myheartisinohio
 
A while ago, I mentioned on formspring that I'm hoping to have all of the Chemistryverse stories done by the end of summer. I've been working on my writing (planning, researching, etc.) a lot lately, and am realizing this will not work out the way I said it would. I mean, honestly, is it even possible to write three full-length stories and finish another in two months? Well. Okay, it probably is, but not for me.
I'm going to spend the rest of the summer focusing on Chemistry. There are thirteen chapters and an epilogue left, and then the story will be completely finished. I'd like to complete this, then shelve the rest of Chemistryverse for a while. I like the characters, and the world I've made for them, but it's reached a point where I need to be sure that I can write something other than Chemistry. I want to write new characters, new plotlines, new settings. My first notes and outlines on Chemistry are from October 2005. First of all, I'll be damned if I let this first draft take longer than five years to write. Second of all, I think if I stay with this exact story any longer, I might not be able to write anything else ever again.
I've got two other stories planned. One is what I guess would be called the "second draft" of Chemistry, which has a working title of In Your Veins (see tab in side bar) and is very, very different from Chemistry. I have several front/back pages of notes on all of the changes I'm making, and as I've said before, I'm not sure it really counts as the same story. It's sort of the equivalent of asking two different writers to tell a story, and giving them each a piece of paper that prompts, "Travis, who previously attempted suicide, meets Garen, a musician, when their parents start to date. Garen leaves, Travis dates some guy named Ben, and Garen eventually comes back." The stories really are that different. The other story I'm working on is entirely different from anything I've ever written. It's... a little hard to describe, but it's got a working title of "Enter Lavinia," and it's basically a suspense/mystery kind of urban fantasy story (no vampires,  I swear) mixed with like, a psychological thriller. With a lot of literary references? Idfk. Basically, I don't want to discuss it, lest I lose the magic of it, and all I'm willing to say right now is that it was inspired by a) Titus Andronicus, b) my job as a library aide, and c) a diner I once visited in Exeter, Rhode Island. That all probably sounds like it makes no sense, which is what I'm aiming for, because I don't want to make this story into a repeat of Chemistry, where I'm constantly writing with the door open.
So, SparkNotes version:
  • Chemistry will most likely be completed before I move into my dorm room (August 27, 2010)
  • Listen Closely, Strange Bedfellows, and Head. are all being shelved indefinitely. If I do end up working on any of them, I probably won't be posting it. And if I do end up working on any of them, it will definitely be Strange Bedfellows, which is my favorite.
  • One of my next projects is a total rewrite of Chemistry, which has a working title of "In Your Veins." I'm not sure when it'll get done, but it probably won't be put online, as this is the version I may try to get published one day.
  • My other next project is an urban fantasy, psychological/literary thriller with a working title of "Enter Lavinia." I will not be discussing the plot of this story, but I figure I should at least mention that it exists, since I may mention it on Twitter or something.
  • If I mention either of these stories on Twitter (and I will, frequently and at great length), I will refer to them using the title initials; IYV and EL, respectively.
  • One of the aforementioned projects will be my NaNoWriMo 2010 project. Whichever one I don't write during NaNoWriMo will probably be what I spend September and October working on.
  • If, for some reason, you have an opinion on which of those two stories I should work on first, feel free to leave a comment, email, or tweet. As I've said, neither of these stories will be posted online, but whichever story I finish first will be the one I start rewriting/editing first,  start querying first, and (in my fantasy world where things like this are actually a possibility) have published first.
As always, comments are welcome and appreciated.
 


Comments

Brittany

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 20:25:29

I completely understand your desire to write something else. I wrote my first 'novel' at 17 and have been working pretty consistently on the second for almost a year now. After reading my drafts a few weeks ago, I realized the majority of my writing seems to be in the same vein. I'm itching to tackle a subject matter or genre that terrifies me.

That being said, I'd suggest you work on EL for NaNoWriMo. I think NaNoWriMo is a great period to start something that inspires you because of the pressure to write. It forces you to completely immerse yourself in the subject matter and examine everything more closely. Also, while IYV sounds pretty different from Chemistry - and the excerpt on this site definitely shows the story moving in a completely separate direction - it might be best to challenge yourself with something that is removed from the world of Travis and Garen.

Hopefully this helps! I honestly believe that you are a talented writer and I wish you all the best in your endeavors.

 

Vicky

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 11:23:08

I love Chemistryverse and I'm sad to hear the you're shelving all of the Chemistry-related stories indefinitely. That said, I understand why you're doing it. I've been working on some stories for almost four years now, though not as consistently as you have with Chemistry, and I know that you sometimes just want to look at a completely new plot with different characters and a different setting. Sometimes you just need a fresh outlook.

I think it's entirely up to you which story you do for NaNoWriMo. Both stories will represent different challenges you'll have to overcome while writing it. I don't think you can go wrong with any story you pick. NaNoWriMo brings stress all on its own without the story having anything to do with it.

I really hope you find the enthusiasm to finish your Chemistryverse stories. I'd love to see where they all go, as Travis and Garen have been a pretty significant part of my literary life for quite a few years now. I hope you accomplish what you set out to do, and good luck at college (from another first-year college student) this fall! :)

 

Paige

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:03:03

although i'm excited for more story, i'm... kind of sad that there's an ending D:
i'm happy that you have motivation and can't wait to read your updates.
i hope you somehow decide to publish whatever you might write from strange bedfellows, 'cause uh, it's awesome. just sayin'.

 

Ashley

Sun, 05 Sep 2010 22:23:25

I am a huge fan of all your work and I'm happy to hear that you're trying to get some of your writing published. I am a little sad that you'll be shelving the Chemistry-related stories indefinitely but I just want to let you know that you have my support. If any of your stories get published I'll gladly buy the books. It would be nice to have a hard copy to keep on my shelf. Writing EL for NanoWriMo sounds like an interesting idea. Depending on which one you decide to write first, anything sounds great.

Strange Bedfellows is also my favorite. The decision is up to you but you have my full support and I wish you all the best with your future stories and continuing works.

 

Chanel Handbags

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 00:17:48

Planning ahead can make your experience less difficult and more rewarding.

 



Leave a Reply