Story Arcs

I’ve been working on the progression in one of my stories and it has been an interesting adventure. It is serving to be much harder to fix than a couple of overused adjectives. Anyway, I created story arcs for the several different plot lines I have going on and lo and behold, the tip of the old arc is not where I thought it was for one of the story lines. Who knew that the big event of the office break-in would be a mere turning point for the main character and not the climax? I didn’t. Heck, I didn’t even really think about it. It was an interesting surprise!

Redreaming the Scene Dream

I’ve been editing the first three scenes of my manuscript based on critiques that I’ve received. In fact, one scene is totally new and I really like it. However, I feel as though the first scene will never be quite right. And the now-third scene is puke-a-rific. I am still not satisfied with it. I think I’m going to have to delete it and rewrite it completely. It’s got some good stuff going on, but there is something not quite right–maybe it is the setting. Redream the dream, right Mr. Frey?

Anyway with some of it, I like the pared down, simplified version. But in some ways, it kills me to slice out bits that I really liked or that my crit partner said was funny. I want funny to stay, but it isn’t helping move the story forward. I am so emotionally committed to some of these descriptions or backstory bits that I don’t want to give them up. But I must. It is for the good of the whole. My god, it sounds like I’m operating on cancer or making war-like sacrifices.

So I am redreaming the dream and hopefully I can make the voice stronger, keep the story unique, move the plot forward in a smoother manner and keep my story standing above the others. 

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.)