Out Of Bounds: So. Where does it stand?

[icarus]

A couple of people have asked, rather enthusiastically, when Out Of Bounds will be done. All I can do is repeat what I said back when I started:

June 2006. At the latest.

Okay, okay, so Out Of Bounds grew a little bigger than planned. These days when I open the whole thing in Word (Word says it's 308 pages) my hard drive fan starts whirring madly.

Out Of Bounds is a full-length novel. In a print layout -- single-spaced, indented, with 1" margins -- it will likely be 300-350 pages by the time I'm finished.

Where do we stand?

I've posted 120 scenes so far (about 112,000 words), have roughly (very roughly) 40 scenes left to post (just shy of 40,000 words). I have 10,000 words of that 40,000 already written (about half the summer) that I haven't posted yet.

How long will 30,000+ words take? I have no idea.

Before you say, "Awwwww...." -- especially the non-writers among my gentle readers -- let's put this in perspective. Think of the sgabigbang. An entire Big Bang story is a minimum of 40,000 words. The Big Bang authors started writing March 1st and have four months of breakneck work to complete their fic by the first week of July.

That is a brutal pace. Some will drop out. Most of these authors will barely make it -- and will probably alienate their loved ones those last two weeks. Now let's compare the sgabigbang with my current progress.

- For the Big Bang, authors are asked to have 15,000 words written between March 1st and May 1st. It is now April 23rd.
- Between March 1st and April 23rd, I wrote 16,000 words. 10,000 of those are scenes for the future so you haven't seen them yet.

The only reason I've been able to write as much as I have lately is through by cutting back on all fandom actitives (including posting to LJ) and eliminating all other fanfic projects (the bunnies must wait).

My betas and I have dedicated a lot of time to Out Of Bounds. We're busting tail. But. I am working part time, going to school full-time, and I have a thesis proposal due in June. I will not have much time to write until the middle of June (one reason I would never have signed up for the Big Bang this year). And the Big Bang stories won't be ready until August.

How quickly can I get a similar amount done without their deadline or that breakneck pace? I'm not sure. It depends on whether or not I get some clear air between now and then. I have the advantage of the fact that my story is already rolling. But I don't have the wind at my heels that comes with the obligation of a challenge so....

*F-list throws up their hands and starts walking*

Wait! I can sum it up in twenty words or less: It's long. But I'm doing my best. You like long, right?



ETA: Wow, thanks guys. I wasn't looking for encouragment. I've just had the feeling that there are some readers (especially among those who don't read WIPs) who think the finish line is right around the corner. Only if you consider 40,000 words a drop in the bucket.

Comments

[twistedrecesses.livejournal.com]

I've said it before and I'll say it again - I am in awe of your productivity and attention span.

Not to mention the fact that I really like the story :)

[crownglass39.livejournal.com]

Yes, long is good and I, for one, am willing to wait as long as you need as long as you still enjoy writing.
I still enjoy the hell out of reading this!

[lauramcewan.livejournal.com]

I have never started your story, but I think about it all the time, lol. You are on my list. :)

[jya-bd-cp-ttgb.livejournal.com]

Honey, it's been....two years? Since an update was posted for Mirror of Maybe over in HP AUland, and I've never once gone over to bug Blue about it. You'll finish when you finish, and until then, I'll beat up my own bunnies and read your journal for soundtrack ideas.

[auburnnothenna.livejournal.com]

I will not bug you to finish, even though I want to read it all to the end, now! (For values of now meaning after July - I'm one of the fools with the Big Bang hounds at her heels). It's like you say, you can let the other bunnies distract you and the other stories to read, or you can buckle down and write.

So I'm going to sit back and hope that about the time I've recovered from Big Bang (and made amends to everyone after that last two weeks of being a hellbitch) maybe you'll be winding up Out of Bounds.

And, Icarus, when you finish something that big and long? It is a great feeling. You wrote a book.

[ariadne83]

Just so you know, when this puppy is finished I'll be sorely tempted to have the whole thing printed and bound (damn you for mentioning 'novel') not that I'd ever do such a thing without permission.
Long is very good, when you have a fic like this. Carry on :-)

[tty63.livejournal.com]

If you keep writing I'll keep reading. Take as long as you need while still staying sane. *cheers you from the sidelines*

[percysowner.livejournal.com]

Well, I adore Out of Bounds and you update regularly, and I really feel that you will eventurally finish it. So all is right with the world. Take your time and make it good.

[roaringmice.livejournal.com]

I like long, yeah - if it's good. And this is *good*. Worth the wait.

People ask when it'll be done? Not rudely, I hope. Seems a strange question. It'll be done when it's done.

[princessofg.livejournal.com]

a pox on anyone who is nagging you in a way that deflates you instead of giving you voom.

voom to you!

*waves pompoms*

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Well, periodically I get someone who tells me "I'm waiting to read it when you're done." And I think, "Uh...."

[rabidfan.livejournal.com]

I am eagerly awaiting what ever makes it's way from your keyboard!

[bramble-rose.livejournal.com]

Long? I LOVE Long! I love Out of Bounds, and I'm so grateful for every piece you post.

[princessofg.livejournal.com]

hee. the last time i checked, nobody died from waiting for a fic.

i get that too, sometimes, because some people simply don't read wips. so yeah. i can see that, because if a wip never gets finished there are people who don't want to invest the energy. but some of my favorite stories have started out life as wips, but then, i'm a reader who will risk wips.

anyway. go you!

[nicocoer.livejournal.com]

We love you and we love the story, so however long it takes is fine in my (not-so)humble opinion. :D

All in its own good time...

[alfrenne.livejournal.com]

Oh gosh, timelines! You can't rush perfection. I'll happily wait however long it takes to live a normal life and still bust out thousands of words! Plus, the unexpectedness of the new scenes is fun. And while it will be very exciting to have OOB in its entirety, it'll be disappointing to have nothing to look forward to, so...this is my fave and least damaging addiction :) Long may it continue.(Not that I obsessively refresh or anything, though...)

Ps - thanks for Tibet perspectives. Dealing with the issues in the media can be confusing if, like me, you're mostly unsure of exactly what they are.

[caseylane.livejournal.com]

You do what you have to do to make yourself happy with the story. I promise once I start to read it I'll take my time and enjoy every word.

quick addition...

[alfrenne.livejournal.com]

you know what will be A Happy Day, though?

The day Out of Bounds gets podfic'd. Audio bliss. I refuse to believe other than some day, it shall verily come to pass.

*dreams*

In the meantime, I add my voom pompoms mentioned above to the mix.

[lttledvl.livejournal.com]

I have a friend doing that challenge and whoo...more power to her.

Sometimes it just takes time.

[iiyorinn.livejournal.com]

I knew it was long, but wow! That's a serious word count there. And you're doing this while working and going to school? That is dedication. Thank you :)

Btw, I know I don't post feedback much at all, but how quickly you finish this story (or even if you finish) has absolutely no bearing on how much I already love it :) Whatever your pace, it's wonderful and I'll continue to (re)read it regularly.

[rellan.livejournal.com]

As long as you keep posting, I'll keep reading. Don't care how long it takes. I did notice the Length of Doom that OofB has going for it. It will truly be monster when finished. So I'm kinda glad that I'm getting it in increments. ;)

Your John and Rodney rock!

[desolta22.livejournal.com]

One of my favorite stories.Just Thankyou for your talent and letting me lose myself in your writing.

[dossier.livejournal.com]

You like long, right?

*snicker* We LOVE long.

Deserve Encouragement

[mysticmcknight.livejournal.com]

You deserve all the encouragment you can get as you are taking on a momentous storyline and doing a wonderful job with it. As someone who writes long stories myself, it takes time plain and simple. The fact it's a WIP is clear and folks can read or not, you're doing your best on your website. Also, it's become part of my routine to check every so often for an update and go 'yea' when I find one. LOL.

Keep up the excellent work and when the last scene is done and posted, party! If you need any help in anyway, feel free to ask, though it sounds you have a good team behind you already.

Mystic