So, I haven't written in my new WIP for a while, but I do have an excuse - I'm trying to work out WHY I haven't been writing in it. Usually when I put something down, it's because I don't feel all that spectacular about writing it. That's been happening a lot with this book, and I think I may have figured out why. I need to do more work plotting it. There are a few things that need better motivations and stronger twists, so it's back to the ol' drawing board to interview my characters and figure out a little more about what makes them tick.
The first two books I wrote, I knew almost everything about the characters. I'd known them for a solid 10 years or more. These two, I'm starting with strangers, and it feels odd to get to know them as I'm writing them. So it's time to play journalist, and sit these guys down and ask why they do what they do. It's much easier to have a character take action in his or her scene when you know what kind of reactions they will have, rather than just plop them there and see what happens. It also helps you create more active writing. So, that is what I will be doing the rest of this week - a little digging and peeling back of layers. I'm hoping to find a few prickly bits of character angst and flaws that I can work with! We writers are such a ruthless lot, aren't we?
Go for it. That might be just what you need to motivate you.
ReplyDelete