clairefontaine notebook – Made by Meghan

I sent Reconstructionist 2 off to the editor for his story edit pass yesterday, which means that I have a few days in which to outline Reconstructionist 3. Unfortunately I made the mistake of showering and blow drying my hair this morning before work, so ALL THE STORIES waiting in the wings of my mind started clamouring for attention.

How many stories are waiting to be told?

Allow me to give you a visual:

These are my (current) notebooks, colour coded by series. The collection pictured above represents Reconstructionist 3, Dowser 7, 8, and 9, Necromancer 1, along with two more that I dare not mention by name because one might not happen and the second is rife with spoilers.

Yes. Seven novels. That’s easily two years of work.

Dutiful writer that I am, I distilled all the perfect scenes that had presented themselves to me in the shower (etc) into a few notes in each notebook. [Scenes are always perfect in my mind, it’s only once they hit paper that I get into trouble.] Then I put the notebooks away, leaving only Reconstructionist 3 on my desk.

So, just in case you were wondering, there is a long term plan. And I’m trying to stick to it!!

… handwritten!

I couple of months ago I completely splurged on some clairefontaine notebooks. It was a splurge, because I just scrawl out a first draft, copy it into the computer, and never touch the handwritten draft again. Nor am I interested in collecting such things, I usually recycle them. However, I found my hand aching – enough to be distracting – and had read that my fountain pen would be more compatible with this paper, and it totally is … smooth and lovely … my hand may still ache after a couple of hours, but not due to the pen/paper.

So today, just now – actually in the middle of a scene – I filled my first one of these notebooks. That’s 192 pages, averaging 200 words per page. So, 38,400 words completed on my newest novel, an urban fantasy, Cupcakes, Trinkets and Other Deadly Magic. I’m just beyond the midpoint, and have a habit of being more wordy in the set up than in the resolution, so I’m probably on track for a 60,000+ word novel. Super cool.

Okay … I’m off to grab a fresh notebook and finish the scene!