(Hmm. Maybe that title could be misinterpreted. Oh well, maybe I’ll get some interesting people visiting after a Google search.)
I totally love it when you’re writing a scene and suddenly the characters, the setting, the action all come to life and all you’re doing is transcribing it.
Truly, cutting the 30,000 words I’d already written on this novel and starting all over again from the beginning was a very good thing to do. Instead of lacklustre plodding, I’ve got scenes that jump off the page at me. It was painful to cut, but it was worth it. I now have three good chapters instead of six sucky ones.
What’s your best writing moment been lately?
I am writing about a secret love, one the charcaters don’t even realise they’re in! But, am enjoying writing it. Knowing you have cut 30K is so heartening, as I have just had to chop a whole character out and rework all the scenes, etc, etc, and it makes me think maybe I’m coming along this learning curve rather nicely. Then of course, the self-doubt will kick in again!
It’s wonderful to be a part of your characters’ relationship, isn’t it Lara? We definitely have to make the most of all the enjoyment and fun bits, because the self-doubt is always waiting in the wings…
That must have really hurt, but the end results are probably better. I wish I could say I had a best writing moment this week, but I’m sure it’ll come soon. Thanks for sharing.
The end results are definitely better, Clarissa.
Here’s to lots more best writing moments for you!
Hi Julie,
My best moments recently have been listening to my inner voice.
So I lost a prologue that didn’t feature my lead character. Now the reader only knows what she knows, when she knows it which I think works better.
Then my inner voice began bugging me about something else – did Kitty (heroine) have enough obstacles to overcome along the way? I began to think not. Then a throwaway remark by a friend who’s read about three quarters of the novel confirmed that once again my inner voice was right. It’s only taken about three scenes but it does mean that Kitty is now in more peril … and it allows the hero (slightly flawed) to be more heroic!
Whilst writing this book, I’ve cut thousands and thousands of words – at one point it was up to 143,000 words! The word count has been up and down since then and is now around 120,000. I think that sometimes you have to write it all out for yourself before you start editing.
It’s great that you’ve now got three really good chapter.
You’ve made my day Julie! I’ve deleted thousands of words lately. More than I’ve written. But there’s hope that I could get three really great chapters
My editor sent revisions asking for a new opening. It meant hitting the delete key on about 15k, and rewriting the whole first third of the book.
But I also LIKE it a lot better. It feels tighter and more “sparky” as she likes to say. I have a better sense of character I think. Sadly, changing so much means there is lots of rewriting to do in the last 2/3 as well…LOL.
Oh and it is funny how you can change SO much and yet still have the same story with the same characters. That has been interesting to see!
Just like you cutting the word length. I feel that cutting out lots of scenes have made the wip sharper and concentrated on the girl’s story more. I now know whose story it certainly is. Still 2000 words to cut though.
Not sure if this counts as a great moment, but I have realised I need to make my heroine much more tipsy in one key scene than she was previously. It’s hard to do – but the result should be worth it!
Finally realising that all the editing is starting to pay off – the book has come alive. Hurrah!
(LOVED Nina Jones by the way!)