Backbrain

[ksmith]

I wish I was one of those writers who simply posted wordcounts and had done with it. Pages would just flow--no worries, mate. Nope, not me, even when things are going comparatively well. It's birthing watermelons every blasted time.



Despite the fact that Jani 5 had thus far flowed like chunky peanut butter on a shingle, neat things occasionally do happen. I had a rough few days--I had reached the magic 200-page point in the draft, and damned if the thing didn't show signs of the Dreaded First Draft Stall. I've suffered through it with the previous four books, but *knew* I had avoided it with J5 because after all, I had the story so well thought out. But I puttered and futzed through some PITA chapters, then finally linked the mess into a Master Doc and damned if the page count wasn't 196. I mean really, what is it about that point in the book that breaks me every flap-assed time?

So, yesterday didn't leave me a happy camper. Watched Buffy Season 2 episodes--even that didn't cheer me up. Then this morning, I woke up and stuff started...downloading . Something of importance concerning my difficult idomeni POV. A couple of motivators for Jani, one that drives her to act like an idiot and another that drives her to act like a real bastard. A few key scenes near the end. Scraps of conversation between Jani and Niall. Something about Lucien.

I considered writing it all down in my notebook, then decided hell with it and fired up the iBook. It's all contained in one very long Comment inserted into Chapter 1, which is fine because that chapter is going to require some rewriting. Much of those first 200 pages will, in fact, need to be rewritten, but it's no longer news at this point, so I can deal. Funny thing is, the overall plot will essentially remain the same. It just needs to be presented differently. I will keep pushing onward, through some really nasty business. Jani is really fighting herself in this one. She is not a political creature.

Comments

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

I've suffered through it with the previous four books, but *knew* I had avoided it with J5 because after all, I had the story so well thought out.

Y'know....

As reported Elsewhere, Crystal Dragon has not been an unmitigated joy to write. My theory being that this was because I knew the story so well. The cat-brain is all over the place looking for something shiny to play with, utterly bored by the old toy it got last week...

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

As reported Elsewhere, Crystal Dragon has not been an unmitigated joy to write. My theory being that this was because I knew the story so well. The cat-brain is all over the place looking for something shiny to play with, utterly bored by the old toy it got last week...

I really do think that this is a major part of my problem.