So I have what appears to be the ending to the third book. It's a doozy. Yea, so apparently there'll be a third book. And some serious shake-ups in the second one so that this ending can come to pass. Also, I'm apparently quite an evil someday author to my characters. If I were my characters I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be speaking to me right about now.
Don't get me wrong. I'm thrilled to have an ending for the third one (assuming I can find a plot for the rest of it), but what I really want right now is a word count for the first book. You know, the one I'm supposed to be working on ...right now... sigh.
Also, I have upwards of 60 messages from 2YN sitting in my inbox. It would not be out of line to say that the thought of wading through them all is intimidating.
Edit: Ending for 3rd very roughly written. Now maybe I can get back to writing the current story.
I realized (sadly) that I have a long way to go before I can write/describe well scenes that explore deep emotion. Any deep emotion. It so did not play out on paper the way it played out in my head. The transfer felt like it left it lifeless and lacking in the emotional punch it should have had. It's a crazy big moment and I failed to deliver. Sure it's just a rough but still. This would be one of those moments too where you realize how and where, exactly, first person can be extremely limiting. How to show not tell what's happening to characters when the one doing the telling is damn near in a state of breakdown. It's less realistic to assume that anyone that inconsolable is going to be cataloging every last nuance that would so effectively show said inconsolable breaking down. I'm more than willing to hear solutions if anyone has them.
6 comments:
Ah I know that feeling of it doesn't turn out on paper as it is in your head. It's happening to me with 2Yn and the book that I am currently editing; so far I have thrown the first four chapters, I don't look forward to the rest.
I don't really have many suggestions for your problem, but you could maybe try what Stephanie Meyer did in the last Twilight book, or you could change to a third person POV for the third book, I have read a series where every second book was first person and the rest where third.
Sorry I can't be more helpful, but cheer up, I'm sure the scene is no where near as bad as you describe ^_^
Gah I hate that feeling so much! I get this beautiful movie like quality going and then when I try to recreate it, poof! Gone. :(
Ohhhh blackfire, I'm sorry you had to throw 4 chapters. :(
Hmmmmmm
You know, I've been thinking along similar lines actually. My idea's a little more radical, I'm not really sure how it would be met by potential readers.
I was debating occasionally pulling out of the first person view and going into something wider in scope (not sure which POV yet though). But, I think I will also consider alternating POV (first versus third or something) for different books. Thanks for the idea! No idea why that didn't occur to me.
No, no, you were a help. Big thanks!
Ahhh, I'm sure it was actually pretty bad. Way too much show and not enough tell because I am completely stumped on how to "show" effectively from the 1st person pov of someone losing their shit. My feeling is that they're going to be way to distracted to be noticing all the things that would help convey how in pieces they are and how it's affecting someone else.
I'm pretty sure I can't post the snippet because you (and anyone else following it) would NOT appreciate the massive spoiler.
I've seen books work with alternating chapters in first person and third, and I've seen it work well.
Ten to one it's really not as bad as you think it is, like Blackfire said. Mind you the only way to be sure of that would be to let us maybe beta read but I understand about you not wanting to spoil us.
Though I'd be willing to over look this because well, I'm a filthy shameless reading-whore who would very much like something GOOD to read. Was that too much emphasis? Sorry, I'm bitter. My reading material has left much to be desired as of late.
As you may or may not have noticed I'm bad with advise, will you take encouragement instead?
I bet that it's not really that bad, but I will let you think that . . . for now. That's what we have second draft for right?
Yeah it sux that I had to drop so many chapters, but I have absolutely no doubts that 96% of the book will actually be re-written completely, it's horrible. But I have been able to pull a lot of worldbuilding, etc out of it for notes and I think that the story will be much stronger the second time through, so I'm not worried.
I agree with Soleil, I would still read it even though it's a spoiler, but I understand why you would want to keep it under lock and key so to speak, lol. But why don't you just file that scene away, you can come back to it later with a fresh perspective I find that with my writing, if I come back to it after a while, I am able to look at it much more objectively. Then you can have a look at the two other books some more, and try and fit them into the ending later on. You see, you have your ending written down now, so you won't forget it, there is no limit to what you can do with it now. But you don't have to force yourself to deal with it straight away, maybe you can't make the scene the way you want it just yet because there is something in your writing that you need to write first in order to get a feel for the emotion.
Well that's just a little advice from me, I hope that you are able to use it, and you find it helpful. I just find that sometimes there are scenes that I just cannot write properly until I figure out something that has happened prior. ^_^ But then again I am very linear, so you will probably have to adapt it to suit your style ^_^
Good luck with the outcome anyways, *hugs*
Thanks both of you. :)
@solei lol I understand. My own reading list (fictionwise at least) has been pretty disappointing lately. I think I'm gonna sit on it for now and visit it some other time. I got the gist of the scene down at least. I have 2 books before I need to make sure it works. I really need to stop worrying about it and worry about the more immediate stuff (like, ohhh, my CURRENT wip).
I will definitely take encouragement. :) Thank you very much!
@black I'm gonna take your advice and put it away for now. I think my brain's using it as a needless distraction anyways so, bad brain! Bad! I think your last bit of advice there was awesome thanks. You're right., sometimes you can't write a scene correctly until you figure out the missing bit and this has definitely got to be one of those times I'm sure.
Meanwhile I have GOT to get my ass in gear and get my word count going. It's all well and good to say that life is busy, but sooner or later I have to make it all work out somehow.
Thank you both again!
^_^ Well I'm glad I could be of some help. Can't wait to see your progress in the assignments :D
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