It's been so long since I've written an actual post that I'm not even sure where to begin. I suppose I've been stuck in my edits for so long that contributes a great deal to my lack of inspiration. I've been thinking a lot about my goal for the story and what I want it to be and it hit me HARD why I am where I am. Let me explain.
After writing my first book, I sent it off to a friend for my very first critique. She didn't come out and say it, but through her comments (which were awesome and oh so helpful) I realized how boring I'd made the back. All backstory and feeling, very little action. So I decided to start the story earlier. A lot earlier! (Like 10 years earlier. Granted, the timeline keeps changing now and I'm going to start the story up where this book leaves off now, but I'm bird walking...) Anyway, I wrote this second one out and it was so much better! I've had a couple people read it, and for the most part my pacing was dead-on. Not boring at all!
The problems were in a couple of characters that my crit partners weren't connecting to.
1. Show the Second's plans in more detail.
2. Make Syrent more likable.
3. Connect Syrent's story to the main character's story earlier in the book.
My three main goals. At first, these seemed like easy fixes. Add a few chapters here and there. Enlighten readers with more thought process. Etc. Last week, it hit me what I've done. I spent so much time on action, action action that I had left out the emotion. Particularly with Syrent. So my new goal to add to the above three is to make sure my characters are letting their feelings be known. The trick comes in not adding too much so I don't slow down the pace. Wish me luck!
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Best of luck! Pacing is very difficult to nail down, I think.
ReplyDeleteEmotional content can be elusive! Good luck etting that arch down. For me, I plan out the character arc, the plot arc AND the emotional ac. Hopefully it works - time will tell, I guess.
ReplyDeleteOh, the emotional stuff drives much nuts. I had a beta reader comment throughout mine, "how is she feeling?" I thought it was obvious, guess not. I'm with Christine. I figure out my scene's emotional arc and that helps a lot.
ReplyDeleteKnowing what you need to do is the first step toward fixing it! Good luck, Nisa - you'll do great! :-)
ReplyDeleteKeep at it. It can be tricky sometimes.
ReplyDeleteGood luck! I've struggled with the same issue. It's hard to get the right balance.
ReplyDeleteCharacters and emotions are tricky. Good luck! And great to see you back again.
ReplyDeleteAh, yes. The delicate balance of adding more without being boring. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThat's why I don't do fiction, except for VERY short stories. My own "novel" is simply local history, thinly disguised. Of course, no agent wants to touch it either!
ReplyDeletegood luck!
ReplyDeletebtw: you've just been awarded
http://vvb32reads.blogspot.com/2010/02/most-amazing-follower-award.html
Yeah, I'm totally THERE! My next round of revisions is focused on minimizing description to keep a sense of immediacy. I "know" what I have to do, I just have to do it--easier said than done, LOL!
ReplyDeleteI think revisions are a lot like layers. Each pass through gives more enrichment to the novel--I hope! :D