The big picture

So my posts have been a bit morbid depressing sombre lately due to the fact that I’ve been struggling to get past a very awkward sticking point in my novel. I’m worried that you’ll all start slashing your wrists leaving soon if I don’t cheer up – so just for you I’m going to do a post full of happy happy joy joy…even though its completely against my nature.

I also realised its been a while since I spouted nonsense about writing offered some useful advice on writing, so hopefully today’s post will be upbeat and helpful…*shudder*

First of all I’m happy to report that I seem to have broken through the mindspaz I’ve been suffering from. I printed out what I had so far for my novel and speed read the whole thing listing characters and bits of information – that I’m embarrassed to admit I’d forgotten all about – and it worked wonders! I now have a different direction in which to take the novel as opposed to the ‘one and only’ direction that it was heading before.

It’s always useful to read your stories from the beginning if you’re struggling with an ending.

The end of your novel is the culmination of events and choices that have taken place throughout the ENTIRE plot, not just the last few chapters. Characters actions should reflect the entire story not just what happened in the previous scene. I think that’s what had happened to me, I was so caught up in what I had just written I didn’t bother to look at the big picture.

Another benefit to reading your story from the beginning is you might actually enjoy it…shocking, I know! Reading through my work I found myself chuckling away at some points, tears welling up at others (at the appropriate scenes!) and I even had a few ‘hairs standing up on the back of my neck’ moments. It’s a great confidence boost when you realise that what you’ve spent all the time and effort on isn’t half bad. You suddenly realise that you can write; can invent believable characters; can pull several plot threads together to give a logical and satisfying ending. It also gives you a bit of perspective on all of those horrible, horrible bits you really wanted to fix as you went along. You find yourself spotting mistakes, accepting they exist and saying “I was worried about that? That’s an easy fix.”

I guess I keep stalling my novel because I’m looking at one specific zone rather than the whole thing, I panic when a small section doesn’t work or a character suddenly becomes apathetic to the plot – what I should be doing is taking a step back and looking at the big picture. When you look at the plot as a whole, actions and choices suddenly become obvious, you see the story almost as a film on the big screen playing out for your entertainment.

You just have to make sure your hands keep up with the typing as the action explodes across the screen.

To avoid fainting, keep repeating “It’s only a movie…it’s only a movie!” “It’s only a first draft…it’s only a first draft!”