125,000 (85.6%)

Monthly Word Count Progress:

6,393 / 68,200 (9.4%)

2006 Word Count Progress:

6,393 / 1,000,000 (0.6%)

Comments

[spaceoperadiva.livejournal.com]

Interesting stuff. I have a hard time with reforming my image of a WIP once I get the idea of it stuck in my head. Congrats on being all logical and cool headed and rearranging as needed!

[blzbob.livejournal.com]

I can feel your angst. I was working on a novel and then realized that the size of it was overwhelming so it had to be split. Suddenly the split opening the door for a 3rd book. Cool. While getting the outline down, the electric surge turned on a light and I saw yet a fourth book. Each book could be read by itself but really it would be easier to read either 1 or 2, then 2 or 1, then 3 then 4. Confused? Try reading the books in this order: 1, 2, 3, 4 OR 2, 1, 3, 4. Either of those would make the story line flow but any book at any time would be a good read (well, at least I think so!) and get you interested in the others.

Anyway, I'm sure you made the right decision, but you will continue to have this angst -- I know, I've been dawdling over these novels for 20 yrs and still don't know if I've made the right decision!