With the help of Kaz, who pointed me in the right direction, Dh and I were able to brainstorm the major black moment in my YA. (Okay, dh came up with the idea, but I enthusiastically agreed. *g*) The moment ended up giving us the ending of the book. A crucial piece that was missing. Now all I need to do is figure out exactly how to start the book. There are several openings that I’ve been toying with.
This book is without a doubt the biggest writing undertaking I’ve ever attempted. I will have to create timelines, plot and subplot charts, along with character sheets. It’s extremely intimidating, but if done right will probably turn out to be the best book I’ve ever written. 
I’m thrilled, terrified, and excited.
Like any writer, I worry that I won’t be able to pull it off, but I know if I take my time I can do it. It just may take longer than any book I’ve ever written–which is saying something given the amount of time it took me to write my first person urban fantasy novel a couple years back. I’d always intended this YA to be the first book of a series, but wasn’t sure how I was going to do that given the plot I’d originally come up with. Now there is NO doubt it’s a series. This book went from a relatively little ‘p’ plot to a monster PLOT. I’m not even sure how it’ll unfold over the next few books. I have elements for the next couple of stories, but nothing concrete. I think those things will come after I finish this first book. Luckily, I have as much time as I need since this book isn’t contracted. In this case, that’s a good thing.
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We were working in the bookstore yesterday and I decided to check out Dying Bites, since it’s causing such a ruckus on the interwebs. I read a few pages and ended up buying it. The heroine is a very tough chick. Personally, I like heroines like that, but that’s just me. I also didn’t mind the voice, but I can see not finishing the book if you had a problem with the voice. I think ultimately (along with the present tense point of view) that’s what the reviewer on Amazon had a problem with. The ‘voice’ didn’t click with her. When that happens, no amount of powerful storytelling will help. I haven’t read enough of the book to tell you whether or not I like it yet, but I dug the opening. I look forward to reading it and the other books I’m juggling. *wg*
I told myself I wasn’t going to order anymore craft books, but I ended up breaking my promise. There are a few things I want to work on so I ordered: Writing and Selling the Young Adult novel, Writing for Emotional Impact, Wild Ink: How to Write Fiction for Young Adults, **cough**Midnight’s Master by Cynthia Eden**cough** (That’s a craft book, right? RIGHT?), and the Power of Point of View. I plan to order one more craft book (Steering the Craft), then I’m done. I swear. 
Hooray for YA plot progress. Sounds like lots of good writing books coming your way. You’ll have a chance to incorporate lots of new things writing this one, I think!
I’m with you, not contracted and taking my time doing something different. Which means I have to do other stuff to pay the bills in the meantime, but I don’t want to rush.
by Charli July 5th, 2009 at 5:41 pmCharli, Thanks! I’m thrilled.
I do have a lot of really good craft books coming my way. I’m going to really need them if I want to take this book to the next level.
It’s important to do that for certain projects. We do what we have to do.
by Jordan Summers July 5th, 2009 at 6:01 pmWhat word count are you shooting for on the YA?
by BernardL July 6th, 2009 at 7:53 amBernard, I know that a LOT of YA these days is sitting at 60-65K, but I’m shooting for 80K. There is a lot of story in this first book. My guess is the books after this one might be shorter. I’m trying not to focus on a particular length. I’d like the story to unfold the way it needs to without having to shoe horn it into a space. I have plans for making it extremely readable. I’m trying something really different here with the writing so that even the folks with short attention spans can enjoy the book.
by Jordan Summers July 6th, 2009 at 10:21 amYay!! Breakthroughs are the best, right?
Also, please let me know what you think of WILD INK – I’ve not even heard of it. I might get it if you think it’s good…
by Karen Mahoney July 6th, 2009 at 12:16 pmI hear you about YA. I had a huge breakthrough on a YA recently, pitched it to my agent and she LOVED it, thought it was the most high concept thing that I’d come up with, but now I have performanc anxiety and am afraid I will make a misstep and miss the opportunity this book could give me. It’s scary as hell. But also very exciting.
I did a big amazon order this week, and Dying Bites is on it. I’m looking forward to reading it
by Vivi Anna July 6th, 2009 at 12:20 pmKaren, Yes, they are, especially when they’re helped along by a friend.
I will. I’ve only read a little.
by Jordan Summers July 6th, 2009 at 4:40 pmVivi, YAY! I hear you on performance anxiety. I’m right there with you. I figure I’ll just take it a page at a time. YOU CAN DO IT!!!
I started reading it. The world-building is good. I’m just hoping it picks up a little bit.
by Jordan Summers July 6th, 2009 at 4:44 pmYay – it sounds like you plotted / planned a nice juicy big book – always a good feeling. Being slightly terrified is always a good sign, I’ve found
Oh, and is your friend Kaz’s name short for Kazimierz, by any chance?
by Stephanie Tyler July 8th, 2009 at 10:59 amStephanie, I have. I spent yesterday doing another timeline. I still don’t think it’s complete, but it’s getting closer. Today I’m going to take each timeline point and flesh it out to a paragraph. The chapters in this book are going to be really different, so I can’t do things my normal way. *g*
I don’t think so, but I can ask.
by Jordan Summers July 8th, 2009 at 11:05 am