Joshua Palmatier (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
jpskewedthrone) wrote2006-07-26 05:07 pm
jpskewedthrone) wrote2006-07-26 05:07 pm
Good Day, Bad Day
So I wrote yesterday, but it was a sucky writing day. So bad I didn't even feel like posting my "progress" such as it was. Whereas today I feel that the writing rocked. This is the difference between writing a scene that you know has to be there but you have no idea what's supposed to happen in it (yesterday) and one that you know has to be there and you know exactly what's going on in it (today).
My problem yesterday was that the scene was necessary for the plot, but I couldn't figure out what the emotional content of it was. And as everyone knows, all good scenes have to do more than one thing. Without that emotional content, I felt like the scene wasn't working. I bitched about it last night through the magic of IM with![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
pbray and we threw around some options for the main character's emotions at the time, which included strangling everyone in sight and taking a cruise to the Caribbean. What came out of it was that I realized that the plot reasons for why something had to be done meant absolutely nothing to Varis. She had to have her own reasons for it, or it wasn't going to fly. Once I realized that, and figured out her reasons, everything fell into place.
Which is where I picked up today. I think the scenes I wrote today are spectacular. Very emotionally motivated while pushing the plot forward in the background. I rehashed the scene from yesterday so I'm happy with that now as well.
So, overall a good writing day. I'm in that slightly euphoric state after writing a "damn good scene", only somewhat less than the euphoric state you get after completing the novel. I just feel like all of the characters in the scene today came alive, individually, and took the scene to places I didn't expect in a much more powerful way than I'd imagined in my head. Mmm, mmm, good. *grin*
Yes, I realize I'm hugging myself. Back off.
Words!!
The Vacant Throne
PS--My editor will be happy as well, since I go into a little more detail about how the magic works. She likes this kind of stuff. And now that the world is expanding and we're seeing things outside of Amenkor, I can expand on the magic because we can see contrasts with the rest of the world.
My problem yesterday was that the scene was necessary for the plot, but I couldn't figure out what the emotional content of it was. And as everyone knows, all good scenes have to do more than one thing. Without that emotional content, I felt like the scene wasn't working. I bitched about it last night through the magic of IM with
pbray and we threw around some options for the main character's emotions at the time, which included strangling everyone in sight and taking a cruise to the Caribbean. What came out of it was that I realized that the plot reasons for why something had to be done meant absolutely nothing to Varis. She had to have her own reasons for it, or it wasn't going to fly. Once I realized that, and figured out her reasons, everything fell into place.Which is where I picked up today. I think the scenes I wrote today are spectacular. Very emotionally motivated while pushing the plot forward in the background. I rehashed the scene from yesterday so I'm happy with that now as well.
So, overall a good writing day. I'm in that slightly euphoric state after writing a "damn good scene", only somewhat less than the euphoric state you get after completing the novel. I just feel like all of the characters in the scene today came alive, individually, and took the scene to places I didn't expect in a much more powerful way than I'd imagined in my head. Mmm, mmm, good. *grin*
Yes, I realize I'm hugging myself. Back off.
Words!!
| |
37,125 / 100,000 (37.1%) |
The Vacant Throne
PS--My editor will be happy as well, since I go into a little more detail about how the magic works. She likes this kind of stuff. And now that the world is expanding and we're seeing things outside of Amenkor, I can expand on the magic because we can see contrasts with the rest of the world.
no subject
no subject
Er, I mean I'll be going to China and Tibet to research locations for my next novel.
But don't worry. I did all my reading while she was snoozing. I'm an early riser and didn't sleep on the long train ride from LA to SF. ;)