Saturday, August 28, 2010

Stuck

I stayed up until 3 AM finishing Mockingjay, so I'm going to make this brief today.

I'm stuck. I've been in the same scene of my Work in Progress (WIP) for two weeks.

The dilemma? A supporting character needs to make a statement in an interview that starts a chain of events which mean trouble my main character. I know the nature of what his comment needs to be, but can't find words I am happy with.

Up to this point, I've been determined to not move on with the story until I get this line down. Now, I'm reconsidering and will likely put a note that says "Guy accidentally slips and says something horribly sexist" and carry on. My hesitation in doing this is, what if I never do find just the right thing for him to say? Eventually I need to get it in order for everything that follows in that subplot to make sense.

However, my bigger fear is that as I stew over this, other details I've had in mind for the rest of the story are beginning to fade. I really feel like I need to move forward. Especially since I have committed to having the entire WIP finished for the other Inkers to review in November.

So, that is my plan. As of today, I'm moving on. I'm willing to entertain arguments against it if anyone has any. And, sorry, I guess it wasn't that brief.

5 comments:

  1. I think you are right. Move on. The words will come and it will all be ok.

    As Dory would say "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming".

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  2. I'm with DJ on this one. Move forward and get to the other details. Sometimes when you get to the consequences of the comment it might actually clarify what the comment should be. I know it seems strange but that's how it happens for me a lot of times. OR you may hear someone say something that triggers the right words from Guy. Best of luck.

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  3. I've had the same problem with my WIP. I've decided that it doesn't all have to be cohesive yet. I can move on even if I know what I just wrote doesn't mesh with previous or later scenes. I can make those fixes in the editing process.

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  4. I agree---KEEP WRITING! BTW, what did you think of Mockingjay? Does it have a satisfactory ending?

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  5. Gussie - I loved Mockingjay. It surprised me in some ways, but I was very satisfied by the ending. I have only some minor gripes about the resolution for a couple of the supporting characters. It is definitely difficult subject matter, but I think it is a good lesson for young people about the value of freedom and the importance of fighting for it.

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