I'm so excited you're doing HDBB!! I want a time turner to propel me to September so I can read it immediately :))
Estimating fic length is a mystery to me -- well not so much a mystery; I usually come up (randomly?) with a number and then I add 10-20k more. While drafting my first fic TMODM, I assumed it'd be 21k (ended up 37k) and this happened again and again, so when I estimated my Erised to be ~28k, I knew it'd turn out longer (~40k).
The interesting thing is I have no idea how I come up with these first numbers. I'm a pantser, I don't do outlines in any sort of way, so I just usually have a "feeling". I often tend to do an estimate after having the written the first chapter or so, but my first chapters/scenes tend to be much shorter than the rest of the fic, which might be why I underestimate. When I get right into the story, a scene of "here's where they do X" becomes a lot more than them doing X, because there's developing emotions and furtive glances and describing how gorgeous Draco looks.
Also as I write, more issues arise that need to be dealt with. Something someone said in the last scene might need to be touched upon later, for example, which would lead to some more dialogue or action.
I'll echo what the others said and advise you to trust the story and trust yourself, and you know -- if in doubt, add more smut. :)))
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2018-03-07 06:58 am (UTC)Estimating fic length is a mystery to me -- well not so much a mystery; I usually come up (randomly?) with a number and then I add 10-20k more. While drafting my first fic TMODM, I assumed it'd be 21k (ended up 37k) and this happened again and again, so when I estimated my Erised to be ~28k, I knew it'd turn out longer (~40k).
The interesting thing is I have no idea how I come up with these first numbers. I'm a pantser, I don't do outlines in any sort of way, so I just usually have a "feeling". I often tend to do an estimate after having the written the first chapter or so, but my first chapters/scenes tend to be much shorter than the rest of the fic, which might be why I underestimate. When I get right into the story, a scene of "here's where they do X" becomes a lot more than them doing X, because there's developing emotions and furtive glances and describing how gorgeous Draco looks.
Also as I write, more issues arise that need to be dealt with. Something someone said in the last scene might need to be touched upon later, for example, which would lead to some more dialogue or action.
I'll echo what the others said and advise you to trust the story and trust yourself, and you know -- if in doubt, add more smut. :)))