When is it time to stop beating the dead horse? Yes, that horse is my current manuscript that if my poor crit partners see again, they may stage a mutany and kick me out of the group.
The bulk of this 85k manuscipt is done, has been for a long time, but it's that first chapter that is dragging me down.
It's the old "where do I start" dilema. I know, I know, I hear all the time - start with the action, start with the character that has the most at stake.
It's not like I haven't tried. And believe me, I've set this baby down so many times and taken months away from it thinking I'd see the light when I came back. - WRONG.
To make matters worse, I absolutely adore this story. I can't let it go. (Not like I let anything go once I latch my teeth into it - ask my family, they'll agree I'm like a pitbull with a bone and I absolutely, positively MUST have the last word all the time!)
Okay, you writers and readers out there - what grabs you about the beginning of a book when you pick it up? You want action? Great dialogue? How about the dreaded prologue - Do you skip them?
So, just because I feel the need to be tortured over the next few weeks, I joined Candy Havens challenge to get some revisions/new words done on this - because I AM sending it out soon.
Today's goal? 1142 new words or 17 pages revised.
Wish me luck.
Angelika Devlyn (1)
David Bridger (1)
Debora (1)
George Allwynn (1)
Kissa Starling (1)
Good luck!! But you won’t need it. If you love the story, the good stuff will come.
I’ve never totally embraced the whole “blow their socks off” from the get go thing though. Action I get, but I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that I could not put down from page ONE. That commitment usually kicks in about Chapter 3 – depending upon the length of the chapters, of course
Good writing vibes! E Em(Quote)
You need to stop angsting over it and get that sucker out into the world! It’s been too long now. I love that story and want to see it published asap!!! Gina Ardito(Quote)
I’m still waiting for an email with the first three chapters! Maybe a different eye to look at it will spark something? Stephanie(Quote)