What I’ve Been Doing…
Working on the chapter from hell, that’s what!
You know, the one where it’s all that sticky, emotional, character-layering stuff and not the fun easy-to-write action with some of Robin Hobb’s ‘strange magic’ thrown in by way of extra Fantasy goodness.
And what’s more, where the characters would have you know it’s all about them and they’re not satisfied with being coat hangers for the plot to conveniently hang off! I mean, I ask you, characters talking back and giving the author sass… How does that work?!
But finally, after what I can only describe as something resembling the week from hell, where I really felt like that chapter was giving me a severe drubbing, I was finally able to sit back—around about mid-day yesterday—and say: “Phew, Phew! Think I finally got that one whupped!
Until second draft time, of course, when naturally all prior bets will be off!
But until then…
… I guess it’s on to the next chapter, which I for one sincerely hope will go a tad easier on the author! Just sayin’…
Is that a bookmark? (distracted by the shiny)
Well, I guess it could be (hadn’t thought of that!) but at this stage it’s just some WALL world art done by the series’s mapmaker Peter Fitzpatrick. I agree though, definitely ‘shiny.’
Hope the next chapter goes a little easier on you. Damn those characters and their unwillingness to just do as you’d like them to. But then, that is half the fun of writing, unruly characters 😉
Well it was a very satisfying feeling when I did finally get there yesterday.:) The downside though is the ‘struggle’ seems to have brought back my midwinter ills—but am trying to stave it off as #badforwriting
Sorry the characters are giving you problems, but the book will be better for it I’m sure. And that would make a great bookmark for the series.
Sarah, don’t be sorry for me, be happy for my readers — because usually when the characters start ‘talking back’ the end result, as you so rightly suggest, is a stronger story and there’s absolutely no downside to that for author or reader, I suspect!:) And yes, I am liking the bookmark idea myself… Thanks to Paul for sowing it!