It aint a secret that the count has been in flux lately. 35,40,35,40. Despite this, WDYMICD?’s chapter progression is already drafted, start to finish. I know how exactly how it is going to end (and I WILL end it). I also know all of the things I need to touch on before that ending hits, and when to bring those things up.
The original projection of 40 chapters came out of internal anxiety over the dismal word counts of the first 7 chapters, which I invoked to prevent meandering on useless day to day shit before the good stuff (if I’ve learned anything recently, it’s that I’m no longer putting in anything I consider to be plot progression alone). I expected to consistently write at an episodic 2k, with an additional 7-10 chapters over the projected total. Additionally, I expected to make an alternate, expanded version of the first scene when everything finalized.
However, many concepts once thought to take up one chapter have taken three. Most of this is attributed to the idea generation process before each chapter, when “micro-management” begins to kick in. And thanks to a process clean-up, my potential daily word count is now resting around 6-8k. That being stated, while this would logically point to an expansion of the total at a 2k, I’m willfully shifting to longer and longer word counts per chapter. 35 is a resultant of that projection.
The 40 chapter total may come back if I grow close to the end and feel like the ending hasn’t been given its proper time.The last chunk of the work is going to be the most important, as well as the most worthwhile, so I’m never risking rushing it through. The expansion of the first chapter may be reconceived as a 3-13 chapter fic displaying perspectives on running events- which would not be able to be seen without needlessly dragging out the original. I also plan to draft a few entries elaborating on portions of the world.
I have 3-5 other ideas kicking around for my next project, rendering all “extras” an option, rather than a work of necessity. When something enters the formal planning stages, I’ll let you guys know.
Just a heads up- today’s What Do You Mean I Can’t Die? update might drop down a little late. Rest assured that there is a fair amount of progress done on it, so it will be done well before the night’s end, but I got preoccupied with some other work in the beginning half of the day, haha.
To those that have read it until this point, and to those that have read it until this point and left kudos, thanks! You guys are hella rad.
