Keeping track of the details

[heleninwales]

The GYWO challenge is working well for me and I'm glad I chose the habit pledge rather than word count. Although adding words to the draft is fundamental to writing a novel, there is much more to the process than that. There is revising of course, but there's all the organising and tracking too. I've created a database of all the characters in the fantasy trilogy. So far I've listed 72, but they're not all in there yet. So far only those who appear in the final book are included. I'll add the remainder as I begin to revise Book 1 and work my way through the whole thing. I also have a very sketchy map of the country showing the places where events happen and the distances between them. These planning and tracking activities take time and the habit pledge means I can count them for the challenge.

However, right now I'm struggling with writing a transition. There are some exciting scenes to come, but there needs to be what I always think of as a "joining bit" where the characters are very busy, but it's all boring planning meetings and making preparations. I find transitions particularly difficult to write and make interesting.

Comments

[sartorias]

Nodding in total agreement about the other stuff that goes into writing, along with adding words.

Can you have someone react to something re the transition?

[heleninwales]

Unforauntely there's too much going on to use a simple mini-flashback via a character's thoughts. Basically our heroes are planning the first countrywide election. I'm going to attempt what Ursuala Le Guin calls "crowding and leaping".

[sartorias]

Sounds good!

[kaishin108]

Maybe that's why so many books jump back and forth because it is hard! Happy for you that you are meeting your goals. :)

[grey853]

I find writing transitions difficult as well. It's like you want to make it have a linear time line to link scenes but as you said, you don't want it to be boring, either. It's a hard balance sometimes.

Good luck. It's great that you keep trying, that's the main thing.