Updates: Nathan thinks back about crap he wrote and is writing.

It'll probably be easier if I just do this by book. Helps organize my thoughts, too.

Where Gods and Mortals Dance


I'm considering my (hopefully soon) edit of this, and trying to figure out what needs to be fixed and how. I currently have come to a few conclusions (which I'll try to keep spoiler free):
- The first 1/3 needs to be condensed and fixed. This was because about 2/3rd of the way through the first 1/3 of the book (confused by the fractions yet?) was when I really figured out what was going on with regard to Dire's politics. Now that I have an idea, I can rewrite it to make it less...boring.
- There needs to be a part between the current Part 1 (Condemned) and Part 2 (Voice). Specifically, Part 1 needs to focus on Ailene's distrust of Dratan (a theme never really brought into focus) and then a more detailed evaluation of their plans and how they come into fruition.
- Part 2 works currently, but needs some trimming. Also, Ralf's entire involvement in the scheme needs to be clearer, something that would hopefully be fixed in the yet-unwritten Part "1.5."
- Part 3 is, to me, almost perfect. It could be a bit longer, explaining the two factions that take Dire over after the...*ahem* rather dramatic plot twist at the end of Part 2. Also, the ending reveal could be hinted at more. Or not, because I'm considering doing a sequel (The Truth Behind His Voice) should this ever go anywhere.
- Also considering rewriting the Epilogue from Useless's POV. Or not. As of now, there are two chapters total from the Useless God's POV, the first real chapter and the last real chapter. Actually, I like that. Forget what I just said.
- Fixing the Dratan/Ailene relationship, but I already figured that out.
- Random thought: I'm considering starting the book with Ailene already usurped, or something to that effect. Though, I suppose having her city Condemned is an exciting start, it just...is slow going. We'll see.

Writing this got me pumped to edit it. I'll also have to do something about the 4044 "ly" words in the stupid book. It runs at 186k currently, and I'm afraid even after extensive edits it might end up longer. I seriously think this is the best book I've written (it is certainly my favorite, even over Paradise Seekers), and I'd like to have it in a state I'd feel comfortable sending it to agents/editors.

Paradise Seekers


- Still editing, about half way through my extensive edit. So far, I've not added much to the overall plot, though I have been cutting sentences like crazy. The plan is that, once I finish this edit, I'm going to print it out again (just for me though), grab a red pen, and go through figuring out which parts to just straight up chop out. I need to cut it's length to about 65 or 60k, so I'm gonna do it.
- I have this love/hate thing with the novel. Not with the story, but my prose. Sometimes I feel like I write great, and other days I completely despise it and think I should just quit and get a real job. I have no idea what the deal is with this.
- Despite me dissing it, Paradise Seekers really makes me want to write more YA, specifically some fast-paced YA series. I have an idea of one currently, and with Effulgent Corruption slowly trying to die, maybe I'll do what I did with Paradise Seekers (read: plan the first book in the Might of the Steelgods series while writing Effulgent Corruption, then blast through it with a month as my goal). Here, I'll devote a section to it.

Might of the Steelgods (Book 1)

- This is my YA series that I've been considering. It would probably span any number of books I wanted it too, as the setting and characters make it ripe for multiple adventures. It's a sci-fi/fantasy hybrid, which is cool, and is in first-person.
- As stated above, I'm considering just extensively planning the novel as I did with Paradise Seekers, then taking a month off from Effulgent Corruption to write this entire book. A 70k novel only requires about 2,500 words a day to be finished in a month, which I could totally do if I forced myself. It would be a fun goal, and would give me something else to show agents/editors if they didn't like Paradise Seekers.
- We'll see what happens with this. Maybe September will be "Steelgod September."

Effulgent Corruption

- As you can guess, I haven't gotten anywhere on this novel. Again. What the crap. Even though I've planned the whole thing (and even have some crazy-cool ideas for my main character that I want to implement), I'm stuck. Probably because I'm having issue telling myself "It's a rough draft. Just write it." Especially since the next few chapters involve Drake in prison and prison politics, and as stated above politics are not my strong suite yet (see WGMD). It makes me anxious, so I don't write for fear of screwing it up.
- Despite my stupidity, I had a few plans for this novel. While the first will be a standalone, this is another book I could see easily developing into a 5+ series of novels. The setting and ideas are way too good for just one book, and I think it would be good for me.
- I really like all the ideas in this book, but for some reason I'm sucking at it hardcore. Maybe Steelgod September is a good idea, then I can get back to this in October.

Lacrymosa


I know right, WTF? My first book? Why is this on here? For a good reason...

- I want to rewrite it, as a YA novel. Really. I'm going to do it. But not for a while, I'm just considering it currently.


THE GENERAL IDEA


Here's the plan, people.

- For the rest of August, I'm not going to write anything new. That way, if I don't, I won't feel guilty about it. Instead, I'm going to focus on finishing all the remaining Paradise Seekers edits, and plan Might of the Steelgods (yes, I'm outlining. Hush now)
- September is now "Steelgod September", aka, I'm going to write the first Might of the Steelgods book in one month. 2.5k a day minimum. Gonna happen, people.
- After that, business as usual. Back to Effulgent Corruption, yada yada.

So there you have it, Nathan's life goals. Plus, school, work, all that other good stuff. Maybe I'll survive this fall. Maybe not. Oh well.

A Brief History of Myself as a Writer

I decided that for those who are new to the blog, it might be beneficial to know more about me as a writer, including my past projects, current projects, and future projects. Keep in mind this is meant simply as a basic introduction as of the day of posting, and may not be updated as time progresses.

My name is Nathan Major. I am currently twenty-four years old, and finishing my last semester at Brigham Young University in Utah. I'm married to a wonderful woman named Rebecca. I was born and raised in central California, in the town of Paso Robles. It was there I first began writing, both in school and under the guidance of my mother. I remember, for fun, she'd assign both me and my brother "30 Minute Writes," where she'd give us a title only, and then we'd have 30 minutes to expound on that writing prompt in the form of a short story. It didn't take long for me to have reoccurring characters and themes, regardless of how odd the titles were. After finishing and some editing, the best of these short children's stories we compiled into a short book, which we bound. I still have it on my shelf, and often consider it my first "complete" novel.

My passion for writing continued, though I never really embraced it until 2006. It was then that I first read the novel Eragon by Christopher Paolini. After reading it, I thought to myself, "Hey, I have a lot of ideas for a novel, and I know how to write! I bet I could write something as good as this and get published!" Perhaps not the best way to get started, it certainly worked.

For the next three years, I worked on my first novel, Lacrymosa, based on ideas and concepts my friend and I (a writing buddy from years ago) had thought up. It was slow going; I even took almost an entire year off (2008) and didn't write anything in it. Luckily, my work ethic has improved since then. I finished it in April of 2009. At around 150,000 words, it was my first full-length novel.

Lacrymosa was intended to be the first in a trilogy, revolving around a war between a winged, magical race called the Ala, and a mechanical, steampunk race called the Orion. The Orion had long been Ala slaves, but this changes when a girl named Lilly, an Orion raised by the Ala, essentially defects and joins the Orion's resistance. While certainly a first novel and riddled with the issues that entail that (one of the members of my writing group even described a particular scene as "High School Musical: Ala"), it was still a first, finished work, which was a huge leap for me. I could finish a novel, and so I would continue to do so.

Determined write more, I began my second novel, Harbinger, on April 1, 2009. It was then I discovered that a good technique to help me write was forcing a daily word-quota. For this experiment, I resolved to write a minimum of 500 words on weekdays, 1,000 on weekends, all while working a full-time job. I finished on June 30, meaning I wrote a full length novel in under three months (by one day!). It ran at around 100,000 words total.

Harbinger was my first attempt at complete discovery writing, as well as a generous mash-up of genre blending. Described as "Vampire Wild West Cowboy Angels," it takes the standard Western setting and fuses it with copious amounts of Fantasy elements. While certainly not the best book ever written, it proved I could meet a word-count, and finish a second novel. It also helped me realizes my style of writing: discovery writing, with a touch of planning when necessary.

Where Gods and Mortals Dance is my most recent work, after taking July - December of 2009 off. Starting as the school semester did in January, it was my attempt to write something polished enough to be publishable. It also was an experiment to take me away from two key things I'd had issues escaping in my previous books: guns and magic. Focusing less on fighting and more on religious and political intrigue, as well as character development, WGMD also wanted to reaffirm the belief that I could write a novel quickly, and with a deadline. After the semester in the beginning of April, I committed to writing a minimum of 5,000 words a day until it was completed, no matter what. A month later, on May 4, Where Gods and Mortals Dance was completed. Clocking it at a whopping 188,000 words, written in just over 100 days, it is my longest work yet, and easily my best.

The last of the royal family, Ailene’s world is one of mystery and danger. Eight wandering gods roam the city-kingdoms of Octavia, a visit from the gods bestowing blessings or curses based on their purpose. Six years ago, the Condemning god came to Ailene’s city of Dire, casting the provence into a mess of assassinations, poverty, and heresy. Her family dead and kingdom overthrown by the man she once loved, Ailene seeks help from those who she’d least expect: a brilliant blind crew-leader and former street urchin named Dratan, and the Useless god, the only god without a purpose. As Ailene and her new allies seek to reclaim the throne, they begin to uncover a centuries-old plot that will shake Ailene’s faith, her loyalties, and the very foundation upon which Octavia is founded.

Currently, I am writing another experiment. Tentatively titled Paradise Seekers, it is a YA novel set in the first-person perspective, both of which I've never done before. Meant to be both a distopia and a philosophical novel, the book focuses on the boy Sam, who awakens to find himself without any memories of his past, save the same dream he has every night. He is welcomed into this new world by a group of similarly-aged teenagers, who call themselves Paradise Seekers. Living in a veritable utopia in the walled town of Haven, Sam's life seems to be perfect. He even becomes close friends with a new Paradise Seeker, Julia. However, as the dream becomes darker and truths about where they actually are come to light, Sam realizes his choices may influence more than he knows.

Following Paradise Seekers, I am currently planning my fourth and fifth adult fantasy novels, part of a series called Effulgent Corruption. I won't give too much away now, besides they are a two-book set, focusing on a world where the gods have died and left quite a mess in their wake.

That is about all there is to know about me. I will probably post more about my style of writing, as well as particular points of writing that stick out to me during the weekly Ramblings on Writing.