This is the eighth of twenty-five blog posts to celebrate my twenty-fifth published novel, A Skye Full of Stars. This blog piece is self-explanatory, titled ‘Familiar blunders when writing a novel’…
Familiar Blunders When Writing a Novel
There’s something about the first 10,000 words of a novel. I like them because (usually), nothing has gone wrong.
It’s after that problems might begin. They may include, but are not limited to, the following…
- I’ve begun the book in the wrong place. I get a MUCH better idea for Chapter 1. And probably Chapters 2-4, also. There’s no point carrying on with the angle I’d first thought of so I rewrite what I’d written from the new angle. Much better.
- I update my cast list and find I have four characters whose names begin with J or two characters called Peter. I make the necessary adjustments to my cast list and to my manuscript.
- While I’m at it, I update my timeline, find I’ve messed it up and have to go back and sort it out. I make the necessary adjustments to my manuscript.
- I get involved with promo for the last book and return to my WIP in short bursts. I lose continuity and realise I have far too many ideas for one book. It will end up about 300,000 words long.
- I feel like one of those people who keep fifty plates spinning on thin sticks. I’m worried I’m not keeping them all going, and I go back and read and edit what I have so far.
- I realise that the dynamics between certain characters are not coming out as I thought they were. I make the necessary adjustments to my manuscript.
- I realise that I do NOT have too many ideas for one book. I have too few. I panic and feel sick and begin scribbling new plot ideas on post-its. I may turn to chocolate.
- I find a hole in my plot. For some reason, the knowledge comes to me when I’m either on a train or in the shower. I worry a lot. Sigh. Make notes as soon as I can. Make the necessary adjustments to my manuscript.
- I stare at the 63,449 words of my manuscript and know that I’m going to sweat over unknotting my plot lines and bringing the book to a satisfying ending … so I write a blog entitled Familiar Blunders When Writing a Novel.
