Due to last week's blog posts, I've had an epiphany and might, just maybe, be able to fix my WIP.
I was feeling like my heroine was a little boring and the pace was a little off. I'd been thinking it was just the kind of book I was writing. It's more women's fiction than suspense. It's not supposed to be a heart-pounding thrill ride. Then I read Molly's post about copping out. Eesh. That was EXACTLY what I was doing. Just because it's not a suspense novel doesn't mean it should be dull.
I still wasn't sure exactly what was wrong, though. Then Maureen posted about embracing your inner villain. I started thinking about how much work I'd put into the villains of Vanished in the Night which comes out in August. I did, too. I knew all about them. I knew what motivated them. I knew their goals and their feelings. In a lot of ways, they drove the story and while I don't think anyone will root for them, they are pretty interesting.
I'm not feeling that way about the heroine in my WIP. She's reacting to what's happening. Other people are driving her. She's drifting. Eventually she gets a clear goal and goes for it, but she's not doing that at the beginning of the story. I'm sure if I met her, we'd be great buddies, but on the page . . . zzzzzzzzz.
I realized that was what I had to do. I had to figure out a way to make her more active. To make her drive the story, But that's going to mean a lot of rewriting. A lot of tossing of scenes I've already written. It's going to be hard. Then there was Steph, reminding me that as a romance writer I should revel in eating the hard.
Finally, Sinead reminded that it's important to really dig into the book. Don't get distracted by diddling around with a word here and a word there. Dig in. Do some work.
Well, I'm doing it. Thanks, my sweet drunk blog sissies. This one's for you!
6 comments:
oh, now I get the sunday post...I feel like we just got toasted with all the work you have to do. I remember Steph's post about throwing them in the dumpster - that kept me busy for weeks!!!
I'm pretty sure when we started this blog we were positive there would be no followers - this was totally an exercise in keeping writing front and center and trying to articulate what was bothering us about...whatever was bothering us. When Maureen got too smart for us and wanted outside help, I'm so glad she asked you and Steph - you're exactly the kind of smart we need around here. Good luck with the work!! Molly
It is so overwhelming sometimes. All the things we have to think about to pull a story together again and again. And yet.... we do it. :)
Sometimes we do it with a ton of swearing, rude finger gestures, and sneering - at my computer screen.
But to know I'm not the only insane person out there and can go to smarter people for help and advice, makes it all a little easier.
I'm so happy to be here, too! It helps so much. My only regret is I'm too far away from you all! I want to come drink coffee and beer with you!
We wish you were here, too, Eileen!!!!
Ditto on the "I don't know what I would do without this blog."
When things are going good in the writing - it's a fun blog with lots of great information.
When things are going bad in the writing... it's freakin oxygen for me. I need it like a dying person.
So thanks for all the great posts!
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