Progress Report (x-posted to brenna-nano@ij)
Holy cow, I actually finished chapter 1. This is a major accomplishment, even if it isn't terribly good. I'm trying to track down beta readers. I had some from my wedding forum, but I don't have their e-mails and I'm reluctant to double-post there (it's bad manners to double-post on this forum, esp. in the thread I'm thinking of). I'm a little worried I'm rushing the plot a bit, as the villain's motives almost slipped out there. But, I think I saved it, mostly by making him look like a creep and a pervert, in a subtle way, as in no dirty talk, just dirty dancing.
I'm trying to tone it down a bit. It all seems so simply laid out and heinously kitschy. Not the cool kind of kitsch, either. Like a Superman villain trying to make it in a Neil Gaiman book. It could work, but it would either look absurd or be way darker than I really need at present. But then, I also want this guy to look criminally stupid. Where's the balance, I wonder?
I'm not sure how to start chapter 2, honestly. The original plan was to delve a bit deeper into the heroine's life, before jumping to the hero and having them bump into each other. But I ended the last chapter with the heroine in the spotlight, so a part of me wants to be fair and open on the hero's point of view. He's become essential to the story, even though he doesn't even figure in my "Halloween '08" notes. I like organic stories, though. I like it when a character blooms and contributes something of value. It's like the bit about Chekhov's Gun. If you spotlight a gun in Chapter 1, you have to use it at some point. Hence the Monroe kids, who I want to keep around, despite the sudden urge to go all dramatic and Tough Guide to Fantasyland and let him gasp out a clue as he dies.
Onward, to Chapter 2!
Computer! Take me to the weasels!
I'm trying to tone it down a bit. It all seems so simply laid out and heinously kitschy. Not the cool kind of kitsch, either. Like a Superman villain trying to make it in a Neil Gaiman book. It could work, but it would either look absurd or be way darker than I really need at present. But then, I also want this guy to look criminally stupid. Where's the balance, I wonder?
I'm not sure how to start chapter 2, honestly. The original plan was to delve a bit deeper into the heroine's life, before jumping to the hero and having them bump into each other. But I ended the last chapter with the heroine in the spotlight, so a part of me wants to be fair and open on the hero's point of view. He's become essential to the story, even though he doesn't even figure in my "Halloween '08" notes. I like organic stories, though. I like it when a character blooms and contributes something of value. It's like the bit about Chekhov's Gun. If you spotlight a gun in Chapter 1, you have to use it at some point. Hence the Monroe kids, who I want to keep around, despite the sudden urge to go all dramatic and Tough Guide to Fantasyland and let him gasp out a clue as he dies.
Onward, to Chapter 2!
Computer! Take me to the weasels!