When I was on my morning walk yesterday, I realized that those sweet wonderful pages that I wrote on my new story will have to be CHOPPED.
Yes, chopped.
I started the story in the right place, but allowed too much time to pass prior to my character doing something. Thirty-three day and she only made a couple of escape attempts.
THIS DOES NOT COMPUTE!
I need to change the timeline. I need to make her think she's 'escaping', but really they are letting her go. And I need to have her one ally betray her on purpose. AND I need to come up with hidden agendas by a couple of the bad guys!
AND since this is part of a quadrology, I need to start interweaving the other three story lines through this first book.
Aarrgghh!
This is driving me nutso!
*deep breath* First things first, right?
1) write the damn story
2) worry about motives later
3) worry about weaving other story lines in later
4) write the damn story and quit editing myself
There. I feel better now. How about you?
Later, Peeps, I have a story to write!
I feel your pain -- am having trouble with a new beginning, too. I introduced NINE characters -- yep, 9 -- in about eight pages. My agent says, "Really?" (Okay, I exaggerate.)
ReplyDeleteI need all the characters but have to find a way to make it less overwhelming to the reader.
Hmm, think I'll set it aside and work on the book that's already been sold.
:-) too funny, Marilyn! My problem was that I lost my voice by switching to third person instead of first. I'm starting to think I can't write in any POV other than first person!
ReplyDeleteSo, I'm starting over, and yes, I like this beginning a little better, but I don't think I'll have enough ready to enter WTMB unless the deadline is postponed. :-(
Yeah, stop beating yourself up and just write. Too much analysis is as bad as none at all sometimes.
ReplyDeleteI've finally wrangled the beginning of this new story into submission!
ReplyDelete