As I started writing my fanfic, I have been using word prompts for each chapter, to help keep track of what my goal was for each chapter. I always wrote a chapter titled. But as I work on my book, I come to a realization. Maybe my chapter word prompts are working against me.
As I write I feel the chapters might be too short. And they don’t seem to satisfies me. I feel the chapters are missing something, or overall too short. That says a lot for a chapter of avenge of 2,000 to 3,000 words. While my longest fanfic chapter is currently at 5,700 words. But even that sometimes feels too short.
Maybe I’m too focused on the prompt to not let me express more in the chapter. When I do write a long chapter (back to 5,700 words) I feel very satisfied with it. I feel the chapter started on a good note. The character interactions are well defined. Moments are also well written. My fanfic and book are written as a first-person POV. And I want to capture each characters’ viewpoint.
As I started my fanfic I was trying to rush through, to get to the real source of the story. Since I started with Goku and Chichi’s first meeting as children. But I wanted to capture their married life. I also wanted to give more perspective on their personalities.
But as I’m writing my book, it has come to my attention this strategy won’t cut it. I would need to write slowly. Especially to define these unseen characters. Since the only way to know how each character looks is through the eyes of a different character.
For example: for the majority of the being is through the eyes of a soldier. With him, I have to describe to you the other main characters, that come into play. But if I rush through the description, and how his mind is thinking, it would be difficult to know who is the other character. I also give hints of their self-awareness. But before I could change to a different character, I need to give a clear picture of who the next character is.
As I’m building this world, I’m working too fast that certain things don’t line up. Also, with the word prompt as my base for each chapter, I’m trying to fit the chapter to that, and not to the last chapter. I try making it line up, but it doesn’t always match.
I also write ideas for each chapter, and what I want to add. That seems to help me more. Since it’s like a guideline, and I could work around it. I’m even thinking about taking chapter titles away from my fanfic. I’m even thinking of combining my current book chapters. I so far have 5, and working on 6. If I combine, I would probably have 3 full chapters. Of course, I would have to edit them to flow better into each other. But the bottom line is that I would feel like I wrote a satisfying chapter. If I feel satisfied with it, I know I’m on the right track.
I love reading, and always feel something is missing when chapters are too short. When I worked on my first ever book, it was not only rushed. I was missing a lot of key points, and even jumping around along. Nothing flowed or even worked right. It also felt like fanfic for another anime I like; Inuyasha. Don’t get me wrong. I’m very proud of it. And even would like to revamp the whole concept. My current project was always meant to be the second book to it. But it’s not going to be, completely. I do plan to bring that book into a new light, but a completely new way. For those curious to want to know what book that was, it’ll be linked at the bottom.
Thank you again for the reading blog.
Xexiar 