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Wednesday, April 2, 2014

IWSG: Though My Characters Be Slutty, My novel Be Progressing

IWSG
The last month was a challenge for me. The good kind of challenge.

My new computer arrived and it's incredible. I've named it The Beast and I'm now in a polygamous relationship with my husband and my computer. I recieved a wonderful and helpful ten page manuscript review from a professional editor, Teresa Crumpton, and then I was randomly selected to receive a twenty page manuscript critique from Kristen Lamb. Squeeee!

About chapter nine, the chapter that wouldn't end... Ordinarily my chapters are pretty short(about 2800 words), but I wrote 5,600 words and the chapter wouldn't stop. Part of the problem was tension and pacing. I'm trying to draw out the reunion of two old friends, but they are being SLUTS. They want to kiss and bone and they want to do it now.

I've pretty much been fighting them since chapter eight on this. I made it through nine and I'm still fighting them. I've finally given them an almost kiss but they wanted to go all the way with it. I'm telling you, their loins are AFLAME.

With lust. Aflame with lust. Not with a sexually transmitted diseases. Just thought I'd clarify.

Also, HOLY HELL I'M ON CHAPTER TWELVE!

In other news, I purchased two writing book and I'm really enjoying them both. Scene and Structure by Jack Bickham and Rise of the Machines: Human Authors in a Digital World by Kristen Lamb.

So yeah, I'm feeling really good about my writing life. Fingers crossed that I finish this novel by the end of July.


Sluts.
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10 comments:

  1. UnknownApril 2, 2014 at 1:31 PM

    Sluts.

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownApril 2, 2014 at 1:54 PM

    Congrats on manuscript critique. I love Kristen Lamb's blog! I have a chapter like that...the one that just seems to go on forever! (yeah, that chapter has kissing... and second base)

    I tried cutting. I tried breaking it into two chapters. Finally I took a page from Disney and "let it go" It is what it is, and it's working. Don't get hung up on word count. Your READERS won't!

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    Replies
    1. Christina MitchellApril 2, 2014 at 2:52 PM

      Yeah, Kristen's blog is the best.

      I finally broke the chapter into segment and distributed some pieces to future chapters. It's not so much about word count as it is about being consistant with chapter size. You create a rhythm and speed with the way you structure sentences and the size of your chapters. To suddenly go from consistant ten page chapters to a twenty four page would be jarring and the reader may get bored, as the pace is suddenly cut in half and for no logical reason. It didn't add anything to the story to slow it down. I was just writing and writing because I didn't know how to end it. On the plus side, when it was all said and done, I had enough left over for a future chapter and a half.

      Thank you for stopping by!

      Delete
  3. ClareApril 2, 2014 at 5:00 PM

    Great post. Christina. It made me giggle, a lot.

    I know what it's like having slutty characters. Mine were trying to get it on against the wall at a most inappropriate times. I had to cut that scenes.

    Sounds like you've had an excellent few months, what with the critiques and the progress you've been making with your novel.

    I hope that continues for you!

    Good luck with your April literary endeavors.

    Clare Dugmore Writes

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Christina MitchellApril 6, 2014 at 11:19 AM

      LOL, they almost slept with each other the night they reunited, but I had to put the kibosh on that.

      Thank you for stopping by! Good luck with your April endeavors as well.

      Delete
  4. Tia BachApril 5, 2014 at 9:19 PM

    What a great win to get a Kristen Lamb critique. And isn't it awesome when characters have a mind of their own. Even if they aren't cooperating, we learn from them. I love characters! Computers and I have a love-hate relationship, so I'm envious of your relationship with yours. So much of our lives are on the computer, so it helps when things run smoothly.

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    Replies
    1. Christina MitchellApril 6, 2014 at 11:20 AM

      You have to look at your computer and tell it, "YOU AIN'T THE BOSS OF ME." Say it firmly. They tuck their cord in and do as their told. Usually.

      Yeah it's so interesting how you write a novel and obviously it's your own brain, but you start going in directions you didn't foresee and your characters don't act like you planned. Artist brains are a mystery.

      Thank you for stopping by!

      Delete
  5. Rawknrobyn.blogspot.comApril 6, 2014 at 4:39 AM

    You're funny. I like your sense of humor. Leave it to the sluts to complicate matters because they have no self restraint.

    Thank you for visiting my IWSG post.

    Cheers,

    xoRobyn

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    Replies
    1. Christina MitchellApril 6, 2014 at 11:21 AM

      Thank you! I love your blog as well. You would think that slutty characters would make things easier but nooooo.

      Delete

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