urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:cdbass a novel by C.D. Bass cdbass 2005-11-11T03:22:10Z urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:cdbass:1332 2005-11-11T03:06:03Z 2005-11-11T03:22:10Z Well, I rewrote chapter one in first person, and I think my fingers went a little crazy at it, as I felt a bit more free, and I found it easier to write about these personal experiences. The chapter ended up being 2,000 words longer than it had originated.<br /><br />It is better, but sadly, you won't be seeing my novel posted here for awhile, and this is because of the following reasons:<br /><br />1. The novel is meant to be read in its entirety, like most novels, but if you were to read only a chapter every so often, it wouldn't be a very good read.<br /><br />2. I'm very sensitive about my work, and I've decided to not discuss the novel very much with others. I'll describe a few themes, a few ideas maybe, and even how it's going, but that is probably where it will end.<br /><br />3. After I posted chapter one, and after I re-wrote it, I was ready to shoot myself because I was so unhappy with the first draft of the first chapter. So basically, I don't want the novel read until it's in its perfected form, and that's how I want to be understood and represented as a writer. It's like I don't want people to see the shitty side of my writing, but only my best work. (I do this often. I've burned nearly every painting I've painted, the only ones that survived are the ones I gave to other people, and still, if I could get my hands on them, I'd destroy them- some way, some how!)<br /><br /><br />I have been spending too much time worrying about revisions and editing. At this rate, I won't make the 50,000 word deadline by November 1st. I see the novel being much longer than 50,000 words, but it is a committment I've made to myself and others that I will reach the quota, even if the novel has been written in its entirety, but is the shitty ass rough draft. I plan on spending the winter editing, and revising, and adding things.<br /><br />Since I wrote the first draft of chapter one, I keep thinking of things I want to add to it, and I eventually jump into the right paragraph, and add those few sentences that I was losing sleep over. So, this novel will not be done within a month, even if it's reached it's "quantity quota". And that's what this winter will be for- steadily, surely, I will be revising and editing it, and once I've done this, I will let myself think, and contemplate every piece of it, every metaphor, and sentence, and image that I've created, and when I stumbled upon things I want to add, I will have time to do so.<br /><br />I will know when the novel is complete. I cannot say now when exactly this will be, only that I will know, somehow- after I type those few sentences I thought of the night before, a feeling will rise inside me that will say: "It is complete."<br /><br />So, unfortunately, you won't be able to read my novel for a few months. I feel horrible about it, really, because I had been urging people to come to this blog, and to keep up on the chapters. But my novel has become a very serious project, and has become intertwined with my very self, and with my spirituality.<br /><br />Sorry, though! I'm like this with poetry, too. My bad... *stares at the poem he's been working on for two months*<br /><br />peace.