Okay, I’m not yet finished with the rough draft of my epic (in several senses) fantasy novel, The Dinosaur Lords. But I’ve at last hit the final milestone before writing those most blessed words of tongue or pen, The End!
Another, slightly creepier take on Hesperonychus.
And after only six and a half years. Gee.
Now, it’s true that even when I write The End, the novel won’t be done done. it’ll still need rewriting. And the original writing is always by far the hardest part. Not to say there’s not a mess of doing left; the book may hit 275,000 words and near 1000 pages in draft. Which’ll get trimmed down.
The case with me – and what I still, after over a decade, struggle to operate in accordance with – is that I don’t know my story or my characters until I’ve told the story once. What I have struggled with is my perfectionism, which chokes me for fear I’ll do something, anything wrong. Which ironically is a foolish fear, because of what I said: I don’t know the terrain ’till I’ve walked it.
The key is: it will be done soon. At long last.
As a matter of fact – how about when I finish the draft – let’s not count too many eggs as laying – a quick once-over I start posting chapters here for your delectation? Plus you can offer helpful suggestions, spot typos, that kinda thing.
Let me know, please. And to all my friends and fans – thanks for sticking by me, and having faith. I will justify it.
More on yesterday’s post: Above is another take on our little friend Hesperonychus elizabethae. It’s credited directly to the discoverer, Nick Longrich, whom I perhaps unkindly characterized as Captain Obvious. (But, come on. “It’s basically a predator of small things”? What gave you your first clue?) He turns out to be at least something of a fanboy. Huge surprise.
Anyway, as opposed to yesterday’s cute li’l face-muncher – by the way, here’s the link to the article I foolishly forgot to put in yesterday – this version looks kinda creepy to me. More like something that would swarm over you and devour you alive by itty bitty bites. Or the minions of some evil villain.
Heh, heh.
I’m sure I’ll find a role for both versions in this sprawling Dinosaur High Fantasy Cycle I’ve embarked upon. Somewhere.
(Important Safety Tip: in this ficton dinosaurs are animals. And monsters; can’t forget that. They don’t talk or dress up in clothes or anything. Although the war-dinosaurs sometimes get additional armor after the fashion of Medieval war horses. So, yes, Ian: armored freakin’ dinosaurs!)
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I can’t freakin’ wait to read this book.
“how about when I finish the draft – let’s not count too many eggs as laying – a quick once-over I start posting chapters here for your delectation? Plus you can offer helpful suggestions, spot typos, that kinda thing.”
OOOOOooooh… Yeah – you can proofread your own stuff, but always have somebody else do it as well.
“(Important Safety Tip: in this ficton dinosaurs are animals. And monsters; can’t forget that. They don’t talk or dress up in clothes or anything. ”
Works for me. _Dinotopia_ was a tad “Vicinusaurus fredrogersii” for my taste anyway.
- M. \”/
Scott – Really? Cool. Thanks.
You won’t have to wait long.
Meowlin – Why, yes.
And I liked your “scientific name” for the Dinotopia approach. As when I characterize DinoLords as, “The Renaissance, with dinosaurs,” I want people clear there aren’t Deinonychus carrying rapiers and dressing like Lorenzo the Magnificent or anything. I mean, not that that doesn’t offer certain awesome possibilities; it just ain’t the story I’m telling.
Dude! LOOOOOVE the mouseover!
(I never said I was DEEP…)
L
“Deinonychus carrying rapiers”
Come to think of it, rapiers would be rather inferior to the weapons they come with naturally anyway. Maybe a slightly better reach.
(Onychectomies for city raptors? Eegah…)
- M. \”/
Larry – Glad you liked the Secret Mouseover Message.
If you haven’t done so, you might try checking out some of the other pics I’ve put up over the last few weeks.