Saturday, October 17, 2009

Developing my fictional world

I feel like I haven't done much - but in reality I have taken my book from novella to novel. I finally broke the 50K word mark.

I'm trying to find the balance between being descriptive and overloading the reader with too much detail. When I speak - I am a rambler. I have worked so hard to NOT ramble in my writing that I have made it too succinct.

It always comes down to balance, doesn't it?

I finished another round of edits, and I am getting the manuscript reviewed by another person. However, I know I have to increase the book by 50% so I have continued to write and fill out what scenes I keep identifying as needing help.

One weird problem I have - this book is written from a man's perspective, which I have been mostly successful to date - but I have both sex and kissing scenes in it. I'm having a really hard time writing these scenes in general but especially writing them like a man. Normally when I am struggling on a perspective or style issue, I try to read books I like which parallel that aspect - but I can't even think of an example of a sex scene written from a guy's perspective.

Ooh - just thought of one, but I can't remember the name or author of the book. It's about a Druid, at the time of Caesar, who ends up befriending Vercingetorix - there's a few "action" scenes, including some for ritual purposes, and the protagonist is a man.

Off to start googling and finding this book! If you can think of it - or have another recommendation - please let me know!

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Still Pushing Through

I never expected to be struggling so much through these final stages. I need to get my revision finished this weekend, because I have someone lined up to copyedit starting next weekend. There is no way I will get writing done during the work week.

The goal for this work is to be able to start querying agents in January.

I am still working through the notes of the last round of edits/recommendations. She gave really great feedback, and this has been immensely helpful. It is really interesting to see how another person interprets the clues and foreshadowing I include throughout the book. This was exactly what I needed to see! She has also been really great in identifying scene or characters I need to flesh out to make it more satisfying to the reader.

On a side note, did you hear about the sister site near Stonehenge which has been discovered? The new nickname seems to be Bluehenge. I am trying to see if there is a way to appropriately include it in my book. I haven't gotten up to the Stonehenge and Woodhenge scenes yet, so I will probably see it this afternoon.

Here is a link if you want to read about this discovery: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1217752/Henge-stones-Unearthed-site-monuments-little-sister.html