Digging Deeper

May 29, 2008 | Writing

So I opted to go back to the beginning of my WIP and fix both plot and character problems. When I reread all that I’d written so far, I realized that if I fixed the character issue the plot issue would fall into place. After all, the two are interwoven. It only makes sense that by digging deeper into my characters, addressing how they would really react to a situation instead of trying to force them into doing what I wanted to move the story forward, the sense of rushing would go.

Now I’m going back and really trying get into my characters’ heads–probably what I should have done in the first place–and what’s happening? Why all the those little pacing quibbles are working themselves out. So this week’s lesson to self is to always, ALWAYS, remember to be true to the character and the story will follow.

Mood: Up

Music: Everybody Knows – Leonard Cohen    

Detours and Write Arounds

May 25, 2008 | Books, Writing, life

This week I hit my first snag on the WIP. I’m not terribly worried at this point. These things happen, and fortunately it hasn’t brought the story to a screaming halt. A definate plus. The situation however leaves me with a decision. Do I push on and fix the problem on the rewrite? Or do I stop, go back and fix then move on?

Truth is, I discovered there are two issues that have cropped up. The first, the scenes I wrote last week are leading to a major plot point, but it’s coming up too soon. I need for more information to be revealed before this happens. The second is the romance element has fallen by the wayside while I develop the mystery. Again, this happens. Sometimes I become so fixed on building the story I forget the relationship between the characters and I need to flesh that out some.

This is tricky. I don’t want to spend a great deal of time fixing things further back for fear of losing momentum. At the same time, making the changes now while the ideas are fresh in my head means less work on the rewrite. Hmm, what to do?

I’ll have to deal with the plot point problem immediately, and the write around will be minimal. It’s the fleshing out of the relationship that will be the most work. Hmm. I’ll think on it awhile.

Made a trip to the bookstore last night, and bought three new books because God knows I can’t leave the place empty handed. Today the weather is gorgeous, and what I really want to do is sit in my backyard with a cup of tea (This week’s tea is Bengal Spice, in case anyone cares.) and read one of my new books. What I should be doing is weeding my garden.

So many decisions. 

 Mood: Good

Music: Strawberry Fields – The Beatles

The Sound That Said “Meep” and Other Mysteries

May 22, 2008 | HellHound, life

This morning I’m suffering the effects of lousy night’s sleep. At four a.m. I awoke to a strange sort of intermittent ‘meep’ sound. It’s kind of like a high-pitched squeak. Not terribly loud, but at four in the morning–without any other household noises–it was loud enough to keep me awake.

I’ve managed to track the noise to the front hall, but from there I’m not sure what’s causing it. Maybe the vents or the floors settling. The house is one-hundred-and-thirty-years-old so it makes odd noises all the time, but this ‘meep’ is starting to get on my nerves. I wondered if it could be the battery in the smoke detector starting to die, DH claims he’s sure that’s not it. I remain unconvinced.

Also, in the relm of the unexplained is HellHound’s turquoise back paw. I can’t find anything that he might have gotten into, and whatever turned the fur on his paw that lovely shad of blue/green washed off easily.

Hmm, so many mysteries this morning.

Mood: Perplexed

Music: Cuts Like a Knife, Bryan Adams  

New Website, New Blog

May 20, 2008 | Writing

Welcome to my new blog!!! And my new website. Pretty cool, huh? I’m so pleased with the overall look. It’s so…me. My good friend Karen at Swank did an awesome job.

It’s been a while since I last posted so there’s lots of new stuff. First, I’m finished my edits for Living Lies. The excerpt is now available to read. Less than a month until the release date. I’m so excited. Also, I have a revise and resubmit for The Witch’s Stone which I’m hard at work on right now.

The WIP is coming along, though I did back burner it for a few days while I was wrapping up my edits. I’m also wondering what I was thinking setting the story in Wales. Doing so has led to few hassles that will no doubt create more work when I’m rewriting. But the setting worked so well with mystery element. Oh well, I’ll worry about it when I have to.

Okay, because I’ve spent so much time playing with the new website today, I really need to stop now and get some writing done.