S.A. Etter | The Official Website

Starting the Last One

Submitted by Stuart on Thu, 06/11/2009 - 12:40pm

Today I start my last chapter of my first draft.

I only have a few hours to write today (and then I'm going to the Caribbean!*), but I have a day off on Monday too, so hopefully I'll be able to finish the last chapter then.

As I've mentioned before, I've already started the revision process. I'm taking a fresh print out of part one with me on vacation, which is 15 chapters. I read through them a few months ago, but I still need to cut out a bunch more words. So, I'll be weilding my red pen while sitting on the beach. With a few Mai Tai's of course. I mean coffee. Yeah. Coffee... Ahem.

Why Some Chapters Don't Work

Submitted by Stuart on Sat, 05/30/2009 - 4:52pm

I had a really good week writing-wise, if you look at overall word count. I knocked out 3000+ words on Monday, and hoping to capitalize on the momentum, I took off two more days to write. Wednesday netted me another 2000+ words while Thursday was a bust at around 500 (this was partially due to coming down with a head cold).

However, the chapter I wrote on Wednesday will be scrapped because it fails as a chapter.

Keeping Your Promises

Submitted by Stuart on Wed, 05/27/2009 - 4:54pm

I've seen a lot of discussion on a few writer forums lately about frustrations over their endings. What do you do when you get to a point in your story --The End-- and it feels flat? Or your first readers don't get it? And the hardest question is: What do you do about it?

And if you think this post is about you, it's not. :) And not you either.

Unfortunatly, I don't have the answer, at least, I don't have it spelled out succinctly as a few guys I started listening to this week.

writing

The Tunes Get Dark Again

Submitted by Stuart on Mon, 05/25/2009 - 4:57pm

A few months ago, I mentioned needing less somber playlists because Nashlin's story starts on a much lighter note.

Well, that changes today. :)

To be honest, it changed about midway through her last chapter, but this one starts with fear and doesn't let up for a while.

Now, where are those horror film scores...

I need something, because right now I'm having trouble getting into her mindset. How does a 36 year old man get into the head of a 13 year old girl huddling in the corner, waiting for monsters to burst through the door?

Into the Groove

Submitted by Stuart on Mon, 05/25/2009 - 4:56pm

Well, I finally got into Nashlin's head and wrote nearly two thousand words before lunch. My break to eat was timed perfectly between the two phases of the chapter, with our heroes emerging from their escape and then turning toward their destination.

As a little Easter egg, I've named their destination after my critique group: The Silver Griffin. :)

Add new comment

writing

July, 22 2010

Echoes of Truth is revised and polished. I'm ready to start querying agents, the next step in seeing this novel published. In the meantime, work on the Condotierre is underway. I'm as excited to start this new book as I am to have finished my last.

September, 2 2008

SAEtter.com version 2.0, the Professional Edition is now live! Feel free to explore the new site and features.

While reading The Fellowship of the Ring at the age of twelve, Stuart A. Etter was told by his teacher that he should be reading shorter books. Undaunted, he finished the trilogy and promptly moved on to other novels ranging from fantasy/sci-fi to historical fiction to horror to thrillers.

Prologue: The Prisoner

Damion rubbed the dull ache of age from his hands. Countless years wielding a sword had strengthened his tendons and muscles, but time had worn them down, replacing power with chronic pain. Closing his eyes, Damion dreamed of his youth. Battle and victory marked most of his memories, but darker images tainted his successes, reminding him of his one great...