The First Five Pages: Pacing and Progression

I figured out what is wrong with one of the beginnings to one of my manuscripts. I’m not leading anywhere fast enough. I keep yammering on about the same things, trying to show a certain bit about my one character and instead don’t progress the story enough. That could also be why one agent thought the story wasn’t particularly original. Well, yeah, you’re right. I can see it now, I keep having the protagonist and her friend moan on and on. After the comment, I realised where the problem was, but I didn’t know the name until last night when I read this chapter instead of sleeping.

The plot, however, I feel is original. So, that means I can go in there and do some rewriting and I can fix it. I think.

I’m like the little train that could. I think I can. I think I can.

But, I need to wait awhile. Otherwise all my characters will be murdered wholesale. It will be a virtual slaughterhouse and I will be reduced to Lady MacBeth type behaviours. “Out damn spot!” Although, I’ll be more like, “Out damn paragraph!” and “Out you bloody fool! OUT!”

Hey! It sounds like time to work on my new project again! Either that or read the book I just got on character development, as that will likely help that progression issue. Because really, I think it is the root of the progression problem. I fear that I am not illustrating just how hard up this character is for a good man, thus my need to hammer away scene after scene on this same issue. And thus the plot doesn’t get to progress. And honestly, I would hate to have to fix this type of problem AGAIN in a newer project. So I may as well learn how to avoid it before I do it again.

Still on the subject of progression, I fear (with a different manuscript) that I am not making the readers work hard enough for the story, and that I am just handing it to them. “Here you go folks. It’s like cotton candy. You don’t even have to chew.” Sweet, dude.

So, I suppose it is back to the books again, eh? It’s a good thing I just finished three books this week. (Big Bonedby Meg Cabot. And yes, Heather FINALLY gets Cooper. Thank god. I can hold off on having that aneurysm. I am one chapter away from finishing As Seen on TVwhich has been predictable, but unpredictable and good. And sadly, I am now at the end of my Lukeman Overhaul as I have now, officially, finished The First Five Pages. <Sob> That book, if I ever get published, will definitely be the reason why. If you are a writer–go buy it. Seriously. Now. Go.)

The First Five Pages: Focus Part 2

I think I have mentioned this here and there, but here it is all in one spot.

I find writing by the seat of my pants exciting. There is nothing more exciting. And you are hearing this from the girl who loved the free fall (80 feet) ride at the Calgary Stampede. (They take you up 120 feet and drop you into a net 40 feet from the ground. THAT was fun.) Anyway, I love being a pantster writer.

But I have seen the light.

I find writing with the plot in front of me to be a bit boring. And you are hearing this from the girl who loved writing essays in university. I loved having everything researched and just laying it all out on the paper. Everything fitting so nicely together. Ahhhh…

But as I said, I have seen the light. That means I may have to give up pantster writing.

<Sob>

The works I wrote pantster style have needed SO much editing. The one I wrote plotster style has needed surprisingly little. I didn’t really realise it until well, editing it. But honestly, I didn’t really SEE it until I reached the ‘focus’ chapter in Lukeman’s book. I then proceeded to pull my hair out of my head when looking at my one story. Everything has to be focused? But I don’t know what the purpose is! I don’t know where I was going! It was FUN! That’s all and I think I got a pretty decent story out of it. Then I looked at my other story. The Plotster story. It was heaven to edit. It all had a purpose. I knew where everything was going. Everything added up and propelled the story. And sure, there were some surprises as I wrote, even though it was mostly plotted out. For example, one of the characters wanted her own point of view. It wasn’t tantalising to write and it doesn’t thrill me in the same way as my plotster story. But then again, that could come down to characters. I have some nuts in the one story. In the other, people that I would know. Not so nutty. More real, average everyday. It is less humourous and light.

So, my lesson is this: I need to plot more. It helps in the long run. But I also need to leave room for pantster action. Ooo. That sounds dirty! I need to know my characters and their motivations and where they are going before I start writing. Or at least once I am a few thousand words in. Then I will have focus. Then my work will have focus. And then I will become famous. I will bore myself, but I will be famous.

Ha, ha.