So I managed about 2300 words today. That was really good, considering. Had xrays done, but no word yet on the results of that. Ankle is still swollen. Still doesn't hurt that much, which probably means I have to be extra careful. Pain is supposed to make you aware so you don't further hurt yourself. So I think I'm in danger of being stoooopid. But that means I don't have an air splint yet--not supposed to get it until they know for sure if there's a bone chip or whatever. That means I'm probably missing graduation tomorrow. I'm resisting the idea. But I have to stay upright for a good half our in order to line up, then sit upright with my feet on the floor. Which only aggravates the swelling. Still, I want to be there for my students. Hmmm.

The beginning of a book can be difficult for a lot of reasons. For me, I have to introduce characters, the situation and story, and provide background inforamtion. With The Turning Tide, one of the things that I spent a lot of time doing was character interviews with Ryland, Fairlie and Shaye, so that i could understand their relationships better. But that hasn't worked for The Traitor King. I'm not sure why. But my head couldn't get into the interview in the characters' voices. So that didn't work. 

So instead I'm doing the word wars and trying to write quickly. In doing that, I'm trying to just let the story go and take chances. See where the road goes. This actually goes back to the way I wrote earlier books, where I really wasn't all that acquainted with the characters  until at least 30K words in. Which meant a lot of heavy revision on the front end once I was done. I think this book will be that way. I alway think that I'm including a lot of info dumping by way of providing background information of events already past. Like . . . when the Pale snapped. Or like when the Burn happened and how. Or a bunch of stuff that cropped up in The Turning Tide.

Layering that info in is really difficult to do in a smooth way. I probably haven't done it all that well. Doesn't matter. Now's not the time to check it. I'll do that later when I'm revising. Because I absolutely want to stay out of editor mode for this. I need to be in creative mode where I can try anything and it doesn't matter how goofy-stupid. I can try it.

One thing I do tend to worry about at this point is pacing. Is it too introspective? But again, nothing I can do about that until I have the draft done. Once it is, I may be able to pronk up some action here and there, reduce the slow introspection, and so forth.

 So that's where I'm at. It will be very interesting to see how the high speed drafting process goes. I fear burn out. I'm hoping for a rush of creative energy where instead of it feeling like I'm draining myself, the ideas feel like their are bouncing around and breeding and I'm just trying to keep up with the story. Everybody hope that for me, K?