User talk:Stevenarntson/self assessment archive/english2010

=English Composition=

Statement of Intent
This quarter I hope to complete a workable draft of my currently-in-process young adult novel. As of now the book is about 3/4 complete in a very loose draft of 50,000 words.

Overview

 * Finish writing through the end (~15,000 words)
 * Go through and resolve open items (~20 substantial items)
 * (optional:) Refine the text (~60,000 words)

Rationale
I hope to get the book to a solid-enough state that I can share it with a few friends and solicit their comments for a revision. After that process is completed, I hope to pursue publication.

Publication/Presentation
I'll be working toward publication with this book, though that will not occur this quarter. At the end of the quarter I intend to read the opening of the book for the class.

Schedule

 * week 2 - write summoning scene
 * week 3 - write interstitial scenes in preparation for the departure scene
 * week 4 - murder
 * week 5 - departure
 * week 6 - begin resolution of open items
 * week 7 - continue resolving open items
 * week 8 - complete all open items
 * week 9 - polish text
 * week 10 - polish text, emphasizing the opening
 * week 11 - read excerpt for class.

Anticipated Problems
Two major possible problems:
 * 1) Misjudging the amount of work. There are still some plot points I need to figure out, and I'm hoping that resolving the plot satisfactorily goes well. If it doesn't, I may have to scale back the project and spend additional time generating ideas.
 * 2) Motivation. I've been working on this book for a few months now, and it can be tough to stay motivated, especially because I have grave doubts about the quality. I must remind myself that what's important is finishing it--then I can look back and decide if it's any good. And if it isn't, hopefully the experience will improve my performance on my next attempt.

Week 6 Project Review
So far, the project is going well. I'm ahead of schedule as far as finishing the draft--it was done on week 4. However, the process of going back through and taking care of open items is proving very time consuming. For every item I resolve, it seem that, hydra-like, the piece produces two more to take its place. That said, I've been through this before, and know that it has a predictable lifespan. Eventually, the story will finalize itself, for good or ill. Right now, I'm still discovering things about what should happen, and weaving those items through the story. I hope to have finished up by the end of the quarter, ready to go back through a final time and edit things on the sentence level.

Project
