For your amusement

[den]

elynne asked "you writer folks" how one does a first draft, so I answered anyway. I went looking for one of my first drafts, and I found lurking on my G: drive the plot outline of my very first attempt at writing a sword&sorcery story.

It's bad! I must have read too much Tolkien and Pratchett in one sitting. I can't believe how crap that story would have turned out. At some point in 1994 I had a Great Character Purge. Only two survived intact: Pen the wizard and Mavrik the dragon. One other character, "Smuts" in the outline, underwent a major career change, name change and relocation. He is now known as Brentford, and is the little scientist in my SF stories.

I show you this story because it contains elements that made their way into the Mavrik stories: the dwarf canal, the nomad ice-ships and the ice pirates, the wizard's tower, Rainbow Fen, The Welling River (later called the Whelming) and Wellington (later to become Town-By-Whelming), the evil wizard Craka. The Bogong Tower still exists by hasn't been written yet. It also gives you a hint at the very final outcome of the Mavrik stories

In this story dragons are The Bad Guys. I'm really glad I changed my mind about that.

Comments

Bad To The Silly Bone

[weyrdbird.livejournal.com]

"The crown is a powerful magic thing that helps...." *snerk*......"The sudden release of magic blows its head off." *KITTEN* (wipes off screen)....and orange?! *Boggle*...."You are in danger of being beat up a bit" *REKITTEN* (more wiping)....."Since they couldn't tell the difference"...*loud choking laughter attempt at KITTEN number 3*....and then they buggered off.

Bad writing it may be, but it cheered me up no end. Reminds me of Bored of The Ringa a little and Cassie Claires Very Secret Diaries a smidge.

This writing should come with a warning that it it may cause your monitor to be sprayed with liquid comestibles so caution should be taken:D.

Re: Bad To The Silly Bone

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

A lot of it is just notes to myself about the story and objects. As I said, it's a plot outline. I'll spare you the first re-write attempt.

And I don't know why I chose an orange, but I do remember I was going to put something about it being an illusion "So don't try to eat it. You'll cut your lips off."

Re: Bad To The Silly Bone

[weyrdbird.livejournal.com]

Dammit. Now I have alka seltzer all over the monitor.

[hedgegoth.livejournal.com]

*wanders up and doown with a "Dragons are Cute, not Evil" sign until he realizes that point is already made.

[tatterdemalion.livejournal.com]

LOL

I have a copy of the next draft I think, the one where it all got a little bit more coherent..

good stuff

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

You have the last version! That story will go no further. I raided it for too many bits for other stories