It’s easy to get carried away when you get way too involved with your characters. You love them and want to share to the world every little detail that you can possibly conjure up in that little creative noodle of yours about who they are, what they are doing etcetera…etcetera…etcetera. However, being an avid reader myself, when a writer begins to ramble on about the main character’s every ache and pain, don’t you wish they would just cut to the chase already.
As a writer this can be difficult to some or perhaps many of us. I think I’ve come to the point of my story where I need to start summarizing more and less spewing every itsy bitsy intricate detail till I have over a hundred pages of pure Snoozeville.
Remember in certain circumstances - less is more!
After weeks of negligence I finally finished Chapter 19 and made it to Chapter 20 of TBO last night. TBO– initials for the few who know their true meaning. Am I getting any closer to the finish? Hell no! I keep adding, adding and adding. The plot yet thickens again. I’ve taken my dear sweet characters on such a rocky ride I’m not even sure what is going to happen next. I’m excited to find out though especially in the next month or so. My finals finished on Saturday and I have over an entire month to dedicate myself to my novel. Yeahhhh!!!! The joy, especially around the holiday season, to be able to hang with my old friends again is such a real treat.
When you have homework piling in corners of your house, boxes that need to be sorted and emptied out after a recent move, and a seven year old son who needs tending to on a daily basis when do you find the time to write. Sheesh! That is a question I’ve been having the most difficulty resolving these past few weeks. Regardless of my recent deadline I appointed myself I haven’t written anything in weeks except for today. Finally, I opened my story up this morning and began to type away. That’s right – a break through! Woo hoo!
I couldn’t stop thinking about my story last night that I absolutely had to put all other matters on hold and type away at my very neglected chapter. And to my surprise I instantly fell back in love. Honestly I don’t care if anyone else doesn’t understand or love my story because I love it. I’ve already considered the fact that its going to be put on hold again due to finals however I didn’t want it to sit untouched for too long before my break hits in the middle of this month. I’m looking forward to spending my days filled with my characters, my Apple Pro and me.
There is nothing like the utmost satisfaction of finishing a chapter. When you plan on writing a novel, which could be anywhere between 200 some to 800 some or more pages, chapters are the steppingstones that climb up to the very tippity-top to reach the ultimate goal – a completed manuscript. Chapters also make writing a lot less intimidating. A goal of twenty pages isn’t as frightening to look at than lets say 600 or so pages.
So far during my journey the writing is going a bit slow due to the fact that I’m going to school full time and my teachers love to gang up on me with assignments, however I’m doing my damned-est to write every single day. Since I started my 1-year writing project I have written two whole chapters. Despite the fact that my chapters are merely 8-10 pages long, at least that is two chapters more towards the finish line.
Chapters can also be however long you want them to be. I have chapters that are over twenty pages long and some that are a mere five. Chapters are little small stories that make up one big long story, like a sitcom during prime time television. There are also chapters in life. Some that we nostalgically crave to repeat and some we wish it would end as quickly as possible. But as in life chapters must end so a new one can begin. When should you end a chapter? That’s for you to decide my friends.
After I opened my story up for the first time in months I instantly fell back into it. Although I ended my last chapter in the most exceptional way, I can’t remember where I was going next with it. I know there was a plan but I’m not sure what. UGH! This is why you should both write ideas down the moment they arrive and never walk away from your story for too long a period. I’m hoping with this new project and goal I set for myself this particular problem won’t happen again. Being fairly new to writing I can only imagine how much easier the second book is. There are so many things I would change about my writing process. But no doubt it’s a live and learn situation.
Following tonight’s writing session I’ll provide an update on my progress. I’ve actually psyched myself up for my fun filled night of writing. A tall cup of hot tea, my Apple and hanging with old friends (characters) by candlelight – does it get any better than this?
