Pauline Rowson's Blog - Posts Tagged "revision"
Working out 'who done it?' Grappling with plot outlines
My wrists ache, my shoulders are sore, my brain has been spinning all night and I feel guilty because I didn't e mail or phone any of my friends yesterday. I barely looked at Facebook and Twitter, and my husband got about half a dozen words out of me - which might be a blessing, of course, as far as he's concerned. Why? Because I was grappling with the plot of the next DI Horton marine mystery crime novel, and couldn't for the life of me fathom out who had done it!
That might sound weird, as I'm the author, surely I should know, but this often happens. I had reached the climax of the novel with its sub plots and main plot and had several suspects in the frame, then I started to think, 'No, it's too obvious it's him,' or 'It can't be her because she's got no motive.' I could, of course, invent motives aplenty, but it's got to ring true. Now, after bashing out a sketchy end on my keyboard yesterday evening, considering it overnight and looking at it in the fresh light of day, I believe it will work. I hope it will work. Yes, I'm sure it will work and give my readers something to get their teeth into. Only the next revision, which I shall start today, will prove whether or not I'm right.
That might sound weird, as I'm the author, surely I should know, but this often happens. I had reached the climax of the novel with its sub plots and main plot and had several suspects in the frame, then I started to think, 'No, it's too obvious it's him,' or 'It can't be her because she's got no motive.' I could, of course, invent motives aplenty, but it's got to ring true. Now, after bashing out a sketchy end on my keyboard yesterday evening, considering it overnight and looking at it in the fresh light of day, I believe it will work. I hope it will work. Yes, I'm sure it will work and give my readers something to get their teeth into. Only the next revision, which I shall start today, will prove whether or not I'm right.
Just finished the penultimate revision of next Inspector Horton crime novel
I've just finished the ?nth revision of the new Inspector Andy Horton marine mystery crime novel - the sixth in the series to feature my flawed and rugged detective whose patch is the Solent area on the South Coast of England. My office looks like a bomb's hit it with notes and paper strewn all over the place, and I have e mails piling up in my in box needing answers, and blogs to write, but I had to crack on and finish it. Now I'm almost there. Yes, almost because I need one final read through before it goes off to my editor.
I've also been struggling to find a title for this crime novel but have now come up with one and tested it on a couple of readers without revulsion. I'll tell you it later. Book title and blurb on Andy Horton number six to follow... soon.
The Suffocating Sea
I've also been struggling to find a title for this crime novel but have now come up with one and tested it on a couple of readers without revulsion. I'll tell you it later. Book title and blurb on Andy Horton number six to follow... soon.
The Suffocating Sea
