One third of the way

Published 20100721 announcement Leave a Comment
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Just thought I’d post a quick up-date: 51 000 words or so are forming Madilon‘s first act. (Actually, I’ll be writing the two scenes that’ll conclude the first act tomorrow.) I’m functioning on a 3000-words-per-day basis at the moment.

I intend to maintain that rhythm until early September at the latest. By then I should have about 400 pages (Paperback). Then editing, proof-reading, and I’m done with this one.

Frankly, I’m thrilled. It’s going well and I’m confident that I will finish it. It means a lot to me. Not only is it a victory over procrastination, but I’ve also sorted a few personal, more general issues along the way.

Soon, I’m also going to give the web site a little love, so stick around!

Back and forth

Published 20100629 announcement Leave a Comment

I’ve decided to change the settings on the published stories to “private”. The reason for this is simple: I’ve changed my mind on what I want the novel to be and I will be using some of the material that I’d put on-line. Thus I had to remove it from the website, obviously.

At first I wanted to write a trilogy. But now I’ve scaled down the project, to make it more manageable, and less scary. I’m now looking at a number of serialised novels—if by any chance I manage to a) finish the first one and b) sell it. The stories will be narrated by Nathan, as was the web series. Besides, most of the action will take place on Madilon, which is kind of the point.

If everything goes according to plan, I’ll have a solid draft by the end of August. In order to achieve that, pausing for the weekends will be out of the question. Much like Nathan, I’m quite unsubtle. I feel the need for that kind of pressure. I hope it’ll pay off in the end.

Square One

Published 20100304 announcement Leave a Comment
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You know that moment when you look at your work and think “that’s crap, I have to do it all over again”? Well, I’ve reached that point. Over 60,000 words which I once called “first draft” are now going into the “research” category.

No tears, though. It’s part of the process and hopefully it will make the story solider. Regular space operas involve lots of subplots scattered across lots of locations. But Madilon is The Love Boat in space: all the protagonists start and end their adventure on board. I have to work with that restriction in mind and I’m sure it’ll only make the novel better.

I won’t like to you, though… I do feel a little like Sisyphus at the moment. But it’ll pass as soon as I resume working. (I’ve got a bad cold and my throat is aching. Plus my head hurts. So, I haven’t been writing today.) The good thing is: I know where my mountain is. I know how I’m suppose to do to get to the top. I know what’s up there. It’s only a matter of time (and toil on the way up).

Flesh and bones

Published 20100214 announcement Leave a Comment
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Book 1 now has a skeleton and some flesh growing around its spine (the analogy’s a bit gross, I know—you’ll live).

I’ve got all three acts arranged to produce a story structure that seems consistent (to me at least, but that’s a first step) and I think I’ll sketch out a rough outline of Book 2 before resuming writing. I need to know where I’m going. But, fingers crossed, I’m on the right track and it feels great.

If you would like more frequent updates or just to show your support, you can join the Facebook Madilon Fan Page and follow me on Twitter.

The Future of Madilon

Published 20100127 announcement Leave a Comment
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… is not online. But I’m back to working on the novel that started all this. Bits and pieces have been falling into place lately. So I’ve decided that I wouldn’t update this website with fiction again—at least not at the moment. It wasn’t in vain, though: the web series has brought forth characters and concepts I hadn’t imagined before.

If you would like to be informed on the advancement of my work, you have several options. First you can become a Madilon fan on Facebook. Then you can swing by this web site from time to time; I will keep updating it. And finally you can follow me on Twitter. (Be warned though, that I mostly tweet about other stuff and it’s not always in English. That said, all Madilon-related Twitter content will be marked with the hashtag #madilon for convenience.)

Thank you all for your patience and your continued interest in my work. I hope that one day soon you will be able to pick up Madilon‘s first instalment from a shelf in your local bookstore! Until then I will do my best to keep you informed and to work as hard as I can… to bring you an entertaining story to read!

Story Guide

1. Jailbreaker

2. The Standoff

3. God's Angel

4. Gemini

5. A Face of Anger

Terry Dock’s updates

  • Coffee break. 199 pages and one more scene to do today. Then, two day's off. (If I don't change my mind about that.) 1 hour ago
  • At least there _is_ material for a third act. I wasn't sure there would be. 2 hours ago
  • Act 3 is looking a bit fuzzy in my mind. But that's a bridge I'll cross next month. One thing at a time. 2 hours ago
  • I've outlined the rest of the current sequence. Act 2 is looking OK-ish, for a first draft. Will need work later though. No surprise there. 2 hours ago
  • Welcome back, Anne Rice! \o/ http://bit.ly/bPXujp 3 hours ago

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