I've always admired Captain Moroni ever since I was little. He was one of the first scripture characters I latched on to (besides the obvious ones like Nephi and such). I'm also one of the weird people who likes the war chapters in the Book of Mormon. I find them fascinating. Anyways, when I was about 14 or 15, I got an idea for a book. A book about Captain Moroni. How he became chief captain, his life beyond the battle field, etc. Unfortunately back then, I was still an unexperienced writer (not a
bad writer, mind you, just unexperienced). I did finish an entire novel, I probably still have it stashed away somewhere. However, that's what it is: stashed away. I had written many books through my life up to that point, but none of them had I considered golden ideas. But then I came up with this one and I began thinking… "what if I tried to publish this?" Well, I was young and ignorant back then, I didn't really know what it took to get a book published, so that first draft never amounted to anything, and it disappeared into the background.
However, it never completely left my mind. Through the years as I wrote many other things, I would always think about this book. It was the winner book. I had an outline for it which I drafted and redrafted, wrote and rewrote. The story has gone through some major changes since I first got the idea. (At one point, he was in prison. Yeahhh.)
Finally, about two years ago, I sat down and decided "I'm going to write this book". In the recent years, I've felt that I'm cut out to be a writer. Like that's the direction I should be going with my life. So, I decided why not start with my "winner book", the idea that's stuck around for so many years? So I sat down and began to organize things. I was at school at the time, so I had plenty of research on hand too. I managed to write the first chapter… and it wasn't total crap!
That was two years ago though, almost three. I still struggled with writing. I just… didn't really know how to go about it still. I had my outline and everything, but I would still get stuck on little details, certain bits of information, how I wanted to describe something, where something should take place, stuff like that and then just give up. Possibly for weeks/months at a time. I was stuck in chapter 6 for the longest time. Literally like 4-5 months. I would open the document and either stare at it forever, then close it, or else write like two sentences, then erase them and go do something else.
Finally, a couple months ago, I took a creative writing class. I submitted the first chapter of the novel and my teacher gave me advice on how to go about writing it. She told me it had a lot of potential, but not to get hung up on the details. She said to just push through it until you're finished. That I should just write it, then go back and start rewriting things and start paying attention to the details later. LATER I could go back and edit and rewrite and edit and rewrite and edit and rewrite.
After that I finally gave it a try, and it worked. I just pushed through it, not caring how terrible it might sound (to an extent), knowing I could come back later and fix it. I just barely finished chapter 13.
There's about 3,000 words per chapter. Now, on a really good day, I can write an entire chapter in one day, but usually I get around 1,500- 2,000 words. I carry a little notebook in my purse so I can write if I'm just sitting around without my computer (like on my lunch break at work). I'm anticipating at least 30 chapters, about 90,000 words.
I was tired of my slacking on the book. I had previously set several different goals for it to be finished, but I would always fall through. So at the beginning of the year, as my New Year's resolution I decided to set a reasonable date for it to be finished by: the end of April. Back in January I hadn't received that advice from my teacher yet, so I thought four months would be long enough for me if I just did a little bit every day. I knew I would have to really force myself. And I was determined to… But then, I fell back into my old ways and the months began to pass. However, one day I decided "OK, Kelsi. You set your goal. You still have time. If you work really hard, you can still do it." So, I put my teacher's advice into play and just started writing. And I've been writing ever since.
Now just starting chapter 14, I can semi-confidently say that I might actually meet my intended goal.
I wrote a (kind of lame) synopsis of the book a long while back. But it does sum it pretty nicely:
"War is coming for the Nephites.
After the wicked city of Ammonihah is destroyed, it sets off a chain events that are unstoppable. With a potential Lamanite threat and trouble brewing within their own walls, Chief Captain Zoram does his best to prepare the army and the people for what lies ahead in the near future. But it may take a greater man than him to carry his nation through.
Moroni is a pacifist young man recently arrived in Zarahemla from the city of Sidom with several other converts, along side the prophet Alma. As he meets new people in his new home-- including the cheerful Lehi and capricious Mira-- and attracts the attention of the Chief Captain with his bold actions and strategic thinking, he begins to discover exactly what the Lord has in store for him.
One young man's journey as he realizes that sometimes it is necessary to fight to defend your liberty and freedom."
The working title is "Chief Captain". In the olden days, it used to be called "Shaken Forever" (see Alma 48:17).
So, we'll see what the future brings. Wish me luck on getting this puppy finished!
I made this for my desktop since I'm on my computer a lot.
Check out my graphics post HERE
