Tag Archives: Easy River

The use of the synopsis in planning was discussed at the writers’ circle meeting on Wednesday. I thought I would try this to help me get the rest of Easy River to Success writen. I’ve done this today. Did about 300 words, which I hope to turn into about 1000+ words for the last scene, to leave me with a story just under 5000 in total. The process seemed to work quite well. It can help you work through what you need to cover in the story and where you bring in different bits of information. Also showed me where I need to flesh out some more detail of the setting before actually writing the narrative.

The test now is whether this makes actually writing it easier.

I still have the problem of coming up with the details of how the nascent religion of Arax actually works. I haven’t had too much inspiration here yet!

Mark Lord’s Writing

Daily Summary: 9th December. Scene finished for Easy River

December 9, 2008 Mark Leave a comment

I am assuming that I won’t be doing any more today. I managed to get 811 words done this lunchtime that took me to the end of the scene where Benetus meets Arax. I’m fairly happy with how it has turned out. A couple of surprises. I found that Arax has to tell Benetus a bit about who he is. I think I tend to develop back story, but then never explain it to the reader.

Next steps are too look at the proto-Arax religion and provide some details of this, and also decide if I need some more foreshadowing of Arax earlier in the story. I’m not sure how this will all work yet in the story as a whole. I hope it will!

Mark Lord’s Writing

Update: 6th December 2008. 672 Words of Easy River revision completed

December 6, 2008 Mark Leave a comment

Just started on the revision for Easy River to Success. I managed 672 words of the scene where Benetus meets Arax. So far I have got Benetus to where he is just about to meet Arax, that is he is about to end up in the quagmire.

I’m fairly happy, I think, with what I wrote today. I think maybe I need to be more specific or clearer about the previous spirits Benetus has visited on the spirit-river, and what his hopes were for this visit. I could think about another place or manner in which to introduce this element.

I might do a little bit now on putting together some of the content for my profile website.

Mark Lord’s Writing

Daily Summary: 4th December 2008. Incy Wincy Day Today

December 4, 2008 Mark Leave a comment

Only had twenty minutes today, but managed to have a think over some possible ideas for the concluding scenes of Easy River to Success. Trying to work out how to complete the story using the new character of Arax, which I’m happy with now, and make it a neat ending. Still haven’t found quite the right ending, but have a few new ideas now for my subconscious to think about! As Damon Knight would say, I’m going to let Fred have a think about them for a while.

Mark Lord’s Writing

Daily Summary: 3rd December, a bit more Easy River planning

December 3, 2008 Mark Leave a comment

No point for a daily plan today as I just got on and did half an hours writing this evening when I had time. To be honest it was the last thing I really wanted to do. Not feeling particularly fresh and I find it’s always harder to motivate yourself at the end of the day. Interestingly by knowing that I could only do a blog entry if I had something to record on the writing front, was a motivating factor. I guess the fact that I could put down a marker and say “I’ve acheived something today” helps.

I continued the planning of the last two scenes of Easy River to Success, which, as I thought, are now probably going to be three scenes. The plot of these scenes is still a bit tentative, but I think I have some interesting ideas of how Arax can mess up Benetus quite comprehensively and still have the amusing and bitter reveal at the end. Should be quite fun I think. It was definitely worth spending a bit more time on the characterisation of the demon character. Before it wasn’t really a character, just a stereotype, and the only character left in the story was really Benetus. I think this may have been the problem with it.

So more planning of the last scenes tomorrow I think. I will hope to get them a bit tighter.

Mark Lord’s Writing

Easy River to Success – Title Change?

December 2, 2008 Mark Leave a comment

I’m thinking that I might need to change the title of this short story? Well I don’t absolutely need to, but it might be a good idea. Firstly because I’m changing about half the story so a more suitable title might come out of that, and secondly the title, although quite appropriate, is slightly odd?

On the other hand is there much point worrying about it too much? At least the title stands out. I imagine that most editors will be more concerned about the content of the story than the title.

Mark Lord’s Writing

Today’s Plan: 2nd December 2008

December 1, 2008 Mark Leave a comment

I probably won’t be getting much done over the next few days as I have a fairly busy work schedule. Today I am at for lunch and then, tomorrow, I have a very early start. I suspect I’ll be lucky to scrape one brief session per day. Ironically it will probably be easier to update this blog than write! Why? Because I feel I need at least 40 minutes ahead of no distractions ahead of me to write properly, whereas a blog can be continued with five or ten minutes here and there.

Today’s plan, if I have time, is to continue with the character work on Arax for Easy River to Success, and then to have a go at rewriting Arax’s scene and the last scene of the story. First though I’ll need to work out some plot elements, such as what does Arax tell Benetus and why, and how does this affect Benetus’s actions in the last scene.