The pace of writing has definitely slowed, and I've figured out why.
I'm getting close to the end now and I know exactly what happens in my own story. While there's still scope for discovery when the story is expanded into a narrative, I know where it goes so there's less for me to discover.
I've spoken to other writers who meticulously plan the entire novel from start to end, then often write it in a non-linear way (the way movies are often filmed). I would personally find that exceptionally boring. I have the entire story in my head, but I like it to bend and shape as I write it. Some characters I originally liked, have become less significant, and other's have come to the fore as I've developed their backgrounds.
I also have late ideas that change the story, which can be really fun, but as the end draws near I can see what happens to the characters, and I even know what they're going to say in around 50K words time.
While it's possible there could be a sequel, I have another couple of book ideas before I consider that:
One idea is a humorous polemic on the current state of our world. Not a novel, but something I would like to try. Not published under my real name.
The second would be a book of short stories. I have many sci-fi and fantasy story ideas, but they're not big enough to expand into a novel. Writers such as Philip K Dick and Ray Bradbury wrote many short stories. In fact it was a book by Bradbury which inspired me at school:
I hear that Hollywood is having another try at adapting Fahrenheit 451 for the big screen. A very apt choice in Trump's America. I can only aspire to be as good a writer.
Talking of inspirations: Of course Tolkien was a massive influence, but this is another series of books I read when I was at secondary school by Stephen Donaldson:
Not only did I enjoy The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, but I also loved the cover design.
That's all for now,
John Howes
