"Mr. Gravedigger's Apprentice Book 2: The Grand Illusion" and other projects

So, looking back, I haven't been posting in my blog as often as I said I would be. But then again, as I look back at the things I said at the beginning of the year, I also said I wouldn't be writing a book this year. And seeing as I haven't been posting at least every other day and I've so far written 3 books, so much for those ideas.

I've written, or started to write, many blog post in the past month, but none of them felt good enough to publish. Some of the time I wasn't even sure what I was trying to say and I ended up second guessing myself and quitting. I've been doing that too often lately. So instead of dwelling on the projects that I've abandoned, whether temporarily or permanently, I'm going to talk about the projects that I'm working on and completing.

I have finished the first draft of a new short story. 'In the Midst of a Dream' is the story of a man with amnesia who has dreams of the event that took place just before he lost his memories. But one night, he dreams of something more. It's a fantasy part comedy, part parody along the same lines of my Glimpse through the Curtains series. It might be included with that as well.

Exciting news on graphic novel/comic/illustration front. Nicole has just finished inking the Believer short and will be here shortly to show them off to me. She's also been working on illustrations for the short stories 'Four Years', 'Slayer and Prey' and 'A Good Thing'. They're all looking very good and I can't wait to see the results.

And last, but certainly not least, the second book of the first volume of Mr. Gravedigger's Apprentice has been written. The Grand Illusion. Every time I hear about a writer who supposedly wrote the book from cover to cover, on a typewriter without mistake, I honestly laugh. The pain and heart ache that is going into this book give me a headache thinking about it, and I don't even want to think about editing it. I hate editing 12 page short stories double space, and I currently have over 100 pages of single space pages to edit once this is over. And I'm not even finished the complete volume. Sometimes I sit, uninspired at the computer, thinking to myself 'I'm not skilled enough to write this'. 'Am I doing this right?' 'Will anyone like this?' 'Am I insane?' Nothing gives me a better sense of relief than to finish a chapter and nothing kills that relief faster than knowing there's another chapter to write.

In my middle school year book: Eric Rawlinson - 8F1 Ambition: Writer. Oh boy...

I said it before and I'll say it again. If I didn't love this life so much, I'd quit. That being said, I love this life. God knows why.

So, right now I'm working on a couple of things. The first is Book 3: The Vampire King. That will be done when it gets done. Most of the ideas for chapter 20 are already down, I just have to put them altogether. Me and Nicole will work on a couple of things together and hopefully, with her illustrations, I will start putting together the anthology at last. We shall see.

I probably have more to say, but I can't think of any right now. I can't get how much I looked like Harry Potter out of my mind. Talk to you all soon

Peace and blessings
Eric Rawlinson
110714

Mr. Gravedigger's Apprentice: The First Five Chapters

At the beginning of the year, I claimed it wasn't the right time to start a book. Now here I am, five months later, starting off my second book this year and I must say I'm pleased as punch. And now its time to reflect a little on how well it has been going.

So, I've just finished the fifth chapter of working title Gravekeeper. If you want to get technical, I've written six chapters so far including the prologue. Each chapter averages somewhere between 2500 and 3000 words each, and if I were to write another chapter, I would have outdone my first book entirely by word count alone, and I am no where close to finishing the second book. I think the reason for this is because I'm more in my element with Gravekeeper than I was with Grandma Hannah. Where Grandma Hannah is a good story, it wasn't my style in any sense. It was first person, present tense, coming of age story. Where as Gravekeeper is a third person, past tense (with the exception of the prologue, which is present tense for effect), sci-fi master/apprentice story. I wouldn't say I'm enjoying writing Gravekeeper more than Grandma Hannah. Its just... hmm, maybe that is what I'm saying.

Overall, the story is going remarkably well. There are a few hiccup with tone, but I'm trying my best to just get the story complete. Editing something longer than anything I've ever written before if going to be an experience, but something I look forward to. Also, I must be extra careful. Yesterday I almost forgot to introduce (or reintroduce) an important character who will be needed to the third act of the story. That is what rewrites are for, but it is best to have these important aspects in the first draft.

Also, now that I have a blackberry, I have a little bit more freedom with where and when I can write. The keyboard is a little small for me to type on as quickly as a regular keyboard, but at least I can email myself small important notes as I think them up. Also, I can save my files on my blackberry and jack into computers to work from there. Just need to remember to back them up onto my harddrive sometimes.

Anyway, I think that's enough for now. I'm looking for things to post to my blog in order to keep interest. My interest more than others. I'm sure I'll find something, maybe some old work or random poetry I come upon or write. We shall soon see.

Peace and blessings
Eric Rawlinson
110524

The Gravekeeper's Apprentice

I've just finished the first draft of the first chapter of my next book. I'm calling it 'The Gravekeeper's Apprentice'. The story is set in a world where most of the dead are buried in a massive graveyard, where ghosts, skeletons and zombies roam. And watching over all of them is the Gravekeeper. I started working on this story about a year ago as a little joke, after seeing all the cool steam-punk cosplayers at FanExpo. I thought about what my own steam punk character would look like and it slowly turned into a bit of a story.

So far, the story is about the struggle between tradition and change and how it affects everyone with a certain viewpoint. And its a battle between the informed and the ignorant. And of course, it'll have elements of the mater and apprentice as well. Oh, you want to know the plot? Well, that I'm keeping to my chest for the next little bit. I'm sharing the story with a few people for encouragement and editorial support, but I don't want to reveal to much about it until I at least have book one finished. Oh yes, I have concepts for about three mini stories, but the whole work will be published in one volume. Alright, here's a bit of a hint. I've already named the first three books. The first book will be called First Night. The second will be called Carnival. The third book will be called Vampire. Not much of a hint, I guess, but we'll see how it goes.

I'll keep you all posted on this project, now that I've found some steam for it. I'll report back soon.

Peace and blessings
Eric Rawlinson
110428

Chapter 6: Done!

Alright! Chapter 6's first draft is really finished this time. Excellent! I had to power through it and it came out pretty well. Now the editing of the book can happen in earnest!

Yeah, that's all I have to say. I got to finish a couple of other things now. I'll keep you guys posted.

Peace and blessings
Eric Rawlinson
20110312

Grandma Hannah: One Week Later

Okay, so I've been sick for the last couple of days with flu/cold/something that makes everything in my body hurt and have a bad cough. Diagnoses are welcome but unnecessary. I've broken my rule about posting something at least every other day, but not the more important rule of never to write when I'm sick. I'm still sick, but I'm not here to rant about my body functions. I want to talk a little about my novel.

I've put all of the chapter first drafts into one document to give you these impressive statistics. Grandma Hannah, Fool Hannah is 49 pages long, single spaced with each chapters starting on a new page. The first draft is 19,851 words long. This unfortunately takes it out of the running for a Nanowrimo candidacy. *shrugs*. I expect that number to double by the time the fifth draft happens. The second draft is being done chapter by chapter as the old one was and I will probably continue to work on the book the same way until I'm comfortable with having it just as one long manuscript.

So there is an update. Its not much, but you deserve such. My headache tells me that writing is bad right now, so I'm going to sleep it off. I'll keep you posted.

Peace and blessings
Eric Rawlinson
20110301

Grandma Hannah, Fool Hannah: First Draft

Seven months ago, almost to the day, I began working on a short story called Caught in the Rain. It was a small modern fantasy tale about a young woman who has a tryst with two forest spirits after being betrayed by the man she loves. I've yet to complete the story, but it was my hope that it would become one of the Glimpse through the Curtains short stories. Then, on a whim, I started another short story. It was about the same woman, but years afterward, on her death bed, speaking to her granddaughter. What she told her granddaughter would begin the woman's own glimpse through the curtains. Then I thought to myself, hey, I could make this into a book. And that's exactly what I did.

I'm pleased and excited to announce that I have completed the first draft of my first book. Its working title is 'Grandma Hannah, Fool Hannah'. Its just under 20,000 words and currently it riddled with grammatical errors and plot holes you could drive a truck through. But it's a start. And I thought Forgiveness was good work for under six months from conception to first draft.

I can't say how proud I am for being able to do this. With this book, I've realized that I have the determination and the patience to undertake a book. I've written a book! The work has only begun, but the beginning is always important.

Thank you to my fans and my friends who cheered me on these last few weeks. Thank you so much.

I'm going to attempt to do a couple of drafts by myself before I start looking for editors, but I will certainly let you all know when I'm ready. And hopefully, it will be soon. As always, I'll keep you guys posted.

Peace and blessings
Eric Rawlinson
20110223

Chapter 13 and 14: That was satisfying

Sometimes you got to power through it to just get it out of your head. Just under 2000 words between the two of them, these two chapters are either going to become one chapter or much longer. My money is on much longer. As with a lot of the chapters, I've practically wrote down the barebones of what I want to do, along with some of the dialogue and tone I want to go for. But for now, so glad that I don't have to obsess with those scenes anymore.

I'm wondering how lazy I should be and if I should just write the last three chapters and be done with the first draft. Wondering over, it is what I'm going to do. I had plans for another chapter, but I surprisingly covered much of what I wanted to do with that chapter already and I don't think I want to draw out the story any longer than I have to, especially at this point in the writing. If more emphasis is needed, then I might add the other chapter. If not... well, I have a headache, so we'll end the thoughts as it is.

So yeah, three more chapters. Not really looking forward to one, wrote the last one pretty much in my head, and the next one I have a shit load of notes, plus I added some more fire to my main characters anger that should display quite well in an upcoming confrontation. This should be cool.

Anyway, one of those chapters is half written as it is now. I'll keep you guys posted.

Peace and blessings
Eric Rawlinson
20110222

Chapter 11 and 12: I'm sick

I've missed a day of writing. I took a break to go home and spend some time with family, especially my lovely sister who I love and miss so much.

I seriously don't know what's up with keyboards today. Is it something that's happened within the last three years since I bought my computer, because I can't find any keyboard recently that I've enjoyed working with as much as my own. I know it's a matter of getting used to the set up, how far apart the keys are, but I generally dislike using other people's keyboards. The flow isn't the same. With other keyboards I have to constantly look down to see why I'm hitting the caps lock or whatever new key they've designed to put in my way. I guess it can't be helped. My computer continually makes such lovely noises that makes me wonder just how much longer she is going to live. I think my next computer is going to me a small laptop, one that's going to be devoted to my writing. That way I can get used to its keyboard and not have to worry about putting my work onto others and fight with theirs.

Okay, angry rant over. I'm frightened that I'm losing the flow that I've gained over the week. I'm feeling sick and congested, I'm can't seem to find the right temperature to be at and I ache all over. I'm pretty sure I'm going to wake up to discover I have a cold. Yay, this is lovely, I'm being a complete baby. This isn't what I wanted when I said I want to suffer for my art. In fact, I didn't say I want to suffer for my art. Poopy. Blarge.

So, chapter 11 and 12. Chapter 11 is the shortest on record so far, just over 800 words. It's a mental breakdown scene and honestly I feel I should do more with it. So I will. Later. Chapter 12 is more of a reflective scene and I'll have to meditate on it. Generally, I feel it's missing something, a certain spark or realization. Unfortunately, if I move on from this, complete the book and come back to figure out the revelation is something completely different, I'm going to have to do major rewrites throughout the ending. Wait, at this point that could happen even in the first chapter.... why did I want to to be a writer again? Oh, that's right. I love it!

Seriously, if I could figure out how to get paid to do this and live comfortably, I would jump on this career in an instant. I really like writing. I like the flow and I like the feeling when you get a good story going. Of course, whenever I go out and have fun in the middle of writing, I'm probably going to bitch about how my flow has been severed, but that'll be temporary. I say that every time I stop to play Mass Effect for a couple of hours. Even doing that I was still able to write 12 chapters of this book in ten days. I'm pretty sure I'm just going to get up tomorrow and write the rest of chapter 13, a page done by the way, and then play more Mass Effect and then write chapter 14. And then 15, 16 and how many other chapters this book might have. Thinking about it now... probably this book is going to have about 15 to 18 chapters. So I might have a first draft by end of the week.

Anyway, congratulations if you read through all of my rant. I love you all! Update you soon.

Peace and blessings
Eric Rawlinson
20110221

Chapter 10: The Fool Becomes The Wizard

Allusion to the story, see what I did there? Sometimes its a good idea to get away from the computer and write down ideas on a piece of paper. Even if it is concepts for a later chapter. I've pretty much solidified the final chapter in my mind, but I'm still a little ways off. Chapter 11 is still pretty much as much of a mystery to me as Chapter 10 has been, and I'm looking forward to it, but first a break.

Yeah, I have a huge headache, so I'm going to stop this update for now. I'll report more when Chapter 11 is finished.

Peace and blessings
Eric Rawlinson
20110219

Chapter 9: Take a Break

Well, that was mostly painless. Its remarkable what pizza, taking my pills and a good night's sleep can accomplish.

Well, Chapter 9's first draft is finished, slightly larger than most but no where close to being the length of Chapter 7. Speaking about length, I've calculated that, being roughly an average of 1200 words a chapter, I'm just over my 10,000 word mark in my book. And, I'm guessing I'm two thirds of the way done in my book. Not exactly a NaNoWriMo candidate, but it is my book and it will run its own course. Besides, editing will add to it more than it will subtract as I rewrite and everything.

Also, I've been planning out my next book. Last night, while falling asleep, I've been writing up a working plot outline, trying to remember where I put my notes and figuring out some more dialogue for yet another book. It's probably a bad idea to be thinking about the next book before you finish the one you're working on, but if this continues, I might have two books first drafts by the summer. Of course, there are other things I want to do with my time, such as finish A Glimpse Through the Curtains and publish it into a book. But for now, I want to finish this book I'm currently working on.

Chapter 10 I have a couple of ideas for, but like Kirstin said, just write it. The story is up here somewhere, I just need to get it down somehow. I'm looking forward to some of the scenes that are coming up. At least those I have a plan for.

Anyway, I should get back to it. Thank you everyone and I'll keep you updated.

Peace and blessings
Eric Rawlinson
20110219

Chapter 8: A Possible Wall

You know, I'm just setting myself up when I say 'Oh this part of the book is going to be easier to write than this part'. Chapter 8 was (I guess still is) a definite trial of my patience. A good story is like a puzzle. It has parts, which separately can be good on their own are made better when they're fuzzed together. A good first draft is like when you get all the edge pieces and put them together and see where you can work. Hmm, maybe that's not a good analogy. A good first draft is one that's written. Yeah that's better.

The one thing I can't stand is when I read a biography of a writer where everyone says, "Oh yes, they just wrote the story down and it was published with very little to no revision." This is something that's often said about Shakespeare and Rex Stout. Even if this were true, which I suspect it is, I still hate hearing it. I've never written anything, other than possibly some poetry, that has been amazing on its first draft. Sure, good, great and needs improvement to be awesome, but I never fool myself. The real work begins once the first draft is finished. A Good Thing, 12 page short story, took 3 years to finish from concept to finished product. Truthfully, if I had worked solidly on the story, it would have been done in maybe four or six days, but truthfully A Good Thing needed that 3 years to become what it was. It grew with my experience and my understanding and it will continue to help me grow in my style and how I see myself as a writer. And that's what I'm hoping this book will help me accomplish as well. Sure I want to write a story, sure I want to tell a story, sure I want to publish it and make millions. But I know in my heart that the reason I'm writing this story is to prove that I can write a book. That I can write a story from beginning to end that will make people laugh, cry and think. That is my goal. And that is why I write.

So now, despite my conflicted feelings about Chapter 8, I'm going to write a Chapter 9 without any real plan as to where it's going. I've discovered that I don't have a Chapter 9 or a Chapter 10. Short sighted, yes, but if start writing down ideas with the opening, I might get somewhere. A whole chapter of reflection and TV watching... Hey, that might be a good idea!

Anyway, time to get a pizza or something to eat then back to work. Keep you posted.

Peace and blessings
Eric Rawlinson
20110218

P.S. Thank you Kirstin for your advice. It just helped write two chapters!

Chapter 7: Holy Crap!

I appear to have a pacing issue, seeing as Chapter 7's first draft is bigger than the first three chapters combined! Oh well, nothing to really worry about. I expected that parts of this book would be easier to write than others and Chapter 7 and maybe 8 are probably going to be the easiest to write. As I go on to later chapters, I find I'm getting the hang of writing as well, and everything doesn't feel so forced, unless I feel bored with a certain section, then it feels nothing but forced.

There are a lot of reasons besides that that allow Chapter 7 to be so long. One of them is that this chapter is where I introduce the twist in the story. Not really a surprise twist, but a twist for the main character. It's also the part of the book I have the most notes for. Seeing as it is one of the most important parts of the book, this isn't a surprise either. Also, this chapter might even become longer thanks to a little device I'm using. The main character is going to be reading a book and sections of the book are going to be present in the text. The book that the main character reads is in fact parts of a book that I was going to write but lost interest in it. Recycling old material is great!

Okay, I'm cheating, but its a good cheat and it works well for the book itself. Besides, if this book gets popular I could finish that book and publish it as well, right? Sigh... You're right.

Chapter 8 is going to be easy as well I think, but for a completely different reason. Chapter 8 is the one I've conceptualize most recently. It's actually a fairly new addition and I'm literally wondering why I never thought of doing this before. It just makes so much sense. It emphasizes what happens in Chapter 7 and maybe even a little bit in chapter 2, and I want the character to break herself. Oops, I revealed something of the book. The main character is a female woman. Roberts rules of writing state that you shouldn't reveal to much of your book, cause the more you talk about it, the less likely you'll write it. At this point, I don't have to much to worry about. About five or six of my closest friends know the plot, most of you being my followers, and one of you has a couple of chapters. But not to jinx it at this point, I'll try to be mysterious as possible. I get a kick out of it...

Anyway, chapter 8 will probably be written tomorrow or later tonight, depending on how I feel. Right now, I'm hungry. So, until later.

Peace and blessings
Eric Rawlinson
20110217

Chapter 6: Ugh...

I've been trying to write chapter 6 and it has just been a complete disaster. Well, not complete, but you know what I mean. I've decided to do something that I said I wouldn't do but I'll have to do it for the sake of my own sanity. I've decided to skip writing chapter 6 and move on to chapter 7. Chapter 7 is practically written in my head and I think the flow will be much smoother, especially with my moods as it is.

It's sad really. As I was saying to a friend last night, Chapter 6 contains a scene that is one of the foundations of the whole book, one of the concepts that actually created the story now and now it's not coming out right. Its funny how the story can evolve away from it original intentions and take meaning you could never even imagine before writing it. It truly is a journey. A journey I want to skip chapter 6 of, but a journey nonetheless.

Of course, as soon as I start writing chapter 7, I start validating some of the things I hate in chapter 6, which means I have to work with what I have more than I hoped. Go figure. Talk more about that when chapter 7 is finished.

Until then.

Peace and blessings
Eric Rawlinson
20110217

Chapter 5: Overcoming the block

So, to start off, I had this really cool idea that seems to be working well. I've been trying hard not to go back to the earlier chapters and work on them while I'm on this, let's face it, impressive stream of writing, moving forward, not backwards. But what if I come up with an idea for an earlier chapter? How do I do that without editing and reworking. Simple. Make a notes page for individual chapters and write down notes in those files as things come to me. That way, I can even move notes from my other note files into where I want them to be specifically in the story without having to sift through a lot of notes looking for something awesome I've written earlier. I'm such a genius.

Now that I'm done being nervous, had a bit of a block today while writing the fifth chapter, but I'm over it now. It gets hard to write when depressed, and I think one of the things I should seriously do is stop calling the book crap. Even if it is and just call it what it really is. A start. This is the beginning of a journey for me as much as it is a journey for my characters. We're both experiencing this journey together. And we shall get to the end better for having traveled it.

Chapter 6? I hope to get that done soon. And I'm sure I can talk more, but I don't want to ramble to long. I just want to shout out to my friend Etienne who's helped a lot with his friendship and encouragement. Thanks bro. And for the rest of you, thanks for your support as well. Hopefully this book will be done soon...ish and I will be able to share it with all of you.

Peace and blessings
Eric Rawlinson
20110215

Chapter 4: Loose

Remember when I said that I've passed writing the hardest part. Well, I was wrong. Very wrong. In fact, I can only see this book getting harder to write from here on out. Welcome to the point where what I've written, what I'm writing and my six months worth of notes crash into a heap and I have to sift through the wreckage.

Okay, so it's not as bad as it sounds. I'm still able to write my story but already I'm having continuity issues. I'm promising myself that I'm not going to go back until I've finished at least a working draft of this book from beginning to end. I have to do this or I'll never stay sane enough to finish. But changes have to be allowed, even on a moment's notice so that the story can make more sense to write. I learned a while ago that sometimes the smallest problems can halt your project and they have to be altered in order for you to continue.

I'm not happy with Chapter 4. Not at all. It's very very loose. But as I've been saying, frame work. It's all that this book is going to end up being by the end of the first draft. Literally a page of this chapter is nothing but dialogue with no connection between them. No he said she said they said. Just "I like dogs" "Why do you like dogs" "I don't know, let me ask my manager". No, that's not dialogue from the book, just an example. But it's that sort of thing.

Chapter five I'm looking forward to a little bit more, since I have that scene almost completely written, at least planned out in notes and in my brain. That I don't have to much of a problem with. Chapter 6 is not so planned, but at least nothing too too darasticly mind blowing is going to happen. For the life of me, I have no godly idea what's going to happen in chapter 7, but I have a theory. Chapter 8 and beyond, I'm playing by ear. I know I have some notes on what might happen, okay will happen, I just need to figure out the glue.

So overall, it's stressful, and I'm not happy, but I am very excited about this whole project. I'll keep you guys posted after each chapter I write like this, talking about my struggles and my thoughts. Hopefully a new update will be soon.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Peace and blessings
Eric Rawlinson
20110214

Chapter 2 and 3: I'm in the zone

So last night and this morning, I powered through Chapter 2 and 3 of my book. And in the end, I have two made for the dumpster chapters. This is excellent. I should probably stop using garbage metaphors, since it might be discouraging. What's better? Frame work? Armatures. Got to make a skeleton before you can attach the muscle.

Mostly the story consists of the dialogue and some random thoughts of the main character as she speaks in first person. This was how I wanted the story to be told and now, I'm not so sure. It has it's limitations, mainly making the story disjointed and at this point incredibly short. But it does make for a good first draft and motivation to actually write this fucker-I mean masterpiece. I've been working on it for about six months and in two days I finally get the third chapter done and out of the way.

This is one of the hardest parts, mainly cause the first three chapters are the part of the story I didn't even have concepts for. I had random lines of dialogue and strangely conflicting notes, which are always discouraging. But now, I'm just going to have conflicting chapters! *cries* Overall, I'm proud of my accomplishments. I've got and outline, I've written three chapters and I'm about to start chapter 4, if I don't go to work on A Glimpse through the Curtains edits.

Anyway, that's my thoughts so far. I'll keep you guys you guys up to date with progress.

Peace and blessings
Eric Rawlinson
20110213

Chapter 1: Discouragment

So, I've finished the a very very rough first chapter of my book. Not much sustenance on it at all, mostly dialogue which is how I roll to begin with. But I look at this as an accomplishment. Now I have a wired frame for the rest of the story, a head if you will. It needs work, but that is to be expected. Write for the trash, my mentor said. It doesn't matter what your first draft looks like, eighty percent of it will not exist when the final comes. It's true. I've been looking over the early drafts of Song for a Muse recently and I've found myself looking at a stranger. It was weird.

But the book is coming along slowly and hopefully I'll be able to write more once the headache goes away. I'll keep you guys updated.

Best wishes. Peace and blessings
Eric Rawlinson
20110212