The Seeker Posted January 13, 2007 Author Share Posted January 13, 2007 Well, to see how long 200,000 words is I took that synopsis of yours and copy and pasted until I had 198,000 words... 357 pages single space in 12 font on 8.5x11" paper... Holy ****. Then I took a general slightly large paper-back novel type size of 8x6.5" with 10 font and it weighed around 525 pages... Tell your publisher that you want a non stereotypical cover... I was thinking, in my little mind, that if I ever had a book published, I would find a commission artist on DeviantArt and have them make you a cool cover for relatively cheap. Also, if you thank us (Lucas Forums) somewhere in the book I will, on pain of death, buy 3 copies of this book. Otherwise it will probably only be one copy. Heh, you could've just asked. The length of a book in the writing business is expressed in how many words it is rather than pages, but yeah, 8x11 paper single spaced it's 351 pages. Double spaced, which is more to scale with a 250-300 words per page paperback it comes to 659 pages. The average Fantasy book is 80,000-120,000 words, so this one is slightly larger, though Terry Goodkind's sword of truth novels hit the 300k mark pretty frequently. Bigger than most, smaller than some, here's hoping it works out. And the way it works with the book cover is that the author rarely gets a say in how it looks. However, that is all covered in negotiations which is the part where you basically sell whatever aspects of your soul you feel you can part with. The more rights to your book you keep, the less cash you get. And since I have a really good day job, I'm probably gonna push for a say in what it looks like in the end. I put a lot of work into cutting out the most horrendous Fantasy cliches, and I'd hate to see them slap a stupid cover on it. And yes, while you, my fellow Swampies won't be named individually, the denizens of this little corner of Lucasforums will definatly have a place in the acknowledgments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ET Warrior Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 You WILL put my name in it, or I'm going to start deleting your posts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IG-64 Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 Hey, congrats on finishing. And good luck to you to get it published. Questions: is it set on earth? And is it set in any specific era? My brother is writing a book. Actually, he's writing seven books. He's already just about done with one of the books, and about halfway done with another. I don't think he's planning to publish them until he's just about done with the series. That's the last I've heard though, I asked him not to tell me that much about it, because I don't want spoilers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Datheus Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 Hey, while we're talking about words, did you ever manage to write 10,000 words in a day? If it took you years to write the book, probably not, but I hear 10,000 words in a day is the holy grail of writers. Sometimes well known writers will crank out a novel in two weeks. Glad to hear you're going to try to retain as much as your artistic integrity as possible. Maybe I'll see your book next time I walk into Barnes and Noble! You should acknowledge the Swamp collectively as, "Those dudes with the largest e-penises on all the internets." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Doctor Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 Fate's Warriors. I'll be sure to pick up a copy next time I see it on the shelves. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Windu Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 I hear there's a film adaptation coming... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercid Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 Maybe I'll see your book next time I walk into Barnes and Noble! Good idea, it would be an excuse to use that Barnes and Noble's gift card I got for Christmas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Seeker Posted January 13, 2007 Author Share Posted January 13, 2007 You should acknowledge the Swamp collectively as, "Those dudes with the largest e-penises on all the internets." :rofl: And I doubt I managed to write 10k in one day. It's hard to keep exact count on the first draft, because I wrote it by hand. But I do remember one particular day when I wrote some twenty pages which would put me at around 5000 words give or take. You WILL put my name in it, or I'm going to start deleting your posts. geez, all the hostility. Well, my friend, I don't respond well to threats. So now the acknowledgements will look something like this "And thanks to all the members of the Swamp over at lucasforums, biggest e-penises on the net. Except for ET. No thanks whatsoever go to him, and confidentially, I don't think his e-penis is worth mentioning." And if your gift cards have expirations on them, don't bother waiting to use them. IF, they want my book (which takes them six months to respond), it's a year to year and a half from the time contracts are signed to the book hitting the shelves. Questions: is it set on earth? And is it set in any specific era? I never actually name the place where it's set, but no, it isn't earth. It's one of those Fantasy worlds that mirrors earth in many ways without actually being earth. And since there weren't earthly restrictions, the most accurate time you could put on it is it's before gunpowder. They all use swords, have advanced war waging capabilities, and have good sailing technology. Sorcerers play a huge part in major battles, and supplement traditional healers when needed. The major difference with this and most Fantasy is that it's sort of smaller scale. The villain doesn't have a horde evil, faceless minion creatures, and the good guy doesn't know that he's saving countless people by trying to kill the baddie. The characters are all human (or elven. had to throw that in in Fantasy) and the story is based around how they handle this situation rather than the situation itself. But, I'll definately keep you guys posted on what happens with it. and considering the kudos I've gotten on my battle scenes, I'm thinkin you'll dig it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyrion Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 Summary LOL! Heh, when I had first looked at the post I had just absent mindedly clicked on the thread without acknowledging what the heck it was, and when I scrolled down I read the summary under the pretense it was for some new novel actually out instead of something you had wrote. When I did read it though, I thought it sounded like a cool synopsis for a fantasy series and then I wandered out of the thread. When I came back an hour or so later and clicked on your thread again this time comprehending the fact you're a start up writer; when I found out the summary was yours, I was all "Kickass!" So yeah, sounds like it'll be good. Unless your writing ability sucks, which is always possible I guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ET Warrior Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 "And thanks to all the members of the Swamp over at lucasforums, biggest e-penises on the net. Except for ET. No thanks whatsoever go to him, and confidentially, I don't think his e-penis is worth mentioning." I shall see to it that yours is a slow and painful death. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercid Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 If your gift cards have expirations on them, don't bother waiting to use them. IF, they want my book (which takes them six months to respond), it's a year to year and a half from the time contracts are signed to the book hitting the shelves. Thanks for the advice, I knew they'd have to get back to you, print it, and ship it. But a whole 6 month's just to tell you whether they like it of not? That's insane! Elf's, had to throw that in in Fantasy NOOOO! NOT ELVES! As long as it never touches elven history, the book should be ok. O_o (why can't Dwarves ever be the main race in fantasy novel's?) I'm thinkin you'll dig it. If it has a peasant riding a catapult in it, I'll read anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Jedi Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 geez, all the hostility. Well, my friend, I don't respond well to threats. So now the acknowledgements will look something like this "And thanks to all the members of the Swamp over at lucasforums, biggest e-penises on the net. Except for ET. No thanks whatsoever go to him, and confidentially, I don't think his e-penis is worth mentioning." Ehm. Why would you know that? Anyway congrats on sending it in. Maybe the publisher will see how kickass it is on the first go. Although if it doesn't, I think that Christopher Paolini's parents run a publishing house. You could always hunt them down and make threats, you know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dagobahn Eagle Posted January 14, 2007 Share Posted January 14, 2007 Bottom line: If you like writing, don't stop. Elf's, had to throw that in in FantasyRespectfully, I beg to differ. I find the Dwarves, Elves, Orcs and Goblins theme to be woefully overused, which is one of the reasons why I so much love the Dominions series of "indie" strategy games so much - they make use of mythology other than the one frequently drawn upon. Having said that, it appears that the majority of the fantasy community disagrees with me, so no worries. If your book's good, people won't mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reclaimer Posted January 14, 2007 Share Posted January 14, 2007 Writing the book must've been hard for you. I hope it gets approved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BongoBob Posted January 14, 2007 Share Posted January 14, 2007 Ehm. Why would you know that? That made my day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyrion Posted January 14, 2007 Share Posted January 14, 2007 Respectfully, I beg to differ. I find the Dwarves, Elves, Orcs and Goblins theme to be woefully overused, which is one of the reasons why I so much love the Dominions series of "indie" strategy games so much - they make use of mythology other than the one frequently drawn upon. What he says is the truth. It's the only good game I can think of that can have Arthurian armies against Romanesque Undead armies against Chinese demon hoards against Indian monkey armies(seriously, they have the latter-most army in the game and I have not ruled out the possibility of creating a monolith God for those damned apes so I can rule the world in all Kubrick fashion). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Seeker Posted January 14, 2007 Author Share Posted January 14, 2007 Bottom line: If you like writing, don't stop. Respectfully, I beg to differ. I find the Dwarves, Elves, Orcs and Goblins theme to be woefully overused, which is one of the reasons why I so much love the Dominions series of "indie" strategy games so much - they make use of mythology other than the one frequently drawn upon. Having said that, it appears that the majority of the fantasy community disagrees with me, so no worries. If your book's good, people won't mind. Now these aren't the tolkien elves, all high and mighty, scoffing at mankind's weakness, and walking and talking in slow motion for some reason. They are really only mentioned in passing and the only elven character is half human. I know that elves are overused, but I consider them a staple of fantasy in some form or another. Besides, my inspiration wasn't in the form of Tolkien, so you'll see very few resemblences to his stuff. I was inspired by lesser known fantasy authors, so if I did any accidental plagerism, then it won't be as easy to spot as say, Christopher Paolini's stuff. But yeah, what you mentioned about the overuse of orcs, and dwarves, and elves, I totally agree with. That's why all of the characters (except for the half-elf) are human. Keeps it grounded in as much reality as possible whilst staying fantastic. why can't Dwarves ever be the main race in fantasy novel's? Because dwarves are unatractive and surly, and I don't like them. That's why. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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