by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner
The thing about working on a novel for as long as I have is every once in a while, I remember something I came to understand before and realize that “Dugh, I already know that.”
In the past, what would happen is I would write out a lot of new scenes then come to a point where it all came crashing down because I just didn’t see the point in writing so much when it seemed to make more sense to just get into the story as soon as possible.
So this third draft is something of a test. I have greatly expanded the beginning of the novel and it will be interesting to see if I can avoid my usual, “Fuck it, just start the novel when the juicy stuff begins” routine. I THINK there is a good chance that I can avoid that — I have allotted myself about 20,000 extra words and so I have a lot of leeway to flesh things out.
At least, that’s what I hope will happen.
My fear is I will just overheat and grow so tired from thinking so much about how to space events out that I just yet again throw my hands up and start just about where I was starting the novel in the second draft.
I THINK, MAYBE, I can avoid that fate this time. I think it’s at least possible that I can actually delve into character enough with these extra scenes that by the point things start to take off, readers will be taken in by the character I’ve created to the point that they will want to finish the fucking novel.
Of course, there is a real risk that just as I’m querying this goddamn thing the world will collapse because of the fucking Fourth Turning.
We’ll see, I guess.
