Diary 26/5/11

I've started the draft properly - I think it's safe to say my research and planning phases are nearing an end - but I'm still reading On Writing by Stephen King. Although a large portion of the book failed to help me (since I'm quite happy with my style), the sections on motivation, workflow and commercial success really helped me to wade through the thick of planning I'd encountered. My story so far is sitting on an immense mythos and background now, and a few chapters of cynical first person present tense writing (something along the lines of Fight Club or Sin City). I've come to accept that my decisions will culminate in some violence and coarse language - both frequent and substantial - but I continuously remind myself of its necessity to the plot and to avoid gratuitous embellishments. Everything of a graphic nature must serve a purpose, both literally and plot-wise. My other struggle is that inclusive nature of my story - how else can I explore the introspective ventures of the protagonist without ignoring the politics of the plethora of transcendent characters.

Diary 5/6/11

Haven't had a chance to work on the draft yet - the lethargy of the holidays and the amount we have planned isn't helping either. I have too many ideas, to the point that simple decisions will drastically change the outcome of the novel. Do I steer my work in the direction of the philosophical exploration of the notions of death and free will in a modern perspective, or focus more on the narrative of an enthralling transcendent setting? I'm leaning towards the latter, since the former will probably not be enjoyable enough to motivate myself to write. I'm going to have to push forward through the discomfort to find something tangible.

Diary 31/5/11

Into first draft. Should have majority of early chapters planned by the time I get back from Melbourne. Considering taking the laptop with me, but it would be a good time to work on refining the synopsis.

As it stands, the plot needs work. I have a setting, characters, and a goal. How the latter is reached is currently undecided. I've broken up the plot into three "acts" which I can edit and submit as individual entities. I plan to have act one finished and edited for exam review.

Currently, the synopsis is as follows:

- Adam (protagonist) spends his last few days at school before the end of term. He returns home to and unsettled domestic environment (largely his fault) and - after a fight with his step-mother - leaves for the neighboring town where his brother Stephen lives.
- On the train, he has an accidental encounter with his guardian Qalhet that changes Qalhet's approach to the prophet situation. He chooses not to kill Adam within the planned time, although Adam is not aware.
- After living with Stephen for a few days, another agent is dispatched (under the guise of a courier) but kills Stephen instead of Adam. Overcome with grief, Adam murders the courier and pursues his brother's soul into the misery.
- He is withdrawn by Qalhet and awakes on the floor of the corridor, drenched in his brother's blood and cradled in the demon's lap.

That is all that has been refined so far.
1. Stephen will be buried and Adam is forbidden from contacting the family.
2. The demon Bakr is sent after Qalhet and Adam.
3. Qalhet and Adam flee Australia and meet another of Qalhet's friends in London.
4. They are intercepted and only Adam escapes, and must continue alone.
5. (Act II)

(Note: Adam cannot travel safely by airplane since there is no means of escape.)

Back-Logs

So I've been away from the computer a bit, and started keeping a physical diary to continue tracking the project. While progress on the project all but stopped in the weeks leading up to and during exams, I've started the ball rolling on the development of the draft now.

I'll be posting some of the more relevant diary entries, since some are nothing but arbitrary notes.

Keep watching.

Neil Replies...

In awesome news, Neil replied to my email. I'm ecstatic about this development and it's a huge boost to morale and motivation in my project.

And to the lovely Lululucas, I hope this answers your question :)

3... 2... 1... Prophet is a go.

Good news. Prophet has been started. I'm just fleshing out a rough draft, but keep checking back as I work through the first few chapters:
(Click for link).
Prophet live document.
Notes:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EqpeqT0TUombvS_Lr-_Uf55YKInct36WN6ukxc2Pnz0/edit?hl=en&authkey=CIvK08MH

Update: Concept Documents

Just thought I'd share some of these unfinished first chapters. They're simply evidence of my conceptual stage when I was playing with the three ideas. I'll withhold what I've done on Prophet until the first draft. These are live documents so if I continue any of them, you'll find the links will remain here:

{Links temporarily down}

The latter was a far more substantial attempt, but still far from a first draft. I thought I'd share these just so you can all see what a story of mine looks like before it ends up as something like Ketsueki.

I think rubbish might be the term.