I decided that the first book, Apprentice in the Wild, needs a prologue.
You see, chapter one begins with Abanoub looking out the window and thinking, Something has happened. That's because he is a seer, and so he knows things before other people do. The something that happened was the assassination of King Peada of Mercia, but as written, it will be about nine chapters before that's established.
So, prologue. Tell the story of the assassination in the prologue, then segue to chapter one, where Abanoub looks out the window and thinks, Something has happened.
It makes sense to me. I was hoping to surprise the reader with the story of the assassination, but I think there's something to be said for letting the reader know up front what happened, and then watch Abanoub discover the truth for himself.
I think the book works either way. If an editor tells me to drop the prologue, I could agree to that with no more than the usual amount of temper tantrum. I've tried doing some online reading and it seems the internet has a lot of hate for prologues. Go figure. They're not essential; not every novel needs a prologue. But as a reader, I often find they're an interesting way to get into the story.
I'm going to think about this some more. I may write at greater length on the subject of prologues later at my other place.
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Monday, July 3, 2017
Second Book, More Characters
I haven't done much on The Sorcerer's Apprentice in the past week, because I was busy with another project. But I'm getting going on the second book, The Return of the King, and I'm already seeing that it's going to be quite different from the first. The first book focuses on the story of how Abanoub and Wulfhere meet, and their developing relationship. Most romances have the characters get to know each other, then fall in love, then have sex. In Apprentice in the Wild, the order is...different.
In The Return of the King, the cast of characters expands considerably, as Wulfhere prepares to take back his kingdom. He collects twelve Angle warriors to be his housecarls, a bodyguard and retinue who will aid him in his fight, in return for the honors they will receive after he is King. I'm trying to introduce the housecarls one at a time (or at least no more than 2-3 at a time) to give the reader a chance to get to know them one by one. And it's on me to make them different enough that the reader won't confuse them and they will remain distinct people even when they travel around in a group.
I'm using the term "housecarl," even though it's an anachronism, as the word doesn't come into use in England for a few centuries yet. But "retinue" is too French. I think in this period they were called gesiths, but I'm reluctant to use the term, as it is likely to be too unfamiliar to the reader. Not to mention it creates inappropriate Star Wars associations.
As Wulfhere assembles his housecarls, it may cause some trouble for Abanoub. Good Angle warriors are likely to see no need for their King to rely on a foreigner when they're around. Wulfhere may pick up some Pict allies during his sojourn in Pictland, too. We'll have to see.
In The Return of the King, the cast of characters expands considerably, as Wulfhere prepares to take back his kingdom. He collects twelve Angle warriors to be his housecarls, a bodyguard and retinue who will aid him in his fight, in return for the honors they will receive after he is King. I'm trying to introduce the housecarls one at a time (or at least no more than 2-3 at a time) to give the reader a chance to get to know them one by one. And it's on me to make them different enough that the reader won't confuse them and they will remain distinct people even when they travel around in a group.
I'm using the term "housecarl," even though it's an anachronism, as the word doesn't come into use in England for a few centuries yet. But "retinue" is too French. I think in this period they were called gesiths, but I'm reluctant to use the term, as it is likely to be too unfamiliar to the reader. Not to mention it creates inappropriate Star Wars associations.
As Wulfhere assembles his housecarls, it may cause some trouble for Abanoub. Good Angle warriors are likely to see no need for their King to rely on a foreigner when they're around. Wulfhere may pick up some Pict allies during his sojourn in Pictland, too. We'll have to see.
Monday, June 26, 2017
Crossing the Stream
When I hear the phrase "crossing the stream," Bill Murray's voice immediately sounds in my head. "Excuse me, Egon, you said crossing the streams was bad."
Yeah, it's been a while since I posted here. But work on The Sorcerer's Apprentice continues apace. I attended Mythmoot IV in Leesburg, VA earlier this month, and I read a scene from Apprentice in the Wild. All in all, I thought it went really well. The audience was receptive, and people still wanted to talk to me about it the next day.
The scene I read involves a party, including Abanoub, venturing into the Wild in search for Wulfhere. The "border" of the Wild is an enchanted stream they have to cross. I meant this bit as a tribute to J.R.R. Tolkien and The Hobbit, where there is also a crossing of an enchanted stream. My characters want to cross the stream without touching the water, and, as in The Hobbit, one of them falls in and is changed by the experience. Although that's where the similarity ends. My character, unlike Bombur, does not go into an enchanted sleep. It's more complicated than that.
So I felt encouraged by the reception the scene got. Apprentice in the Wild, the first book in the trilogy, is now more or less complete, and weighs in at 113,000 words. I'm three chapters into the second book, The Return of the King, or 15,000 words. Do you suppose they'll let me keep that title?
Yeah, it's been a while since I posted here. But work on The Sorcerer's Apprentice continues apace. I attended Mythmoot IV in Leesburg, VA earlier this month, and I read a scene from Apprentice in the Wild. All in all, I thought it went really well. The audience was receptive, and people still wanted to talk to me about it the next day.
The scene I read involves a party, including Abanoub, venturing into the Wild in search for Wulfhere. The "border" of the Wild is an enchanted stream they have to cross. I meant this bit as a tribute to J.R.R. Tolkien and The Hobbit, where there is also a crossing of an enchanted stream. My characters want to cross the stream without touching the water, and, as in The Hobbit, one of them falls in and is changed by the experience. Although that's where the similarity ends. My character, unlike Bombur, does not go into an enchanted sleep. It's more complicated than that.
So I felt encouraged by the reception the scene got. Apprentice in the Wild, the first book in the trilogy, is now more or less complete, and weighs in at 113,000 words. I'm three chapters into the second book, The Return of the King, or 15,000 words. Do you suppose they'll let me keep that title?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)