So, the big news of today, I’m guest blogging for Writer Wednesday over at “The Blotter,” a blog from my friend and Sisters in Crime sib Joyce Tremel. Check it out if you are so inclined, and read an excerpt from my first Jim Duncan short story.
Other than that, I’ve jumped into Rewrite #2 for the as-yet untitled novel. (I really must remedy that lack of a title thing.) I’m feeling pretty good about it. In Rewrite #1, I switched to third-person POV because I thought it was necessary. Then I took a great workshop in March and learned that wasn’t necessarily true – so Rewrite #2 moves me back to first-person POV with limited third-person scenes.
Of more importance is introducing another character and added depth for the protagonist. Why should you care about her? Why does she care about this murder? Those kinds of questions. I’ve heard this referred to as “the hole in the heart” – essentially, the reason you are rooting for her.
When I first let someone read my draft, the main comment was, “Your character is too damn happy.” Hopefully this second rewrite addresses that. I mean, I don’t want her to be absolutely miserable, but I don’t want Pollyanna either.
The body is dropped in chapter 1, but previously the idea of murder didn’t happen until chapter 7. A bit late, so that concept has moved up to chapter 3.
Anyway, I feel like I’m on the right track. Progress by word count is tricky (since the words are really already written and I’m just adjusting), but I’ve worked through the first six existing chapters.
I added the equivalent of 12 chapters in the last rewrite. Wonder what I’ll add/subtract this time?