Writing Report Week 5 – Earth Splitter

There was no real delay with my writing today, and Friday is a day that I always look forward to and tend to excel no matter what. I do not know what it is about this particular day, but I feel unstoppable mentally and physically.

Friday 2 March Progress Report (Previous Report)

Word Target: 2,500

Words Written: 2,507

• Overview

Earth Splitter continues to be a challenge to write not because the story is hard or the words are difficult, but because of the sheer amount of content. It is hard to focus on one section at a time when I want to work on everything at once, but I force myself to stick to what I have in front of me.

Earth Splitter is part of The Elder Ones universe and, as such, the novel takes place on Earth-alternative, Terrus, which is derived from the Latin Terra. It is one my most complete and incomplete universes given that each book will focus on different aspects of the world to form a long, complex and coherent view of perhaps one of the most ambitious created worlds ever.

I know I sound arrogant when I speak of how ambitious the world is, but I need to have confidence otherwise I will become passive in how I write. I cannot recall of another Fantasy world quite like Terrus. While most Fantasy series tend to occupy the medieval space, I chose to base the plots of The Elder Ones in the Terrus equivalent of the late Renaissance. This allows me to open up a lot more options for how to deal with things while retaining an authentic feel.

On the other hand, the time period makes it much more complex to create the world as technology will change quite quick and the way the characters interact with the world is more focused on their morality rather than the way of the world.

For today, I spent most of the time building up the newest entry into the Terrus canon. The Kingdom of the Throne of the North has a heavy basis on William Wallace-era Scotland. The entire continent of Aylaan itself is meant to represent medieval Scotland and present them as a proud warrior race.

• What I Did Today

Today I kept to my plan I laid out last week. I finished up the Lords of Iron chapter and I am now working on Aeron Stonewall’s storyline again in the Throne of the North chapter. Most of the time found itself devoted to showing a secluded part of the world that is free from the terrors that plague Terrus .

• The Best Sample From Today

The best writing I did today are the two paragraphs that introduce the Throne of the North chapter. Together they form and paint a marvelous picture of what Aylaan is like as well as how the people would tend to react to a given situation.

The plains of Aylaan are some of the most luscious and diverse landscapes of all Terrus. Aeron smiles as his feet push the long grass aside. Seedpods cling to the hairs of his legs. It is impossible tell the exact number, but at least a dozen different species use Aeron as their first mode of transportation. The absence of fauna should come as no surprise to those familiar with the Aylaan culture. The inhabitants of the smallest continent hunted almost every wild animal they had to near extinction. Aeron knows the survivors have permanent homes on the far western borders of Aylaan where the grounds are nutrient rich. Aeron runs his hand along the tops of coarse flowers that form a miniature jungle over the yellow grasses. Such an act would not be possible on the roads.

Aeron does realise that the road would allow him to travel to his destination with the haste he requires, but he also knows that the presence of the Athenaeum means the roads would not be safe. That would be the first thing he rectifies when he reaches the Highlands. He never imagined he would return to the place where he became what he is.

The first paragraph is more about building the scene and giving the reader a sense that Aylaan is quite different to the frigid Kulvaan or the torrid Dragon’s End that feature in other chapters of the novel. A bit of the backstory of the people also shows itself and helps the reader understand more about the situation. It is nothing too overbearing for a reader.

The second paragraph is shorter, but is important for Aeron Stonewall as a character. I intend to give insight into the backstories of a certain character in each novel save for Sea Spray. For Earth Splitter, Aeron Stonewall is that focus. The way I write it leaves the reader wanting more and gives me a great chance to introduce people from Aeron’s past without overt reference to them early.

• How Productive I Felt I Was

Since I started work on Chapter 12: Throne of the North, I satisfied my goal for this week, though I made a few positive changes to the story. His plot, though it focuses on him, no longer has him as an individual character. Part of the reason for that change was I felt it would be impossible to carry a 20-page section of the novel with only gradual world creation. I feel it was a positive change to make and I am proud I made that decision.

I am getting better at making my word goal in the prime time I write in. The week seemed to build to a climax of writing today and I let it out in controlled segments. I find it is better to write with sporadic speed rather than focus all at once. The words come in a more natural manner and I can plan the next parts I want to write without writing, so they are edited to the high standards I have for Earth Splitter.

• What I Intend To Write Next Week

Next week is more work on the Throne of the North chapter and the advancement of several actions that will come into play in future novels. A lot of The Elder Ones is build up toward future events that occur in the timeline. It is a unique way to write, but it is always the way I envisioned The Elder Ones working. So long as I stick to what brought the series to life, I will have no issues next week.