Update from yesterday:
Spent about 3.5 hours today working on the novel, and got quite a bit done. First, I wrote a new segue to connect Section 1 with Section 2. I like it — it moves the plot better, heightens the suspense a bit, AND bonks people on the head. Gets no better than that, my friends. (Until the third draft at least…)
Second, I read through Draft 1 of Section 2 – approximately 50,000 words that has to be chopped to about 25,000. I was a little worried about that at first, but after reading it over, not so worried any more. I was certainly home on the range writing this up, wandering all over the place. In fact, most of what I wrote will be chopped quite comfortably.
But all is not for naught. I got some really good chunks (I highlighted them) that I don’t think I would have gotten if I was simply writing a straight-through 25,000-word section. I also got some good ideas about how certain aspects of the storyline will tie together. I know, it’s hard for you to understand exactly what I mean without examples (and I can’t give specific examples — you know that).
However, let’s put it this way. There was a reference in Section 1 — say to a spoon (it’s not a spoon). I didn’t really know what the spoon was doing in the story, or what I was going to do with the spoon. But something told me to keep the spoon in, that it would work itself out.
Then, in Section 2, I saw a reference I had put in about a bowl of cereal (it’s not really a bowl of cer — ah, I’m sure you’ve caught on by now…) Now, explained this way, you’d say “oh, well, immediately you saw the bowl of cereal and saw why you kept the spoon!” Well, no, it wasn’t that quick. But I did make the connection eventually, and another piece of the plotline puzzle came together with a satisfying “click”. I love when that happens.
(I also found a fork in Section 2, which I suspect will come in handy when Section 4 decides to show up in my brain. More on that later.)
Click the image to get to the "Vertical the Novel" Facebook page.
In other news…
I finished Vertical by Rex Pickett. I wanted to wait for the hardcover, but after three pushed-back publication dates, I decided to just go with the softcover. (I did hear back from Tim Moore at Loose Gravel Press — he said August is the launch date now.)
If you like Sideways, you most certainly will like this one too. It is a playful, in some parts raunchy, in some parts cringe-inducing romp that takes Miles and Jack to the next level. I was surprised about the last portion of the book too. I don’t want to give anything away, but I saw a different side of Pickett’s writing than I have before, and one that was unexpected and that I think he’s pulled off nicely.
Of course the question everyone asks is: will there be another movie? I know (and mentioned here) that Pickett co-wrote a script with another screenwriter, and that there had been talks about a production deal. Mysteriously, those posts have been taken down from Pickett’s blog. I take that to be a good sign.
Also mysteriously, I just found out that the main VerticaltheNovel.com website seems to be down. Not sure what to make of that sign… But you can find more about the book on its Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/VerticaltheNovel?sk=wall
Anyway, hoping to get some writing done this evening. I’ll put a quick update then if I make it…
~Graham
Novel Writing Totals
Today (Yesterday): 3.5
Total: 151.5
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