Breaking up is hard to do
A quick update to move things along after the prevous post.
I sent Ch3 off to the editor a couple of days ago. I haven’t finished Ch6 yet, but I made an important decision. The erstwhile Ch6 has grown to 18k words, and I still have ~4k left to write before I close out the mini-arc. So, I could cut the hell out of it to get it to a “super-sized” chapter of ~15k words, or I could chop it in half and call it 6 & 7. I chose the latter.
I have a logical stopping place for the new Ch6, which makes it a 10k-word chapter (my general goal for each chapter is 10k-12k words). It covers lots of macro time, but then goes micro for the end. Here’s a teaser for you: the micro time takes place at The Pines.
The new Ch7 will be completely micro time, with Paul (and a friend) at camp. With ~4k words left to write for the new Ch7, it should end up at ~12k words… my usual goal.
Now, before anyone suggests that I just publish a single 22k-word chapter, let me nip that in the bud. First and foremost, that’s a big chapter, and it’s a lot of work to edit, review, re-write, etc. Trust me, I know. My blockbuster chapters are double or triple the work of a regular chapter. And mental work is just as tiring as physical work.
So I don’t like huge chapters. They’re draining, and they leave me in the mood to do something else. Anything else. None of us want that. So, no 20k+ chapters.
Look for Ch3 in the next 7-10 days, maybe sooner, maybe later. It’ll be a surprise when it gets here.
I still want to get back to my “usual” schedule of a chapter every three weeks or so. Ch6 caused a hiccup with the schedule, though. I need to conclude the Paul-and-friend-at-the-Pines arc within a single chapter, but there’s just too much to cover. I could trim it, but not by half. So, my schedule expanded along with the Ch6 word count.
If I can finish the new Ch7 before I publish Ch3, I’ll have a four-chapter buffer, which is my minimum comfort level. Then I can get back to my regular pace, and try to release a chapter every three weeks or so. No promises and no firm dates, but that’s what I shoot for.
Anyway, that’s the update. Thanks for reading.
- Nick
Comments
33 Responses to “Breaking up is hard to do”
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Is this book going the way of the 20 chapters max book 3 Nick? =P (btw i wont mind at all)
I’ve been reading SC for 4 years now. I got my now wife into it about 3 years ago. We both love your work and are very understanding of your posting schedule. We both look forward to your next chapter but don’t rush it. The last thing any of us want if for you to burn out. So, take the time you need and post when you can and We be happy.
Thanks for the great writing you do,
Sunshine and Wallie
thanks for the updates nick. we all love and appreciate your stories, so take as much time as you need to.
Wow, what can I say? This is what I wished for, a small heads-up to when the next chapter will be here. The excitement is rising!
I must say I hope the chapters stay below 15k, since this also make them easier to read. I prefer a 15k-a-chapter 30-chapter book to a shorter book with big chapters any day.
Keep up the very good work and keep 99% of us happy, not counting the ungrateful few.
Howard, Norway
I’ve actually read that mental exhaustion is WORSE than physical exhaustion, lol. So please get your rest, so we can continue to enjoy your writing at whatever pace you feel comfortable with.
To agree with Howard, I also like the shorter chapter, more chapters per book style. And as impatient as I am for the next chapter, this is working out much better for me. When I started reading you, both books one and two were already complete and completely published along with about half of book three…sounds like a good deal, EXCEPT…I’m the type who can’t put a book down once I start. And that’s bad enough with an actual paper book, but when one sits and reads literally hundreds of thousands of words on a computer screen in pretty much one sitting….well, it’s no suprise that my eyes are still getting worse each time I go back to the eye doctor. So thanks for making ME wait. I won’t speak for others, but I can’t really afford to put my life on hold to read however many chapters B4 will be when it’s done in one sitting. I like to savor things that give me pleasure, and since I don’t really always have the self control to do that on my own, I’m glad you’re doing it for me even though that certainly isn’t your goal in taking your time.
@Hamatar
Yes, it will be 20 chapters… just like B3.
:-p
- Nick
Thanks for the update, Nick. I guess I can stop ‘camping’ on the Book 4 index page for a day or so…
Nick,
Nice teaser.
I can’t wait to see the speculation in the forum. In the immortal words of Mr. Burns - “Release the hounds!”
Thanks for all you do.
co2
Nick,
As was already stated, please take your time. I would rather endure a wait and get the quality product you have consistantly provided than have you burn out and get poor results or nothing at all. Once again, thank you for even doing this. Especially for free! You-da-man Nick!
Chris
Given your excellent planning skills, I would have thought you already had 20 chapters mapped out and breaking a chapter in two, would result in an extra chapter… more the better for us readers.
Nick,
I wish you wouldn’t speak of “nuking” your text and “cut(ting) the hell out of it”; parallels using the dead sea scrolls to fuel a sheep herder’s cooking fire.
Bob
@Bob
You wrote:
LOL! Thanks, but… I’m not writing the Dead Sea Scrolls.
My first drafts are usually 90% “there,” but there’s a big difference between 90% and 99%.
In other words, 90% of the work takes 10% of the effort, and the remaining 10% of the work takes 90% of the effort.
We used to say that about software development, but it’s true about many things, including my writing.
My first drafts are pretty good, in general, but they’re far from being ready for public release. My team and I do a lot of polishing and tightening. Necessary polishing and tightening.
When this is all over and my team is more or less public, I’ll let them tell you about it. But for now, you’ll have to trust me when I tell you that cutting and nuking are a good thing.
- Nick
Well Nick, I just wanted to drop a line and tell you that I just started reading the stories about a month ago, and I couldn’t put em down!!! (Figuratively, of course, as they are on the net :P) I absolutely LOVE them!!!! It is hard to find quality erotica on the net, but you have the perfect balance of sex and story, and it is great!!! Can’t wait for the next chapter!!!
Much love of the story,
Angelis
Nick,
What is a “mini-arc”?
Carl
Apols if asked before, but why have you not published your stories? Or have you, under another name?
Nick:
I was about to say “Take your time; don’t burn yourself out,” but about 50 people beat me to it. (I know, I’ve been told a billion times not to exaggerate.) Anyway, like Bob, I cringed when you said you were thinking of “cutting the hell” out of the chapter. I know that you said that cutting and nuking are a good thing, but I still think that your worst efforts will still be an order of magnitude better than the crap that a lot of so-called writers foist on the unwary reader.
Please keep up the great work (and work on that PayPal account).
Nick,
Thanks for the update, and good luck with Ch 7. I’m like most folks and admit that I’d love to see it all right now, but know that the good stuff is well worth waiting for.
And I second the motion on the PayPal account. Your writing is excellent, and should you ever turn pro and start selling books, I’d be happy to cough up some cash for them. Yes, I know you do it for the love of the work, but you need to know that your stuff is *very* marketable, quite a bit better than some of the stuff I see at B&N these days in the fiction section.
Keep up the good work, and keep pacing yourself!!
This is cool, the diehards “take your time”.
Hope you do not waste your time with the idiots.
Karen
Ps my husband enjoys the stories too!
YAY! Chapter 3 is almost here! Thanks for all the hard work
You can’t rush creativity, and you can’t force words. You also can’t work without rest, and certainly can’t do it without time for yourself.
Keep up the pace you feel most comfortable, as the true fans will be here to read when you post. Those who left or who respond negatively don’t deserve your fine prose.
All good wishes,
AL
I totally agree that 22k is too long for a single chapter. The cold reality too is that when you publish in a serial formal, splitting chapters buys you time in your posting schedule. Readers mainly want something new with fairly regular frequency, and 10k words is plenty for a post.
The more I write, the more I find that starting to write is easy - it’s finishing and editing that are hard!
Nick,
Like the some of your readers I have been reading your stories for some time now and will look forward to the release of Chap 3, but agree don’t over work them little grey cells
Mick
Nick,
I rarely write on the blogs (and this is a first - please be gentle with me) and have read almost all your blogs and as always I have gone thru the site about a gazillion times trying to glean information about the “wife” and who has passed on. (Remember the old Ellery Queen mysteries where the author asked if you knew “whodunit” and then cut to a commercial? Do that and you’ll drive all of us crazy.) I have read your stories from the time you posted chap 5 of book 1 on ASSTR a long time ago. I waited patiently and knew that you would post sometime and therefore never worried about it - and I still don’t worry. I check out the POD, the babes, and see if you have added onything to the aviation funnies. The point of my comments are that the younger readers of today have had everything condensed for them. Many have not read Asimov (who took decades to write a sequel on the the Foundation series) or Tolsoy and the Rings and I imagine have only watched the movies of the Rings and Potter series because they are too busy to sit down and read something in depth. Can you imagine the bloodcurling screams if you annouced you were going on hiatus for 7 months? If you feel you need to get away - I need some help on a bathroom remodel project and could you or Paul or Trip come down and help? Now that Abby is available maybe she can come over and help (yah - before or after my darling loving spouse ,,,, oh.. hi dear)
Seriously, relax; take a breath; and envision the fuckwits neck between your hands… feel better?
Take your time - I don’t plan on leaving anytime soon. If I happen to die before you finish - I’ll just haunt you for the answers.
now - where are the “fuckwits?” lemme at em. I can be the fuckwit whacker.
WOW! I just read Chapter 3 and I’d just like to say that you’re an amazing author… all of the characters seem impossibly realistic. I have NO idea how you do it, but PLEASE keep it up!
Great chapter 3, Nick. Once again you have left us hanging, wanting more.
You wonderful bastard, you!
So, would it be a bad thing if, now that we’ve read Chapter 3, we guessed at the “friend” who visits The Pines with Paul? It’s kinda obvious I’d say!
Abby goes with Paul to see if she can develop a wilder side and win back Trip!
So Nick, if you never thought your writing affects your fans, I have proof that it does.
I just woke from a dream this morning where I bumped into Professor Joska on campus. I told him that I knew Paul and thought he’d like to hear that one of his students had won 2 scholarships that Joska had recommended the student apply for. I tried to play it cool because I figured that Paul wouldn’t want Joska to know how excited he was and how much he appreciated Joska’s mentoring.
I woke up from the dream saying “Now who the hell is Professor Joska? Holy crap! I’m channeling Nick’s story!!!”
Is that weird or what?
On a totally different note, I really enjoyed the lecherous photographer fantasy. Being a photography enthusiast myself it’s been a huge fantasy to be on Paul’s side of the camera in that situation. Too bad we’ll never see the results of that shoot!
So when am I going to start seeing your name on the shelf of my local bookstore where it rightly deserves to be? =)
Another great chapter in this story.
Thank you for all of the hard work!
DmP
Go at your own pace, Nick. I will await the chapter with my usual impatience to continue reading a favorite story.
Thanks for your hard work and talent.
my husband and I love your stories and can’t wait till there are more. just take your time and bring it at your own pace.
I have followed your storied for years. I am superkeen to find out what happens, but I’m not going to be drawn into the speculation that I’m sure goes on.
I’d rather just wait and see.
It’s good stuff, by the way…
Let’s face it… the last chapter is…poor… I love your stories. I really do. But the last chapter is empty of your usual wits. What is the aim of this chapter ? just the last sentence ? to make me wait for the next chapter ?
I read you from Paris France and I love what you usually do. I am waiting for next chapter. Don’t take it too hard please : I really love your stories !!