the snowflake project

Here it is, at long last – the final segment of step 6 of TSM! As usual, access it here, directly, or go to the Long Format Synopsis directory page to start from where you last left off.

Sorry for the delay in this post – I’ve had very little time in the last few days to devote to anything other than my day job. However, I have finished Kos’s full character chart, and I’ll be posting it very soon!

Part 5 of the Long Format Synopsis is live. You can get straight to it from here, or start from the beginning if you need to.

I’m almost finished writing out Kos’s full-length character chart. I’m learning all kinds of neat things about him. For example, he’s probably afraid of storms. Also he’s a bit fidgety – which is strange for someone who is supposed to be more or less a buddhist monk.

Can’t wait to share it with you guys!

Part 4 (likely of 6) is live. Read it here, or start from the beginning.

By mid-week next week, the whole synopsis will be up for you to read. I’d love to hear what you guys think of it. If you see problems, don’t hold back – I want to hear about them!

There are all kinds of elements and minor characters that don’t even get a mention that keep cropping up in my head when I think about the story. For example – I’m looking forward to inventing some fascinating insults for the drill sergeant on the conscription ship to use.

I’ve started filling in Kos’s character chart. I have a fairly clear picture of him in my head now (visually speaking). The questions the chart I’m using forces you to answer are very interesting. Can’t wait to share it with you!

The third installment of the Long Format Synopsis is up. Read it here, or, if you need to catch up, start here.

I’m now FINISHED writing the Long Format Synopsis – but part 3 isn’t the end of it. I’ll keep releasing content every weekday for probably a few more days before the end is reached. The total size of my *ahem* four page synopsis turned out to be just shy of 5,000 words. 19 manuscript pages.

I’ll now be starting in on the complete character charts. I’m looking forward to giving some serious flesh to the inhabitants of Kos’s world.

Part 2 of Step 6 of TSM is live – you can read it here.

If you haven’t read Part 1 yet, it’s probably a good idea to start with it instead.

I’m almost finished with Step 6. I think one more good day of writing should wrap it up. I wrote over 500 words over lunch today, and if I can do that again tomorrow, I think I’ll have it done.

Then it’s on to Step 7. I’m going to use the character chart outlined in The Complete Guide to Writing Fantasy Vol. 1. I find it to be very complete.

Stay tuned for more LFS tomorrow!

I’m not quite finished writing Step 6 of TSM, but that doesn’t mean I can’t share it with you.

I’m going to be releasing it in stages so as not to overwhelm you with a huge wall of text (I’m approaching the end, and it’s measuring up to be about an hour and a half’s read). I’m putting it on different pages to make things a little easier for everyone. There’ll be links at the bottom of each page to get to the next one – if the link is broken, that means I haven’t published the next page yet.

You can find the Long Format Synopsis through the menu via the Story Bible. For those of you with less patience for menus – find it here.

It was pointed out to me via email this morning that I am a neglectful cad. Not in so many words, mind you, but I took the message to heart.

I recently promised to post more frequently and then immediately proceeded to renege on that promise. I’m sorry for that. I’ll try to be better.

I’m all finished with step 5 of the Snowflake Method, and you can read Torik’s plot summary on his character page.

Step 6 has me bogged down, however – I’m still slogging through it. I have a hard time with what the level of detail should be for step 6 (the long format plot summary), and mine is turning out to be slightly more detailed than expected – either that or my story is longer than TSM typically allows for. I fear what should be a 4 page summary will end up being closer to 10 pages, but we’ll see. I’m about 3/4 of the way through, and I’ll post it the moment I’m done.

Part of the reason I haven’t been in touch is that I’m dragging my feet on step 6. I’m itching to begin writing the actual novel, but there are still two steps to go before I can. The snowflake itself is becoming a chore, and I need to get INTO it again. I hope that I can in the next step – the complete character charts.

Stay tuned – I’m aiming to have step 6 done by the end of the week.

Continuing with the 5th step in The Snowflake Method, I’ve added a long format plot summary from Sky-Kicker’s point of view. This gives a little bit of insight into the doings of the Elves or Eldest in Kos’s universe.

You can find Sky-Kicker’s plot summary on his character page.

Hit me with comments on how you feel about the name “Sky-Kicker”. My thinking was that it would be a rough translation from a proper name in Elvish. And further, that the Elves have a type of society and that’s similar to an aboriginal tribal culture.

I’ve completed my second Character Plot POV – this time for Achi, the antagonist. It’s a little shorter than the one I wrote for Kos, and subsequents will be even shorter (for Sky-Kicker, Aryenne and Torik).

You can find Achi’s over on his character page. I know these are a lot to read and they aren’t written very well, but they’re just lists of events and general thoughts/feelings the characters may have. Very rough stuff – so please forgive me.

I hope you’ll read them and suffer through the poor writing so that you can alert me to any horrible problems I might be setting up for myself when it comes to the plot.

Sorry for the long delay – but the one page summary from Kos’s point of view turned into something more along the lines of three pages, and I’ve been suffering from a particularly nasty cold.

Anyway on Kos’s Character Page, you can find the whole story from his point of view. I’ll be following that shortly with a (hopefully) shorter version from Achi’s perspective.

I’m beginning to see how much material is hidden away in this plot, waiting to be unpacked in prose. It’s exciting!