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DABB musings
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dragonagebb, and although the rough draft isn't due until early December, I haven't written a single word yet and am starting to get a little concerned. Not *too* concerned -- a draft of a 20k word story in two and a half months shouldn't be a problem, especially if I end up unemployed for some of that time -- but a little bit. Mostly because it's not the execution I'm stalling on, it's the idea.
It's like this: I have a story I want to write, but I have a feeling that to be told properly, it would need to be much longer than 20k words. And it's not only a time issue, it's an interest issue, because the much longer story would essentially be a Blight retelling, which I'm not sure would hold my attention as a writer. So that's the conundrum -- finding a complete story that can be told in 20-30,000 words (somewhat longer is fine, just not an epic) without rehashing the entirety of DA:O.
The idea I've been toying with writing is an AU in which both dwarf Wardens -- a noble and a commoner -- survive the events of their origin and become Grey Wardens. I think there's a lot that could be done with an Aeducan and a Brosca being forced to work together and find common ground, especially if it turned out that the Brosca was a better natural leader than the Aeducan but the Aeducan resists the idea of letting a casteless be in control. Even better if the Aeducan thinks she is being understanding and charitable, but it turns out she isn't. Lots of potential for conflict: with each other, with Alistair, with the rest of the party. So I think the basic concept is sound. But how far do I have to take it? Can I tell this story to a good resolution without carrying out the whole campaign? Or do I have to carry the premise all the way through to the battle with the archdemon? The answer that I keep coming back to is "yes, I do", but then I shy away from the amount of work that would be, and the sheer number of words I would spend slogging through Ferelden.
But if I don't do that idea, I'm not sure I have a backup plan in mind. And so we return to the beginning of the cycle.
If anyone has any thoughts on ways to take this idea and cut it down to a more manageable size, I'm all ears. I bit off way more than I could chew with "Wardens of Ivalice" for Mega Flare last year, and I'd rather not do that to myself again.
dragonagebb, and although the rough draft isn't due until early December, I haven't written a single word yet and am starting to get a little concerned. Not *too* concerned -- a draft of a 20k word story in two and a half months shouldn't be a problem, especially if I end up unemployed for some of that time -- but a little bit. Mostly because it's not the execution I'm stalling on, it's the idea.It's like this: I have a story I want to write, but I have a feeling that to be told properly, it would need to be much longer than 20k words. And it's not only a time issue, it's an interest issue, because the much longer story would essentially be a Blight retelling, which I'm not sure would hold my attention as a writer. So that's the conundrum -- finding a complete story that can be told in 20-30,000 words (somewhat longer is fine, just not an epic) without rehashing the entirety of DA:O.
The idea I've been toying with writing is an AU in which both dwarf Wardens -- a noble and a commoner -- survive the events of their origin and become Grey Wardens. I think there's a lot that could be done with an Aeducan and a Brosca being forced to work together and find common ground, especially if it turned out that the Brosca was a better natural leader than the Aeducan but the Aeducan resists the idea of letting a casteless be in control. Even better if the Aeducan thinks she is being understanding and charitable, but it turns out she isn't. Lots of potential for conflict: with each other, with Alistair, with the rest of the party. So I think the basic concept is sound. But how far do I have to take it? Can I tell this story to a good resolution without carrying out the whole campaign? Or do I have to carry the premise all the way through to the battle with the archdemon? The answer that I keep coming back to is "yes, I do", but then I shy away from the amount of work that would be, and the sheer number of words I would spend slogging through Ferelden.
But if I don't do that idea, I'm not sure I have a backup plan in mind. And so we return to the beginning of the cycle.
If anyone has any thoughts on ways to take this idea and cut it down to a more manageable size, I'm all ears. I bit off way more than I could chew with "Wardens of Ivalice" for Mega Flare last year, and I'd rather not do that to myself again.
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One thing that might help is making a list of all the reasons why Aeducan and Brosca struggle for power and then select portions of the 5th Blight that best illustrate the struggle conflict ratcheting up. Also think about who will change (Aeducan? Brosca? Both?), what forces the change, and how it turns out, and then pin point the scene in DA:O where that change happens. That becomes your story's climax, and that climax might be completely independent of DA:O's climax. Everything after that is wrap up and dénouement, and can be summarized rather than plodded through. (This is the approach I'm taking in my Cullen-as-a-recruitable-companion version if DA:O because telling all of DA:O would be far too much.)
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