So, What have we learned?
WED, SEP 30, 2020 - 7:32pm
Learning is odd. I feel it’s one of the only facets of the human experience which continuously gets more rewarding, for there is no law of diminishing returns, there. The more you learn, the more you wish to know. On it goes.
And after more than a decade of plotsing, screwing-up, re-writing, and learning, what a feeling it was to finally press ‘Save’ and leave my first manuscript behind for a new adventure.
The Binding of Siltari was a journey
that was both long and frustrating for me, but absolutely thrilling and satisfying, as well. I can’t explain exactly what I learned along the path to 170,000 words. It’s one of those unquantifiable things. But what I can say with confidence,
is that my writing is unrecognisable from what it was when I started in 2008. And not just my writing. I feel I’m a completely different person, too.
One of the most important things I learned, however, is the art of planning.
I no longer dive in to writing with just a vague idea in mind. I no longer throw characters in without knowing who they are. I no longer write scenes by following a feeling. (I’m also no longer able to read a book, or watch a
film, without constantly trying to pick apart the mechanics of it. But that’s a post for another day...).
Another concept which taught me a lot was that of restriction. Siltari was an incredibly difficult story to write because
I limited myself in so many ways with the setting and idea. It’s a very introspective story of a character in (what could have been) a very claustrophobic environment. But this forced me to really do a deep think about how to make it interesting
and keep it moving; to explore every possible avenue and turn what is (for the protagonist) a horrible, unpleasant situation engaging and enjoyable for the reader.
I'll let my readers tell me if I had success, there. But now
that I’ve embarked on my second novel, The Torril City Mysterion, all these things are paying off in a great big way. What I learned in Siltari has allowed me to plan a story which is so much smoother to write, and I can’t wait to share
the progress with you all.
Welcome back, kid
TUES, SEP 22, 2020 - 12:38pm
Welcome to jimzip.com, my online home for almost fifteen years. It's undergone a lot of changes in that time, but I think now it will be easier than ever for people to get to know me and my work.
Here's where you'll find my musings about tunics, the world of fantasy books, movies and authors, and about my journey as an author, as well.
Enjoy.