Day Twenty-one - 40,249 words and counting

This month, I'm writing a novel. All my progress can be found on my private blog. The commentary for each day's work can be found below.

In the grand tradition of shows such as Lost, today's reveal about Bryony's past raises more questions rather than answering anything. This early in the novel, would you really have it any other way?

I say "this early" because, as I've indicated before, I feel like I've barely started. That's not what I expected at all. After today, I've got more than 40,000 words behind me--I'm past the three-quarter mark!-- and I'm starting to realize just how much there is left to do. I can only hope that I've set up all the clues I need for later on.

Still, I feel like today's section really moved the plot along in a definitive way. I had already set up the Sea Wall early on, and it was past time to come back to it. I have also established Bryony's notion that she's from outside the Empire, which is something that she will hold onto. I will not say whether it is true or not, and there will be evidence either way. I will say that the answer is more complicated, and perhaps more interesting, than you might think.

I had originally ended Chapter Ten with Jorik's repeated question, "Who are you," but I reached another good climax about the Sea Wall, and felt that would be a better chapter ender. Their interview continues, but not in the narrative. All the rest is just stage business that I can more cleverly deal with later on.

So as Chapter 11 begins, we find the scene shifting once more. There are a couple of directions I can go from here, and I haven't decided which to pick. I think I'll wait until tomorrow to decide.

And you'll have to wait until tomorrow too.

Today's Total: 1,946 / 1,689 words (115.2%)
Progress to Date: 40,249 / 35,461 words (113.5%, 2.8 days ahead)
Total Progress: 40,249 / 52,347 words (76.9%)