the mysteries of writing fiction
After ten days of writing 1000+ words most days, putting 10k on my novel in rapid time, I reached an impasse Thursday having topped 60k. My output decreased friday and saturday, partially because I started my new job but also because I had the distinct impression I didn't know where to go to. I knew where I needed to be in 2000 words, just not what to do to get there.
I've always known in the back of my head that old piece of advice - if it gets slow then chuck in a gunfight or a sex scene. With my big action seqeunce starting in the not to distant wordcount future, I knew I couldn't do violence so I badly needed somesex to spice things up but I really didn't want my two characters getting together right now - the whole momentum of the third act is based on him rejecting her advances, leaving her to storm off and be alone for when the killer learns of her location. So i was stuck - I had a gap to fill but my options seemed out.
Then i remembered why Cameron had rejected Sophia in the first place - he had found out his girlfriend Rhianna was sleeping with his flatmate, ruining his outlook on love and the like, pushing him away from intimacy with Sophia.
Only, Rhianna and Adam didn't know Cameron knew about the affair, and Rhianna thought she still had the schmuck wrapped around her finger, the trophy boyfriend.
Suddenly my route was clear. I could have my sex scene and keep it exciting. It didn't have to be my two main characters getting together and ruining the tension I needed for the final act.
I had Cameron and Sophia walk in on the other two. I just finished writing a very real, very enjoyable to write semi-sex scene, and now I'm back on track.
So I guess, having given up on the adage, that throwing a sex scene into a story does keep things moving. You just have to work out who the shaggers are going to be.
###
Oh and my dad is a legend.
I've always known in the back of my head that old piece of advice - if it gets slow then chuck in a gunfight or a sex scene. With my big action seqeunce starting in the not to distant wordcount future, I knew I couldn't do violence so I badly needed somesex to spice things up but I really didn't want my two characters getting together right now - the whole momentum of the third act is based on him rejecting her advances, leaving her to storm off and be alone for when the killer learns of her location. So i was stuck - I had a gap to fill but my options seemed out.
Then i remembered why Cameron had rejected Sophia in the first place - he had found out his girlfriend Rhianna was sleeping with his flatmate, ruining his outlook on love and the like, pushing him away from intimacy with Sophia.
Only, Rhianna and Adam didn't know Cameron knew about the affair, and Rhianna thought she still had the schmuck wrapped around her finger, the trophy boyfriend.
Suddenly my route was clear. I could have my sex scene and keep it exciting. It didn't have to be my two main characters getting together and ruining the tension I needed for the final act.
I had Cameron and Sophia walk in on the other two. I just finished writing a very real, very enjoyable to write semi-sex scene, and now I'm back on track.
So I guess, having given up on the adage, that throwing a sex scene into a story does keep things moving. You just have to work out who the shaggers are going to be.
###
Oh and my dad is a legend.