Friday, December 29, 2006

The Maze That Is Writing

How many of us writers have started a plot thread only to have it go nowhere? What I mean is, you have a great idea for a character and you write and edit several chapters on it, only to realize it simply won't work in your story. I'm struggling with that now. I have all sorts of interesting events (based on real events according to Herodotus) to weave into my story but I swear tying one event to another is difficult. I believe very much that there needs to be good transition in a book, and all the events in my story take place within a few months, even though in real life they may have been spread out over a couple of years. These events can work together in a shorter time period if I simply make the transition smooth and believable (Herodotus doesn't really give time tables much anyway), but somewhere in there things get tangled. Ack! There's got to be a solution...anyone?

1 comment:

Wynn Bexton said...

It sounds like you have some of the same 'problems' that I have had. My w.i.p. is already far too long, but that's because I have allowed my characters full reign in some places. In scanning over my MSS I see many parts that, in the final draft, will have to be cut. I hate to do it, but have to. And I decided a long time ago not to inhibit myself (or my characters) by reining them in if they wanted to go off on tangents. It has helped me develop strong, realistic characters. I think you probably write the same way I do.
Keep it up. Your writing is strong and realistic. Very exciting stuff.