HJ1 - Discussion Topic Options

[evlpez]

After a much-too-long hiatus, Journey to Hogwarts is back! The Mods and Admins (StarWalker, Zymurgy, Evlpez, and Agrippa) have been working to build some guidelines for making this Project Ferret's first novel. We wanted to let you know what we've done and why, as well as invite you to participate in finishing this project, preferably before Half-Blood Prince is published and JK kills off someone we've made a major character.

Our goals in this re-structuring were as follows:

1. To focus the story on a handful of major characters and specifically on James as the protagonist. We felt that the number of characters was getting positively overwhelming. However, realizing that there are some great characters here, we have also planned this to be a seven-book series, with each book focusing on a different character.

2. To re-write Duke's character so that he's not a Malfoy clone. To do this, we played up Duke's muggle roots, made him more of a victim than a bully, and stripped him of his gang of thugs. We think you'll find him much more believable and interesting this way.

3. To write a backstory foundation for the novel to rest on. There's probably more backstory in this re-structuring than we'll ever need; but we hope it will help propell us through possibly seven novels. We've done detailed character sketches of all of the major players, written backstory on the villians, and done a full calendar.

4.To make sure our eleven-year-old wizards talk like eleven-year-old wizards and perform the kind of magic eleven-year-old wizards can do.

5. To cut down on the number of characters related to a canon character. Since we're writing a "next generation" story, some relatives are bound to crop up. But it seemed like everyone we met was related to some one we knew. Many of those relationships have been purned back.

6. To write a complete outline of the plot so that the story has direction. Like the missions for a duel, we have to have direction or we go nowhere fast.

Everything that was written previously has now been edited to fit the new plot outline. Here's what you can do to get involved.

1. Read the new plot outline, backstory, and character profiles. These will give you an idea of where the story is headed and hopefully get you excited to write.

2. Read the edited "story so far". This will help you get an idea of the style of writing we're trying to achieve.

3. Jump in! Please don't be afraid to write or comment on anything that's been done. We've been working on this for a long time, and we're excited to hear all of your comments and ideas.

We look forward to writing with you as we finish Hogwarts Journeys I: My Name is James. (That's the new title.)

[timeturner]

Just had to say to everyone who worked on the rehaul of J2H: Wonderful job. The story is amazing! Thank you for the time and effort that was put into it. It really shows. I can't wait to read (and write) some more!

[timeturner]

I love the whole plot ouline! I was wondering if when posting dibbs to write something, are you calling dibbs on an entire chapter or can you write part of the chapter and the next person starts where you left off? Can you collaborate on a chapter with someone else?

[evlpez]

Absolutely. You don't have to complete a chapter by yourself. Write as much as you're inspired to write.

[StarWalker]

To complement what evlpez said above - the eight edited chapters comprise 52 posts. The smallest number of posts in an individual chapter is three, the most is probably ten or so.

Probably the best way to look at the relationship between the plot outline and posting is to consider the outline as a series of mission statements in a contest. The complete chapter description provides a framework, and the individual sentences in the outline might be looked at as specific items that must be included. When you write, you may want to do just one element, and that's fine, or you may feel ambitious, and want to write an entire chapter, and that's fine too!

Please note: the outline is not a rigid step by step recipe. As chapters are written, the outline becomes a summary of the story so far, and will be corrected to match the actual edited story. Thus the outline today is an indication of where the story is envisioned to go for chapters 9-25, while chapters 1-8 are a quick summary of what actually occurred in those chapters.

To make the point more forcefully, chapters 1-8 in the outline are not the same as they were written, which was shortly after Christmas. In the process of final editing, things got changed, deleted, moved around within a chapter, and even moved from one chapter to another. These modifications were incorporated into the outline just before it was opened back up.

As you're writing, you may find the tale works better if you switch the order of two of the descriptive elements. Go ahead and switch them, or you can ask before you post. If there's a problem, someone will notify you.

One final thought. Final edited chapters are running 2500 to 5000 words; some are a little less, some may be a little more. In terms of editing, I'd rather have 500, or even 250, well thought out and crafted words to work with, than 2500 words chosen to meet a specific word count figure.

Dive in! The water's fine!

[evlpez]

Well I for one am eagerly awaiting StarWalker's installment. How's it going, Clyde? Can you give us a teaser, at least?

[timeturner]

I'm with you Evlpez! Can't wait to see what's next. The whole next chapter is sure to be entertaining!

[StarWalker]

Right on, wrong on! I have removed my dibs and replaced it with the leadup to Dung's tale. I left the following hooks open.

1. Duke is a better than average flyer
2. Philip's fear of heights is in the open, but not explained
3. Why is Duke in Slytherin?
4. Serena may tail the boys to Hagrid's and interrupt early on in the tale, and be included in the original telling.

I eagerly await the story of the Magic Carpet Ride!

Does anyone have a problem with my writing the entire chapter that will contain the Christmas holiday qualification match? If not, I'll start on that now, because there's quite a bit of background that needs to be found/created for that sequence.

[evlpez]

Excellent installment, Clyde!!!

[agrippa]

I felt that I need to write this next section, but I was afraid to "dibs" it because I didn't know when I'd have time to write. But I found some time, and so I put it up!

Enjoy!

[evlpez]

Oh, excellent, Agrippa! I was so looking forward to seeing Dung, but couldn't get the scene planned in my head at all. I'm glad you wrote it!

I've called dibbs on the rest of this chapter.

[StarWalker]

Indeed, agrippa, most excellently done!!

And evlpez, I look forward to reading the chapter conclusion. I guess I'll have to look at what comes next now.

I'll be off next week for the most part. I have to deliver a Prius to my cousin in Arlington, TX, and will be leaving Monday morning from Kenosha, WI, returning sometime Thursday. So, agrippa, if a portly, old, white-haired man knocks on your classroom door Wednesday, for heavens sake let me in!

This post has been edited by StarWalker: Mar 5 2005, 10:01 PM

[agrippa]

LOL - if you wind up in Austin on your way from WI to Arlington, you will be lost indeed. Hope you have a very pleasant drive.

[StarWalker]

...you will be lost indeed...

True enough, but another cousin is riding down with me, and she will want to do something Wednesday, before we jump on the plane Thursday. I doubt we'll get down there, but you never know!

[evlpez]

Chapter 9 is now complete.

Who's going to start Chapter 10, now?