Monday 19 March Progress Report (Previous Report)
Word Target: 2,500
Words Written: 2,509
- Overview
Today I made the decision to write in two lots of work and I found it worked quite well. I wasted no time at any point and I feel that everything I wrote remained consistent in quality and contributed to the story, if only in a small way.
I laid out foundations for the future of the novel and built toward the climax of the introduction of the novel as the ESV Avenger blasted off for the first time. It is not a long sequence nor is it overtly descriptive, but it provides enough for the reader to feel as if they are there.
The milestone for this week was preparing to navigate into Act Two of the book and I am happy with how it turned out. I do not normally look forward to doing something, but today was something special that I have never done before, so it felt good.
- What I Did Today
Today focused on Kile acquainting herself more with her Intelligence Office L’u’us as he plays an integral role in the second act of the novel. While I did that, I indulge the reader in learning more about Expoletian technology as I built toward the big warp sequence that really kicks the story into fifth gear.
- The Best Sample From Today
The best sample is a doozy this week, but it feels appropriate for me to mention. It helps build the character of L’u’us without any dialogue while also showcasing Kile’s extensive knowledge of how Expoletian starships operate.
Julenn gave a firm nod and appropriated into my command position. I continued out of the bridge and took an immediate right into a slim alcove I did not notice before. It was common practice for the Intelligence Officer to situate themselves in an isolated area of any vessel. It allowed them to do their work in a quiet environment without fear of interference from unwarranted guests. I never expected L’u’us to set up behind the venting equipment, but I could see the strategy behind it. I was lucky I was quite slim as it made it easier to skirt past the various pipelines. Most of them carried some form of superheated fluid that staved off the frozen void of space. A primitive heating method, but the thousands of kilometers of pipeline allowed a vessel like the Avenger to carry more fuel than it would ever use in its lifetime. A large part of that is the effectiveness of the fusion reactors that power everything Expoletian made. I had a feeling that L’u’us would try to find out a way to improve every system he could even though he was not the engineering chief.
I wanted to invoke an industrial feel inside the bowels of the Avenger and give the reader a sense that this is standard practice for crew members. It also demonstrates how sometimes the most simple method is the most effective, in the case of how the Avenger receives its heating.
A keen eye would notice several strategies I employ to give the scene a more grandiose feel. The first being removing a sense of true scale. I always find that whenever a writer describes how big something is, as I sometimes do, it detracts from the feel of the scene. In this scene, the reader knows the sheer scale of the Avenger already, so for me to mention anything size related would be a moot point.
- How Productive I Felt I Was
The goal for last week was to launch the Avenger into space, and that was what this entire week built toward and I am more than pleased with how it turned out. I kept the warp sequence short and sweet without indulging in over-describing something. Ascension is meant for the reader to piece together the missing links based on the information I leave in.
My idea to split my writing into two lots this week was more effective than I imagined and it did something important – it kept my mind fresh and focused on the writing. I don’t feel as slugged down this week as would on other days. It is a trick I can use on any other day and I will consider implementing the strategy into my writing arsenal.
- What I Intend To Write Next Week
Next week builds into the first engagement with Rainer and the first look at how dire the situation is. A lot of the week will remain focused on continuing to develop character relations on the Avenger, which are the main focal point of how Ascension will deal with plot problems. I do not want Ascension to revolve around one dimensional characters, so it feels good to invest time into building the professional relationships of everyone and seeing how they react to certain situations.
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