Write Day Friday 10/15/2010
 
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In my last Write Day Friday entry on September 24, I wrote about how I was winning the “Procrastinator of the Year” Awards and not making much progress on my manuscript.

Well, I’m happy to report that I’ve located my mojo and made great progress in the editing/rewriting of Second to None. I’m only halfway through the book, but that puts me a lot closer to the end than I was in September.

I attribute part of my success to FINALLY figuring out what’s driving my hero, Jeremiah. I knew Dee well because she was a secondary character in my first manuscript. I knew how outrageous and outspoken she could be, and what was driving her. When I started this MS, I thought I knew Jeremiah, but really I didn’t.

I struggled with him all throughout the first draft and into this second draft. In my gut, I knew something wasn’t right, but I couldn’t figure out how to fix it. J&D have a history and they both bring baggage from that past into the present. I knew why Dee was reluctant to get involved with him again. I gave him a reason for being upset with her, but I knew there had to be a deeper underlying reason for that anger to be justified.

I was beyond relieved when this part of his backstory popped into my head. It made so much sense and will make the book infinitely better.

If nothing else, I’ve learned that I struggle with characterization. Coming up with a basic plot is the easy part for me (so far, anyway). Trying to figure out who the characters are and what drives them is another story. But figuring that stuff out is so necessary. Plots are great, but the reader has to care about the characters in order to become fully invested in the story. The characters have to be unique and real and relatable and flawed. That can’t happen if I, the writer, have no clue who they are.

But, hey, the first step is admitting you have a problem, right? I bought a couple of writing guidebooks I hope will help me for future stories. I plan to read them after I finish Second to None. I’ll let you know what, if anything, I get from them.

So how’s your writing going? Do you struggle with characterization or is that your strong suit?

xoxo,
Jamie

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As I mentioned last week, I finished the first draft of Second to None. I got a few critiques, which were mostly positive. One compliment I received was that I did a good job of weaving in the backstory, which put a smile on my face. I’d worried. (Of course, I worry about everything, but this had been a major concern). 

The backstory is especially important in this story because the hero, Jeremiah, and the heroine, Dee, knew each other in college. Their history is important, but it can’t overwhelm the present. The story is always about the present.  This home truth was always in the back of my mind as I wrote, so I did my best to reveal it only as needed, while keeping the plot moving forward.

I also struggled with the big reveal of their past conflict. As it stands now, Dee recounts the story to her best friend. However, I’m almost positive I’m going to change it to a flashback scene. I think it’ll have a bigger impact if the reader can see and hear what happened, instead of just being told about it.

Originally, way back when, I had planned on the scene being a flashback, but then I started reading blogs that equated flashbacks with the devil. These blogs also pooped on prologues, and I definitely have one of those bad boys in my first manuscript. The way I figure it – I already broke the rules the first time around, why stop now?

As the experts say, know why you’re breaking the rules. Don’t break them just for the sake of breaking them. I do know, therefore I am.

In other words, the flashback is back. I hope it works as well on paper as it does in my head.

That’s where I am now with the writing.

What about you? How’s your writing going?

xoxo,
Jamie
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