03 April 2019

Can This Book Write Itself Already??

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Here we are again! I think I've gotten into the habit of checking in with these posts on where I am with my third draft of Uneven Lines. Last month I was on Chapter 24. Things went a little differently  than I expected because I was creating a GIANT subplot chapter, which I wasn't really comfortable with. I only have a few super long chapters in the book and they're really only that way because they take place over the course of one day. I decided to break up this chapter by scenes.

So, suddenly Chapter 24 was magically done! And I'm almost done with 25. I literally just have one snippet of a scene to finish. I think I'm struggling with it because it involves my characters playing music, which I always find very awkward . But, you know, my characters decided to be musicians, what can I do? Luckily there isn't a lot of it in this book and I don't really have to worry about it until the sequels. But for those I'll probably have to write some original song lyrics and holy crap I am not looking forward to that.

I think I have an idea of at least some dialogue to finish this scene. Basically, Jordan has a new friend Madison over (they're plotting a master scheme, as one does), and knowing his friend Eric has a crush on her, tells him to bring his guitar over and they play a few songs (possibly some horribly cliched ones). And then it goes something like this:

Madison: Can't you play something from this decade?
Eric: If you don't like The Beatles, you're not human.
Jordan: True, but I'm more of a Stones guy.
Eric: You know, I could tell that about you.
Madison: CAN'T I JUST LIKE TAYLOR SWIFT??
Jordan: .....
Eric: ......
Jordan: I also like Taylor Swift...

Or something like that? I dunno, I'll figure it out. I always do. Even if it takes me days. Or weeks. Or months. Or years. I'm not even kidding, sadly...

Anyhoo, the IWSG's optional question for this month is: If you could use a wish to help you write just ONE scene/chapter of your book, which one would it be? (examples: fight scene / first kiss scene / death scene / chase scene / first chapter / middle chapter / end chapter, etc.)

You mean besides the aforementioned scene? Can I pick the whole rest of the book? It's not a lot, actually. No, wait! I pick the sex scene. I've already written that like three different times and I'm still convinced I'll never get it right. But I think maybe I can't picture it properly because I'm making so many changes to the end that I'm just not there yet. I have to get there before I can see it.

If I could wish the rest of this book done, I definitely would. Especially the parts I don't have figured out AT ALL. I'm definitely not an outliner, but this is basically what I have left after I finish 25:

- Wrap up Subplot #1
- MAJOR MAIN PLOT EVENT
- something something
- Wrap up Subplot #2
- something something
- something
- SEX SCENE
- Last chapter/denouement type deal

Yeah, wishing for all those something somethings to write themselves. And the sex scene. And the last bit. Because I think the very very end of the book kind of has to point to what exactly I was trying to say through the whole novel. And I feel like I got it horribly wrong in all my previous drafts. I *think* I'm still keeping the last two lines intact, and those should help me figure it out because I've always felt like they say a lot.

I think all I can do at this point is take it one step at a time. So I should probably get back to that music playing scene...

22 comments:

  1. That's awesome you finished chapter 24 and are almost done with 25. Hopefully as you move forward it won't be as much of a struggle. I've never written a sex scene yet. Not planning to yet. Good luck with yours.

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  2. I'd need help writing music scenes too. Wish those wishes were real!

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  3. Good luck, Sarah! You can do it. Sometimes dialogue can be tricky.

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  4. I luurve writing the smoochy scenes and sex scenes. It's the SOMETHING SOMETHING in the middle that gets me down. BTW, Susie Bright's How to Write a Dirty Story is a fun resource. So is Cara Bristol's Naughty Words for Nice Writers--that one's a hoot! I wish you happy writing in April.

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  5. LOL! I have a lot of something-somethings on my list, too.

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  6. At least chapter twenty-four is done.
    You could throw a metal band into that conversation and really mess it up!

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  7. You're getting there. Slow and steady wins the race, remember? ;)

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  8. Hey, I remember working on one rather long chapter for my story, and finally deciding that it needed to be split in two. Suddenly I had two chapters finished and I remember feeling very productive for a couple of days until reality sank in.

    Damn, I wish my book would write itself too, but at least I'm making some progress.

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  9. At least you're making progress, which is more than I can say with my story. Go you! You will conquer this music playing scene. You've got this!

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  10. Ah, yes. The looming sex scene. Good luck with that one.

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  11. One step at a time works. I wouldn't know where to begin with a sex scene, maybe that's why I write for younger readers. Hang in there, you're doing great.

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  12. A sex scene would be tricky. To capture the intensity of the moment, you have to lay a lot of ground work to convey the anticipation. Choosing how much of the act to describe is also a balancing act. Good luck!

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  13. You can do this. I like the dialogue about music.
    Congrats on your progress!

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  14. Congrats on your progress. Happy IWSG!

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  15. Sounds like you're making progress! Keep it up. I tend to write movie quotes in my stories. Good thing my MCs like movies. :)

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  16. I hope you've figured out the Madison-Eric-Jordan scene.
    Good luck with the rest of the story.

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  17. Sometimes it would be nice if the darn book could write itself. But you're making progress, and that's fantastic! Good luck!

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  18. I think there's a moment in every project where I start to think that writing was a really bad idea. Even though I've gotten to the other side more than once now and know it'll be worth it, in that moment, I'd make the same wish.

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  19. Yes, we do wish books would write themselves, don't we?

    Algorithms are already writing novels in science labs, but I don't think they will go very far--story telling is a very human trait, and takes much effort to get right.

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  20. "I also like Taylor Swift..." That made me chuckle.

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