The new first scene really is much better. It’s still not tight enough and I have to concentrate on the characters more so it’s not so much information swapping and is really conflict. I did another polish on it today and it’s still not where it should be, but I’m happy with what I’ve done.
Tomorrow, I’m going to figure out what James’s first scene is. Originally it was in his office, but that’s starting too far back, I think. So I’m shelving that one–he can have that conversation later at Rosemore–and moving up to a zillion words of James in the car with his horrible relatives. Which I will cut by a half to two-thirds. Scylla’s scene can be shorter, too. And then I’ll have the first chapter.
I’d have gotten more done but the Fun Book called to me again and I worked on it for hours. At this rate, the Fun Book and You Again will be done at the same time. Hey, worse things could happen.
Maybe from now on, I should always have a Fun Book, something I can work on without pressure when the Real Book starts to get to me. It doesn’t seem to be interfering with You Again at all, except for the time loss, and it’s making me happy.
Yeah. The Fun Book stays.
Getting the characters right in the beginning–that’s key, isn’t it. I am finding that out with my own wip and now that I see that you are doing the same thing I am a little more relaxed about my own attempts to “polish” everything up before I move on. If it’s not right in the beginning it affects everything that comes after….
And yes, having a Fun Book that you can work on isn’t a bad idea. Especially if it is totally different. It’s the same thing as stepping back from the canvas to take a fresh look and make sure that your original idea still works. Sometimes you just need that break so that you come back to the “real” story with a clear mind. Glad to hear that you are having fun with the whole process.
Oh, but I loved those scenes with James, even the long car trip. I just like spending time with James. Your fault.
Whatever it is, I’m really happy this is working for you. I can’t wait for You Again or the mysterious Fun Book either.
zaza: how did you read scenes with James? huh, huh, huh?
yeah, two Crusie books. oh the horrors, Jenny, the absolute horrors. how ever will we make it through?
So what’s the Fun Book about? Or will talking about it jinx it and make it work?
OH, I’m an ooold Cherry, so I read them in Jenny’s writing workshop, the original one, when she was first working on You Again. She not only got to rip us a new one in critiques, but we got to return the favor. Except, of course, her writing was usually better than ours. Funny how that works.
I keep saying was, not because that workshop is gone but because I haven’t been there in ages. Gotta go back. I miss the critique process.
I always do Fun Books. I’m very prolific, that way, too. The problem is when Fun Books overrun my brainworld, because I also have the littlest ability to say “Enough is enough” to a good thing.
Fun Book. Coffee. Fetching but meaningless YA pixie high-jinks. The list is almost as long as the Fun Book backlist…
Yes. The Fun Book must stay. Because the more Crusie we can get, the better!
Also, from non-writing but life experience, having something that’s fun to do when you get sick of real stuff is the best way to get things accomplished. Because if you just keep banging your head against the Real Work, it doesn’t go well and it makes it worse.
Oh, and Fun Books are fun!
This is great, two new novels. Yay! I like the idea of a fun book. I once did that and wrote the fun one in first person. It was getting pretty steamy by the time I quit *grin* but it was fun and funny and helped me to write the sex scenes in my more serious book.