Wednesday, February 14, 2007

New Project

I have a new project.

And by that, of course, I mean a new book.

A completely new book.

I got this idea in the middle of the night and it kept going over and over in my head as I dreamed and tossed restlessly. At about 5:30 AM I realized I was not going to be able to get back to sleep so I gave up and just laid there and thought about my story. At 6:00 I had to get up and go start the first chapter. And you have no idea what kind of motivation it takes to get me up at 6:00 AM.

But it's a beautiful first chapter.

These characters are talking to me already. They are fully formed in my mind with jobs, looks, personalities, hobbies, etc.

Don't ask what it's about--I'm not telling anyone yet until I see for sure where it's going. I'm not even telling my husband anything about it yet. He knows I'm writing something new, but I'm keeping it to myself right now. No offense.:)

It's fun to be working on a new project but it has to ultimately be a back burner project. My YA adult needs to get done and done quickly (for several reasons I'm not going to go into here) and my romance needs to be fixed first since it is basically done, but needs some tweaking and polishing and I hate unfinished projects. Hopefully I will also soon need to get really going on book two in my fantasy series.:)

Also, this is a very broad project. It is somewhat literary in nature and the scope is just bigger than anything I have taken on thus far. It is emotionally very heavy and will require a lot of thinking before I can actually write the whole thing. It really could be the best thing I ever write.

Or it could fizzle after 20 pages. I guess we'll see.

But isn't that the joy of starting a new book?

Ciao!

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ooooo....I'm excited! Good luck! I hope its another great one!

KC

Holly Kennedy said...

I have so been where you are. Embrace this idea and let your characters talk to you. If it flows like that, it's gotta be a good one! All the best from snowy Canada...

Anonymous said...

Do your ghost girl story first, it's cool, and must be the main one at this point.

I read a book called "Ghost Girl" once, written by a female child psychologist, named Torey Hayden, It's avialable at Amazon.com. The book is the true story of an eight-year-old girl with parents involved in a satanic cult, who forced the girl into secret rituals, and she became an "elective mute." The female psychiatrist finally got the girl to talk, and was devastated by what she was saying because it was so bloodcurdling. Despite the psychiatrist's skepticism at first, it all turned out to be true, It was among the most fascinating books ever written, emotional and powerful. It reads like a great novel, but it's real.

Levi Nunnink said...

Cool! First chapters are wonderfully fun. They're like falling in love. Finishing the novel is like being married.

Hmm. Sometimes I make no sense.

Michelle Zink said...

LOL, Levi!

Actually, I find finishing like a second honeymoon.

It's the in-between stuff that can sometimes get me.

Having so many ideas is a gift, Aprilynne. Without it, it's impossible to have any kind of shelf-life as a writer.

I'm with Holly, go with the one that's keeping you up nights...

Mia King said...

Oh, I love it when that happens. I am an easily distracted writer, and go where I am beckoned, but I trust the process and know there is a reason. Just know that at this stage in the game, you will do what you need to do - if it's finishing your current manuscript, you'll do it. If it's playing with a whole new cast and story, you'll do it. These things have a way of converging ... you just never know. Enjoy it!

brian_ohio said...

The manuscripts that just keep beating at your mind are fun to write. Plus, you can get all that noise out of your brain and finally get some shuteye.

trinathegranny said...

So, does the book wake you up and you just become the conduit. The voice, and the book tells you what to write? These literary light beams are fascinating. Evidently others share your same experience. I'v heard of composers that simply must get up and write what is in their heads. Posibly this is 'the gift'. Very exciting aprilynne.

Tyhitia Green said...

Aprilynne,
Wow, that's cool. Good luck on your projects! Can't wait to read 'em!

Carrie Ryan said...
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