March 1, 2007 | One Night Stand, crows, writing
I’m too tired to write tonight; have managed 453 words, most of that written in the John Lewis cafe while Fecklet napped in his pushchair. The John Lewis cafe is one of my new writing venues because it is merely a shop floor away from a nursing lounge and a baby changing room. However, it doesn’t do decaf lattes so it is far from ideal.
(Ah, what a change from ten years ago, when my quest was to find a cafe that didn’t mind my chain-smoking Silk Cuts while marking GCSE coursework.)
I’m having pacing problems with this book. For one thing, it’s just slightly longer than my usual books, so I have to adjust my mental measuring stick a little, and I’m not exactly sure how much. I sort of figure I’ll finish the book and then add or subtract.
For another, I’m trying to fit the character arc into the timings dictated by several plot factors: my heroine is pregnant and this book covers the nine months from conception to birth; she is writing a book and the book covers the time from writing to publication; there are a few other things that secondary characters do that either seem to take too much time or too little. I have one plot strand that I cannot figure out what to do with, because I don’t want to wind it up too quickly, but I don’t want it to take up too much space, either.
And of course I have the problem that I’m writing in first person, so the hero’s character arc has to be shown from the heroine’s point of view, and so I can’t go so much into it, and so it’s not quite as easy to make up the word count by exploring his side of things.
Anyway. The crows of doubt are present, but not really looming. It’s more like they’re hanging out in some nearby trees in case they’re needed.
Jessica Raymond says:
Writing a la JK Rowling, I like it
Maybe you could wrap up the plot strand that you’re not sure what to do with at a midway/three-quarters point where the pacing dips a little? Just a thought, feel free to ignore…
Jess x
Julie says:
That is sound structural advice, Jess. The thing is, that the whole reason for the plot strand is to give the heroine an insight into her own emotions that she’ll need at the end of the book. I just can’t figure out how much space to give it. Argh!
Maybe you’re right–three-quarters of the way is the place.
Michelle Styles says:
Just write the book. Trust your instinct. Then when you are finished, you can go back and make sure everything is okay — and the balance is correct. BUT right now, you simply needto write. Says she with a deadline at the end of the month and the book 2/3 written.
Liz Fielding says:
I can’t help you wish writing advice — I don’t know how I do it — but I clearly remember the downside of writing first person is that when you write yourself into a corner you can’t just move the action across town to find out what the hero is doing.
But I still loved doing it. Good luck!
Liz
Phillipa Ashley says:
It’ll be alright on the night Julie… (says she, who has the crows right on her head at the moment). I like John Lewis too as they have nice cakes.
Lynne says:
It’s good to hear you’ve problems Julie, not because I want you to have problems, but because I’ve invariably got something similar, or similar in depth if not content, and it’s so lovely to read your finished work and you’d just never tell it gave you any difficulties at all. They read like the were conjoured out of thin air straight into the magial stories they are. I’m sure this one will too.
I’m really enjoying Driving Him Wild at present.
Do you ever look back at your old writing blog and remember that journey?
Lynne.
Julie says:
They certainly are not conjured Lynne! Lots of sweat, effort, and my telling myself I suck.
I started this blog precisely so I could look back over how I write, and remind myself that the lows are balanced out by the highs!
Pip, I must try JL’s cakes.
Liz, you’re right, it’s fun to write first person, but you do get stuck in that head.
Michelle…yup. Just write. The best advice ever.