Writing Out Of Bounds. Oh, my.

[icarus]

Last night I wrote a couple of key scenes to appear in the later part of Out Of Bounds, and realized...

Oh.

Oh, wow.

If my final scene count turns out to be anything like my outline, I only have 30 more scenes to go. Given I just posted scene 152, my scenes are 1,000 words each, and I've written 30,000 word stories very, very quickly before, that's pretty damned close.

It's doable. I can finish Out Of Bounds this year. I could even, with persistent effort, writing a scene a day, finish Out Of Bounds this month.

Okay, the latter's not likely. But the end is in sight. The story is there.


ETA: Oh, ah, oops, clarification. I've created a misconception here because of the way I tend to write.

I skip around and write later scenes when an earlier scene is stuck, to write while it's fresh and keep myself moving. So I have only 30,000 words left to write. But you have 40,000 words left to read.

See, 10,000 of that is scattered throughout the rest of the story, like stepping stones in the stream. What's left to post is about the length of your average Big Bang fic.

No need to start mourning the end of the fic. 40,000 words is still a small novel and plenty more for you to enjoy.

Comments

[winterthunder.livejournal.com]

I'm looking at a similar distance to the end of my novel. It's a little scary, honestly...

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I actually feel exhilarated. It's been over two years now.

[rike-tikki-tavi.livejournal.com]

On one hand, that's awesome. Congrats! *gets out the confetti and does a preliminary victory dance*

On the other hand, what are we going to do once you're done? OoB updates have been part of my lj experience for such a long time. In fact, I just checked and I've been reading OoB for more than half the time that I've had an lj.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

You know, that's what enname said when I contacted her in chat to tell her: "But... the world will come an end. No more Out Of Bounds updates."

I swear, people have joined and then left the fandom in the time I've been writing this story.

I think I'll write a whole slew of shorter fics. I'll... I'll sign up for challenges I haven't had time for.

Wait, wait. No counting chickens yet.

[nicocoer.livejournal.com]

congrats!

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Well, no congratulations yet. But it has come into the real of doable, whereas before there was so much more that needed to be written.

And there are scenes like islands in the middle of it all. Skipping ahead. Making the whole thing seem easier and lighter. I don't have 30 scenes to write. I have three. And then I hit a scene I've already written. And then I have six scenes, before I hit another I've already written. And then....

[nicocoer.livejournal.com]

I know, but it is good to be able to see the end of the tunnel- it's been how many years? Two? Quite an undertaking! :) :) :)

[inkscribe.livejournal.com]

That's awesome! I admit that I haven't started to read this yet in part because I'm awaiting the finish. ;-) (Yes, I know, the irony of being a writer likewise not done an insanely long WIP does not fail to strike me, lol!).

I do look forward to starting on it at some point, and possibly even before you get to the last posting! :-D

(And no, I still haven't read your mcshep_match fic or the Big Bangs yet from this year. Yes, I am very very very far behind!).

[princessofg.livejournal.com]

*cheering*

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Yay! *bounces around* The rest is down to a manageable size, like one of my normal stories.

[bramble-rose.livejournal.com]

Wow, I'm both glad for you because I know this has pretty much eaten your life (and me because I want to know the ending), but sad because I don't WANT it to end *sniffle*

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Awww. There will be more stories. Plus, there's a slew of people who've told me that they won't even start it until it's done.

[rabidfan.livejournal.com]

I will personally miss the updates (and the challenge :) ) but I can understand how exciting that light at the end of the tunnel must be!

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I might feel that way later, but right now, I like the sense that people who've said they'll wait until it's done (with the implication that they don't read WiPs because so many aren't finished) will read it. They will actually read it. Because there will be a finished, complete story for them to read.

[rabidfan.livejournal.com]

An incredible, fantastic completed story for them to read!

[lavvyan.livejournal.com]

This is so exciting! While I'm somewhat sad at the prospect of seeing the story end eventually, I'm also looking forward to sitting down one day and reading the whole thing in one go. ♥

[mad_maudlin]

::applause!::

Would you ever consider doing a post on your outlining methods? I've yet to find something that really works for me (though the Snowflake method comes close) and so I figure the next best thing to obsessively read about what everybody else does.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Sure!

I'd call it a "re-outlining" method, because you outline and then re-outline and then re-outline....

[tonicollins.livejournal.com]

Oooh, yeah! While I have been sampling some entries I am waiting to print out this novel and read it all in one, nice, long, satisfying, weekend. I look forward to hearing of it's completion and congratulate you in advance. I can barely write a paragraph, let alone such a wonderful au of such a worthwhile length.