Might of the Steelgods - Postmortem

Alright people, here's where it gets fun. Nathan posts random crap about the book he just wrote! Ready? Go!

Wordcount Totals
Total Word Count: 94,764 words
Total Days: 29
Average Per Day: 3,268 words
Days Missed: 2
Days I Wrote: 27
Average Per Days Actually Spent Writing: 3,510 words
Total Chapters: 28, plus Prologue and Epilogue 
Chapters I Think Suck: 2

Acts
Wordcount for what I consider the first act: 37,706 words
Wordcount for what I consider the second act: 23,608 words
Wordcount for what I consider the third act: 33,299 words
How surprised I am considering this actually is kind of balanced: Very

Viewpoint, Characters, and World
Viewpoint: First-person semi-limited (the book is a "retelling" from future Cevan)
Main Characters Introduced: 6 (Cevan, Devent, Rosemary, April, Roc, Divine)
Number of Chapters Containing the actual physical appearance of...
Cevan: All of them (viewpoint character, ho!)
Devent: 7
Rosemary: 12
April: 9
Roc: 6
Divine: 6
Gears of Anbar: 4
Peacemakers: 6
Number of regions in the world: 3 (Tempered Lands, Steel-Imbued Domain, Blight)
Number actually visited in this book: 1 (Tempered, maybe a touch of Blight but not true Blight)
When I finally got around to drawing a final map: Act 2

Random Things
Number of Steelgods Actually Seen in the Book: 0
Number of times I actually use the phrase "Might of the Steelgods" in some form or another in the text: 2
Number of times I use the phrase "Destroyer of the World": 35
Steampunk elements that crept in: 2-3
Days spent planning the book before I actually began: Uh...maybe 2 at most?
Chapter location when I finally outlined the rest of the book: 17 (out of 29)
Battles/fights completely discovery written: All of them (about 5? 6?)
Number of times people got killed in ways one might consider "gruesome": 2
Number of people who died on screen: 13 (I think. The battle at the end got kind of crazy)
Number of people Cevan kills with his freaking sword he hauls around the entire book: 0 (way to go, dude)


Stuff I need to fix
Things I think I overused: blinking, sighing, glaring, hissing
Things I think I underused: A Thesaurus

Series Ideas
Number of books before Cevan sees April again: 2
Number of books before Cevan sees Roc again: 1
Number of books before Cevan sees Divine again: 1


Wordle

Word it seems I used the most: back (weird)


Enough useless crap for you?
I'll be re-reading it (probably during my classes and during breaks at work) this week, and also do some minor editing bits during that time. After that, anybody who I know well enough can feel free to request the rough draft, so long as they realize it's a rough draft.

If anything, you should read it for the final fight scene, because it's badass.

Well, that's it. Steelgod September is closed. But we still have one day left in September? Hmmm. What else starts with "S" that I could name this last day of the month after?



PS That's right, it's totally Starcraft 2 September tomorrow.

Steelgod September: Day Twenty-Nine (1,784 words)

Done.

DONE.

DONE.


Might of the Steelgods, Book One, is complete.
And AHEAD of schedule, I might add. Last I checked September had one day left.

Doesn't matter. It's done. 100% Vamoosh. Finished.
And that makes Steelgod September a resounding success in getting me writing after my two month stagnation/quagmire period. Hoorah!

I will devote an entire post to the stats shortly, giving you tons of useless information you never bothered to care about. But I care, since it's my blog. So suck on that.

Anyway, it's done. Book in a month. Enjoy the stats once I finish vegging my brain on SC2.

“An end,” I whispered, opening my hand and looking the small gear over again. “Seems to be something my story will be forever lacking.”

And giving one last glance at the failing sun, I turned and stepped back into the wagon, shutting the door behind me. 

Steelgod September: Day Twenty-Eight (9,136 words)

I don't think I need to say I wrote a lot today, because I wrote a lot today. I also went to the temple, studied for a test, and wrote a paper. The book is very close to being done. I have to finish this chapter that's about 3/4 done, write one (short) one, and a short epilogue. I might even try to finish it tomorrow, just so I'll be a day early.
If I do, I'll probably make a big blog post about it either tomorrow or Thursday, with total word count, my thoughts, etc. It has been both stressful and stressless, being forced to write every day, forced to push the book forward even when I'd rather be playing Starcraft. And while there are certainly some sections that will need some severe editing, I am very satisfied with the end result. I don't see it needing too much work before it is in a publishing state.

Here's a spoiler-free quote for you. I'm going to play some Starcraft.

“Will I see you again?”

April didn’t respond. She looked away, staring vacantly off into the distance. I blinked, and reached out and touched her cheek.

“April?”

“Cevan,” April whispered, still not turning towards me. “You know the answer to that question.”

I just stared at her. My mind wandered to the events of my life. Being chased out of York, the town sacked by the Peacemakers. Running, always running, living in fear that the night would be my last. Of fighting through London, where Devent had nearly been killed trying to save me from imposing Gears. The Peacemaker, his smile cruel, his methods ruthless, baiting me by abusing my step-siblings. *CUT FOR SPOILERS*

All that death, all that killing, all that pain. It surrounded me, swallowed me up in its life. Everywhere I went, destruction clamored at my coattails. And it would continue to do so, until the day I died.

“That...” I felt my lip tremble. “Isn’t the life I want you to have.”

“No.” April nodded. “It isn’t.”




Edit: I wrote an extra 394 last night before going to bed, finishing the chapter. Still didn't make 10k. Oh well. 

Steelgod September: Day Twenty-Seven (4,020 words)

These next two chapters were originally meant to be one, but as you can see by the already huge length, it isn't going to work out that way. I have a hunch that the chapter following these will also be broken into two chunks, but we shall see.

I am still very much sick. Tomorrow I bowed out of both work and volunteering, as I am probably super contagious. I'm also considering just ditching my one class (from 8-9:15) in leu of getting more sleep. That would probably be beneficial in the long run.

With this time I plan on both sleeping and writing. I have a paper due Wed and a test to study for, but aside from that I am reasonably free. We shall see how well that turns out; maybe I can get a good 10k tomorrow and have little left for the remaining two days.

That is all. Here is your (relatively) spoiler-free bit.

Divine’s eyes darkened. “I won’t fail. I swore an oath, do you not recall?” 

He loosed the fingers of his right hand from around the sword hilt, revealing a cloth with a bloody line cut across. “I will do my part. And meet you by the Northernmost gate, once this whole mess is over.”

“I hope so.” Rosemary looked out towards the crowd. “Come on, Cevan; dawn was several minutes ago.”

I nodded. As I followed her back into the resisting crowd, I heard Divine call to use.

“May the Steelgods find it in their blessing to assist you!” And then he turned and made his way through the crowd, towards the back of the gallows.

“Brilliant thing to shout, in a town run by unbelievers,” Rosemary grumbled.

Steelgod September: Days Twenty-Three, Twenty-Four, Twenty-Five, and Twenty-Six (14,059 words combined)

That averages to ~3,500 words a day, for those curious. Here's the story on what's going on with this.

- I didn't write on Thursday, at all. Due to circumstances beyond my control (and a little silly), I didn't get back from my test until about 9:30, and hadn't eaten dinner yet. So...I ate dinner and played Deathspank 2 instead of writing. Despite knowing it would mess me up if I skipped a day, which it did.
- The day after (Friday) I came home deathly sick, but determined to  write. I managed to churn out a chapter, making me only a day behind.
- The next day (Saturday), I realized my plan for two chapters was actually going to need to be three, so I wrote two chapters that day. Because of this addition, I was still a chapter behind.
- Today, I wrote in two large chunks (6,204 today, for the record), churning out two chapters. Technically I should be up to date now, but I realized the next chapter that I'd planned for one will actually have to be two, so I'm still "behind" if Sep. 30th is my due date. Which leads me to ask: Why didn't I pick a month with thirty-one days instead of thirty to do this? Because I'm crazy like a fox, that's why.

So, 14,059, technically in three days. In terms of actual writing, thats about ~4,700 for the days I wrote (deleting thursday from the equation), which is also quite decent.

I love getting to the end of books. I get crazy motivated to finish it, and the writing usually ends up being really good (these two chapters I wrote today I particularly like).

In personal news, I'm still really sick. I also have a quiz and a paper due Wednesday, and a test next week, but I'm not too worried assuming I get better rather than worse. Plus, I'm all jacked up on Sudafed and Advil, so I should be ok. Is it weird that some of my best writing actually happens when I'm sick? Maybe it's some form of release.

In non writing news, I finished my "ranking" matches in Starcraft 2. I'm a freaking Platinum in the 1v1 group (thats second to best), and my group with work buddies is Bronze in 4v4 (that's the worst, but we are at the top of the bronze ranking). Thus proving I'm a terrible team player, and I'm fairly certain I'm going to get crushed if I play against Platinum people.

I played a bit of the game, and beat the single-player mission. I liked the story, if it was a bit overwrought and melodramatic at times. It knew exactly what fans wanted, though, and gave them just that so it's hard to fault it. It's like Transformers 2, there isn't much of merit in it, but they knew who they were pandering to and did it right. Except Starcraft 2 is WAY better than Transformers 2.

I should give you four quotes for four days, but we are entering spoiler territory, so you just get one.

And here's hoping I get less crazy sick soon.

I stepped forward just in time. Rosemary drew a final line. Though I couldn’t feel the object snap into place as I’d had no part in its creation, I imagined what it must have felt for the Graffiti to complete. The hammer, which had been nothing more than a floating connection of lines, suddenly had weight and form. It fell from the air, where I caught it by its handle.

The feeling was instantly familiar, almost comforting. The “wood” of the handle was rough, with a smoothed portion where one would hold their hand. The head was heavy and strong. 

Careful to not put too much weight on my injured leg, I swung at the chains holding my step-sister. They sparked and rattled as the Created hammer hit. Another strike, and I was falling into the natural swing of it. I was at April’s again, smashing an unruly piece of metal with all the force I had. Again and again I struck, the previously impenetrable metal links giving way under the might of the hammer’s swings. At last, with a roar, I smashed the final piece of a link to pieces. It dissolved to dust under the crushing blow, and Rosemary’s left hand was free.

I wiped my sweating brow with my arm, taking a breather before attacking the other chain. Rosemary twisted her wrist, the bit of chain still attached rattling, making sure it still worked. She was staring at me intently, a look of surprise across her injured features.

I suddenly felt very self-conscious. “Um...yes?” I asked, feeling sweat run down my back. “Did you want me to do something else?”

Rosemary shook her head slowly. “You...look different, Cevan. Really different. I mean...just look at yourself!”

I shrugged and looked down. With my shirt off, one could see the muscles of my chest and abdomen. I’d never really noticed it during my weeks of relentless work with April, but now that Rosemary pointed it out there was no question.

I looked as if I’d been cut out of wood, chiseled from the scrawny, gangly boy I’d been when the Peacemaker had attacked two weeks ago. While not quite as large as the Peacemaker had been, I was certainly well-defined now, with toned arms and chest. I couldn’t keep the grin back as I moved to work on April’s other bound hand.

“Yeah, I guess I finally got out of the cart and got some exercise,” I laughed, smashing the hammer down as before. It felt good, really good, to hit something with a hammer. 

Steelgod September: Day Twenty-Two (3,703 words)

Not as bad as yesterdays, but I don't think it's my best, at least not the last part. I work better in small bursts if I plan on writing large amounts; I haven't had the time ever since my volunteer job started up, so I have to write it all in the evenings (and from the same times, too: from 9-whenever I'm done). Since I'm on a rather...strenuous writing schedule to finish this within the month, I'm forced to keep going even if it is terrible. So I do. Editing ahoy.

If I ever managed to do this full-time (yes, huge if), I'd probably write four times a day, each in 1.5-2k chunks, if not more. That would be easy, allow for breaks, and get books done pretty quick. In my current state, I write a lot, take a fake break (being like I just eat a snack instead of clearing my palette of all things book-related), and then come back. It works kind of, but...not as good as taking a whole hour off to read or play xbox or something.

Anyway, thats how I function. I have a test tomorrow night, so hopefully I manage to get something written. I didn't play Starcraft 2 today (despite borrowing a power cord after all), so that's something.

Bit:

I knew the map. Judging by the distance, I was almost there. If I’d tried, I could probably see the Peacemaker’s rendezvous point ahead of me past all the trees and shrubs. But I didn’t look forward. I kept my head to the side, staring with intent southward. 

South. Where Steel Summit was. Where April was. 

And then it finally hit me. 

I collapsed into howling sobs, startling a few rabbits who had been watching me curiously. I grabbed my hair and yanked it, then raked my face with my fingernails in relentless agony. I was trembling so much I could hardly stay on my knees, and I feel forward, pounding the leaf-covered earth with unquenchable torment.

I was going to die. This was the end. I’d never see April again. I’d left her, alone, at Steel Summit. I was going to die. 

I am going to die within the hour. 

Bonus Bit

You get another piece from yesterday's trash, if only because it sums up all my frustration in one beautiful, swear-laden paragraph.

Also my laptop power cord finally gave up the ghost, so I'm going to be laptopless for a while (unless I steal my wife's). This could lead to immense boredom and a general lack of school productivity, which in turn will lead to a lack of writing productivity.

Hopefully the cheap knockoff cord I bought off eBay shows up before too long.


“Cevan, you damned, stupid, cowardly, putrid, wretched son of a bitch!” Roc tossed the
plate aside. “Why are you just standing there? Cook his ass like a chicken at dinner!”

Steelgod September: Day Twenty-One (3,461 words)

I have had a long day, and the chapter I wrote today freaking sucks. I had ideas for how it would work, but when I finally got around to writing it...it came up severely lacking. It happens, and I know it happens (this is what editing is for), but it still sucks.

Needless to say this has not been an awesome week for writing, in regards to quality. Quantity I have and in spades, but it really hasn't been that fantastic.

Still, I finished the chapter, and that means there are eight chapters left. I'm completely debating this scene even existing in its current state, but again that will have to wait for the edits.

Aside from that, I'm surviving school. I have my first real test Thursday evening. I'm in the volunteering groove full time. All in all, I'm extremely busy and quite stressed. Despite my love for writing, I'm going to be glad when September is over and I can take a break from Steelgods.

Speaking of which, I thought of many good ideas for the series whilst walking around campus and various other locations (I had lots of small burst of free time today, which I spent wandering around). Ideas about how to advance Cevan, what kind of person I want him to become, things like that. I think they'll work decent.

If I get over hating what I'm writing right now. Ah well, whatever. Tomorrow will be better, I hope. We are finally getting to the end of this thing. Climax of the novel: go!

Here's the bit. Try to not throw up.

I drew my sword, moving into the only stance I remembered Devent teaching me. I froze, however, upon seeing the weapons of the Gears.

The axes were pneumatically powered, the folded pieces unfolding into long weapons. They were at least a good seven feet long, thick, and made of brown steel. Set in two points along the shaft were collections of small holes, and it was over these that the Teeth pressed their hands. As they clenched, their gauntlets gave a small crunch, locking into place. 

What? I stared, both Creationist and sword-hands forward. There was a sudden blast of steam, the moisture hissing from between where the gauntlets and handle met. A sudden grinding sound, metal on metal, resonated from the axes. Within the three-pronged axe-head spun a circular blade. Gapes between axe-heads allowed the twirling, serrated weapon extensive leeway.  It spun faster and faster, steam escaping from its cracks as it accelerated.

I didn’t need a very active imagination to deduce what would happen should a rotating blade like that touch me. I’d never seen such technology before, in all my years in Tempered. It was far more advanced than anything west of the Biting Mountains, the range separating Tempered from Steel-Imbued. 

Steelgod September: Day Twenty (4,096 words)

Chapter ran long, but that is because of planning. See, I have ten chapters left (nine now), and ten days left. So I HAVE to get done what I say I'm going to get done or else I won't finish in time. So, I'm going to just write until my goal is accomplished, regardless of word count. I have a hunch it's going to usually be over.

I'm debating the end of this chapter. I got a little too excited about dropping steampunk hints, and might have put them in too soon. Or perhaps not; I'll see what I do with it. Needless to say, things are going to get interesting.

Now, onto a less positive topic: rejection!

Now that this is resolved I figure I can say it on here: I got a request for a manuscript about a month or so ago. And not just from anybody, from JABberwocky agency (Brandon's agency). Needless to say, I edited that bad boy and shipped it off. I took care to not get too excited about it, because rejection happens all the time.

Well, my prophecy was correct. I got a rejection letter today from JABberwocky. Damn.

I'm not too upset about the whole thing, mostly because I anticipated it. But it is hard to distance oneself from things such as this, especially when it is a culmination of a life's dream (and a potential career). Deep down, I do feel a bit sad that it didn't work out. Who wouldn't want to have an agent or and editor want your work? It's certainly something worth working towards.

This is only the...sixth rejection for Paradise Seekers thus far? I send out a good dozen and most haven't returned yet. I'm considering sending it to a few more places, once life slows down. I'll also send WGMD and Steelgods out once they are finished as well.

It is just unfortunate. One always thinks they'll get lucky the first time, not have to slog through fileboxes of rejection letters before finally breaking through. That just isn't the case.

At any rate, I am moving onward to bigger and better things. Like finishing Might of the Steelgods.

Which, by the way, I wrote THIS in today!

“What happened?” I pressed. “How did you take it [the Graffiti] from me?”

Roc shook his head. “You saw it twice, and you still don’t get it? Here’s a life tip: don’t try your hand at being a magician, or illusionist. You are terrible.”

“Spare me!” I groaned. “What did you do?”

“Think about it.”

I did. “You finished the abstract,” I concluded. “And that made it yours.”

“Exactly.” Roc wiggled a Tipped finger at me. I shook my head.

“But when I was trained, my instructor finished abstracts,” I remembered April drawing a tongue onto my smiling face many nights previous, “and they weren’t stolen.”

“And there’s the trick,” Roc smiled. “You can only steal someone’s Graffiti if you really want to. No slight desires, no half-assing it. You want to need it, more than anything. Then, when you finish it, it becomes yours.”

I was still confused. “But how did you ‘need’ my fire abstract? I can understand last night, but right now? It offered nothing for you.”

Roc rose his hands into the air. “Bluffer, you seem to forget. I’m a Gambler. I live my entire life based around theft, trickery, conniving schemes, and generally being a terrible person. Stealing is just something I do. I want everything. If I see something that I don’t have, or even that I do have, I need it. Thus, stealing your silly abstract means very little to me. I take it as easily as I draw breath.”

He pushed a finger to my forehead. I was grateful it was not a Tipped one. “You, on the other hand, are a sheltered little twit. You couldn’t steal something if it was practically handed to you. Since you aren’t nearly as morally ravaged as I am, you’ll probably never be able to steal an abstract in your life.”

Steelgod September: Day Nineteen (1,918 words)

Just under. My paper took longer than expected, as did studying, but mostly I felt really sick and got distracted by Starcraft 2 again. Maybe I should uninstall the game and make it a reward for finishing Might of the Steelgods. That's actually a fairly decent idea.

I have figured out the rest of the book, sort of. Tomorrow during a more boring class I'll probably write out a chapter outline, and then assign them to days. That way I'll have goals with my writing, and hopefully then I'll write more. Also, having and end in sight makes me write a lot better.

I realized that this semester, as far as real tests go, I only have two classes that have the textbook definition of "real tests" (my two gender courses). My other classes either have high point, in class quizzes, lots of writing assignments, or reports. So, that is actually a huge de-stresser, because it means I don't have to worry about stuff like that as often.

I still have crazy busy schedules, but not having lots of stuff due every time I turn around (minus my writing class) is certainly a relief.

Anyway, I have a test Thursday, so I'm going to spend my evenings studying. I am also really really going to try and write more, I swear. Maybe I should lock my Windows partition on my Mac and give Bec the password...then I'll have to ask her every time I want to play. There's an idea.

Fat quote tonight because I feel like it.

Roc punched the wall for emphasis, followed by him wincing and holding his hand tightly in pain. After shaking it a few times he spoke. 

“Fine. You win. I’ll teach you how to steal Creation.”

“Not good enough.”

“What!” Roc threw his hands in the air. “What the hell is wrong with you? You say one thing and then-”

“Oh, just calm down and listen!” I had lost all patience. “I just want you to swear it.”

Roc stopped ranting, and his eyes lit up. “Swear it? By what?”

“By...”

I paused. As I looked at the sudden glee that had taken the Gambler’s face, I came to a harsh realization.

He probably doesn’t believe in much of anything worth swearing to, I grit my teeth. He’s probably itching for an opportunity to break his word. I’d best make sure he swears by something he cares about.

Roc twisted a finger in circles. “By....what? Did you fall asleep on me, standing up? The Peacemakers? The Almighty Steelgods? My dear sweet mother? Name your oath, and I’ll commit.”

He doesn’t care about any of those things, I found it hard to think with my mind so tired. What could he...

“Swear by...” I had it, “your reputation.”