Dead Man’s Party: How’d you like your brain sanded, writer…?
This morning I rolled into work pretty sure I knew what I was going to do.
And hit my novel of the day, Dead Man’s Party, with a sort of “Have not had my coffee yet, but I’ll get this anyway” focus.
Read my short description of the chapter I’d scheduled to write, and realized several weeks’ distance from my provisional outline, and a week away from the actual book, that I’d managed to misidentify the right ending for the novel as Chapter 22 out of thirty-something planned chapters.
Putting your ending into the book before the book ends means that everything else is going to be a let-down — anticlimactic, and kind of lame.
NOT the experience you ever want your reader to have.
THIS meant I had to drag the placeholder for that chapter to its proper space at the end of the novel (thanks, Scrivener, for ease of repair). And then I had to move a previously-planned chapter into the empty space that hole created, and come up with an interesting conflict for that location and that character than I had not yet considered.
Since I’m doing videos all my chapters of Dead Man’s Party, I captured the whole struggle with chapter 22, including brainstorming the idea I needed to show the character dealing with a problem I had not previously addresses, and also managed to capture the fact that when I stopped writing for the day, I thought I’d missed writing the chapter ending.
When I was doing the print versions for my students and putting the pieces together for the How to Write a Novel class for which I’m creating this novel, I realized I would only need one line to finish the chapter.
I’ll do that next week, though. Because while I know it’s enable with one line, I haven’t yet thought up the right line. By the time this has had a week to perk, I’ll be able to throw in a nice twist.
Today I wrote 1622 words — only needed 1515.
And in spite of the fact that getting started felt like having my brain sanded — I swear I could smell plastic burning when I was scrambling to fix the problems I’d created by misidentifying my ending and having to come up with a better conflict for my main character — by the time I finished, I liked what I got on the novel this week..fca_eoi_form{ margin: auto; } .fca_eoi_form p { width: auto; } #fca_eoi_form_251384 input{ max-width: 9999px; }#fca_eoi_form_251384 .fca_eoi_layout_name_field_wrapper {display: none !important;}#fca_eoi_form_251384 .fca_eoi_form_input_element::-webkit-input-placeholder {opacity:0.6;color:#919b83;}#fca_eoi_form_251384 .fca_eoi_form_input_element::-moz-placeholder {opacity:0.6;color:#919b83;}#fca_eoi_form_251384 .fca_eoi_form_input_element:-ms-input-placeholder {opacity:0.6;color:#919b83;}#fca_eoi_form_251384 .fca_eoi_form_input_element:-moz-placeholder {opacity:0.6;color:#919b83;}#fca_eoi_form_251384 .fca_eoi_layout_9.fca_eoi_layout_postbox div.fca_eoi_layout_submit_button_wrapper:hover, #fca_eoi_form_251384 .fca_eoi_layout_9.fca_eoi_layout_postbox div.fca_eoi_layout_submit_button_wrapper input:hover {background-color:#a67035 !important;}
#fca_eoi_form_251384 .fca_eoi_layout_9.fca_eoi_layout_postbox {
width:600px;
}
@media screen and ( max-width: 600px ) {
#fca_eoi_form_251384 .fca_eoi_layout_9.fca_eoi_layout_postbox {
width:100%;
}
}
#fca_eoi_form_251384 .fca_eoi_layout_9.fca_eoi_layout_postbox div.fca_eoi_layout_name_field_wrapper {
width:100%;
}
@media screen and ( max-width: 100% ) {
#fca_eoi_form_251384 .fca_eoi_layout_9.fca_eoi_layout_postbox div.fca_eoi_layout_name_field_wrapper {
width:100%;
}
}
#fca_eoi_form_251384 .fca_eoi_layout_9.fca_eoi_layout_postbox div.fca_eoi_layout_email_field_wrapper {
width:100%;
}
@media screen and ( max-width: 100% ) {
#fca_eoi_form_251384 .fca_eoi_layout_9.fca_eoi_layout_postbox div.fca_eoi_layout_email_field_wrapper {
width:100%;
}
}
#fca_eoi_form_251384 .fca_eoi_layout_9.fca_eoi_layout_postbox div.fca_eoi_layout_submit_button_wrapper {
width:100%;
}
@media screen and ( max-width: 100% ) {
#fca_eoi_form_251384 .fca_eoi_layout_9.fca_eoi_layout_postbox div.fca_eoi_layout_submit_button_wrapper {
width:100%;
}
}
div.fca_eoi_form_text_element,input.fca_eoi_form_input_element,input.fca_eoi_form_button_element{display:block;margin:0;padding:0;line-height:normal;font-size:14px;letter-spacing:normal;word-spacing:normal;text-indent:0;text-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;width:inherit;height:inherit;background-image:none;border:none;border-radius:0;box-shadow:none;box-sizing:border-box;transition:none;outline:none;-webkit-transition:none;-webkit-appearance:none;-moz-appearance:none;color:#000;font-family:"Open Sans", sans-serif;font-weight:normal;transition:background 350ms linear;}div.fca_eoi_form_text_element{text-align:center;}div.fca_eoi_layout_headline_copy_wrapper{font-weight:bold;}div.fca_eoi_featherlight .featherlight-close-icon{background:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);}div.fca_eoi_layout_9,form.fca_eoi_layout_9{border:1px solid transparent;background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;utf8,");background-size:cover;}div.fca_eoi_layout_9,form.fca_eoi_layout_9{display:inline-block;box-sizing:border-box;}div.fca_eoi_layout_9.fca_eoi_layout_widget div.fca_eoi_layout_field_wrapper,form.fca_eoi_layout_9.fca_eoi_layout_widget div.fca_eoi_layout_field_wrapper{width:100%;}div.fca_eoi_layout_9 .fca_eoi_progress,form.fca_eoi_layout_9 .fca_eoi_progress{margin-left:32px;margin-right:32px;height:24px;position:relative;background:#d8d8d8;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:1px 1px 2px 0 rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);margin-bottom:32px;}div.fca_eoi_layout_9 .fca_eoi_progress span,form.fca_eoi_layout_9 .fca_eoi_progress span{text-align:right;width:55%;display:block;height:100%;border-top-right-radius:3px;border-bottom-right-radius:3px;border-top-left-radius:3px;border-bottom-left-radius:3px;background-color:#eab868;background-image:linear-gradient(center bottom, #2bc253 37%, #54f054 69%);position:relative;overflow:hidden;}div.fca_eoi_layout_9 .fca_eoi_progress span:before,form.fca_eoi_layout_9 .fca_eoi_progress span:before{content:'';position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;background-image:linear-gradient(-45deg, rgba(255, 255, 255, .2) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 50%, rgba(255, 255, 255, .2) 50%, rgba(255, 255, 255, .2) 75%, transparent 75%, transparent);z-index:1;background-size:50px 50px;animation:move 2s linear infinite;border-top-right-radius:8px;border-bottom-right-radius:8px;border-top-left-radius:20px;border-bottom-left-radius:20px;overflow:hidden;}div.fca_eoi_layout_9 .fca_eoi_progress span:after,form.fca_eoi_layout_9 .fca_eoi_progress span:after{content:'50%';vertical-align:top;position:relative;top:5px;color:white;font-size:14px;line-height:14px;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:1px;}div.fca_eoi_layout_9 img.fca_eoi_image,form.fca_eoi_layout_9 img.fca_eoi_image{max-width:100%;}div.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_image_wrapper.placeholder,form.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_image_wrapper.placeholder{text-align:center;white-space:pre;border:1px dashed #979797;font-size:12px;line-height:14px;color:#979797;}div.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_content_wrapper,form.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_content_wrapper{margin:20px;}div.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_field_wrapper,form.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_field_wrapper{border:solid 1px transparent;border-radius:3px;margin-bottom:10px;position:relative;}div.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_name_field_wrapper,form.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_name_field_wrapper,div.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_email_field_wrapper,form.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_email_field_wrapper{width:100%;display:inline-block;}div.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_field_wrapper input,form.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_field_wrapper input,div.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_field_wrapper input:focus,form.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_field_wrapper input:focus{border:none !important;width:100%;height:auto;font-size:16px;line-height:1.2em;padding:7px 0;outline:none;background:none !important;box-shadow:none;}div.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_submit_button_wrapper,form.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_submit_button_wrapper{clear:both;transition:background 350ms linear, border-color 350ms linear;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;}div.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_fatcatapps_link_wrapper a,form.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_fatcatapps_link_wrapper a{display:block;margin:10px 0 0;font-size:12px;}div.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_form_text_element ul,form.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_form_text_element ul{list-style:inside;padding:0;margin:14px 0;}@media (min-width:1px) and (max-width:450px),(min-height:1px) and (max-height:450px){div.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_content_wrapper,form.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_content_wrapper{margin:8px 13px;}div.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_fatcatapps_link_wrapper a,form.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_fatcatapps_link_wrapper a{margin:0;}div.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_form_text_element.fca_eoi_layout_headline_copy_wrapper,form.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_form_text_element.fca_eoi_layout_headline_copy_wrapper{margin-bottom:5px;}}@media (min-width:1px) and (max-width:768px){div.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_field_wrapper,form.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_field_wrapper{width:100%;}}div.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_headline_copy_wrapper,form.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_headline_copy_wrapper{margin-bottom:20px;}@media (min-width:1px) and (max-width:450px),(min-height:1px) and (max-height:450px){div.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_headline_copy_wrapper,form.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_headline_copy_wrapper{margin-bottom:0;}}div.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_description_copy_wrapper,form.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_description_copy_wrapper{min-height:85px;padding:0px 15px;}@media (min-width:1px) and (max-width:450px),(min-height:1px) and (max-height:450px){div.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_description_copy_wrapper,form.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_description_copy_wrapper{margin-bottom:20px;padding:0;}}div.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_inputs_wrapper,form.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_inputs_wrapper{margin:20px 0;}@media (min-width:1px) and (max-width:450px),(min-height:1px) and (max-height:450px){div.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_inputs_wrapper,form.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_inputs_wrapper{margin:8px 0;}}div.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_field_wrapper,form.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_field_wrapper{border-radius:5px;margin-bottom:20px;}div.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_field_inner,form.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_field_inner{margin:0 10px;}div.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_submit_button_wrapper,form.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_submit_button_wrapper{border-bottom:solid 4px transparent;border-radius:5px;padding:0 !important;text-align:center;width:100%;}div.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_submit_button_wrapper input,form.fca_eoi_layout_9 div.fca_eoi_layout_submit_button_wrapper input{border:0 !important;border-radius:5px;font-weight:bold;margin:0;height:2.8em;padding:0;white-space:normal;width:100%;}#fca_eoi_form_251384 .fca_eoi_layout_9.fca_eoi_layout_postbox { border-color: #ffffff !important; }#fca_eoi_form_251384 .fca_eoi_layout_9.fca_eoi_layout_postbox div.fca_eoi_layout_headline_copy_wrapper div { font-size: 28px !important; }#fca_eoi_form_251384 .fca_eoi_layout_9.fca_eoi_layout_postbox div.fca_eoi_layout_headline_copy_wrapper div { color: #000000 !important; }#fca_eoi_form_251384 .fca_eoi_layout_9.fca_eoi_layout_postbox div.fca_eoi_layout_description_copy_wrapper p, .fca_eoi_layout_9.fca_eoi_layout_postbox div.fca_eoi_layout_description_copy_wrapper div { font-size: 14px !important; }#fca_eoi_form_251384 .fca_eoi_layout_9.fca_eoi_layout_postbox div.fca_eoi_layout_description_copy_wrapper p, .fca_eoi_layout_9.fca_eoi_layout_postbox div.fca_eoi_layout_description_copy_wrapper div { color: #000000 !important; }#fca_eoi_form_251384 .fca_eoi_layout_9.fca_eoi_layout_postbox div.fca_eoi_layout_name_field_wrapper, .fca_eoi_layout_9.fca_eoi_layout_postbox div.fca_eoi_layout_name_field_wrapper input { font-size: 18px !important; }#fca_eoi_form_251384 .fca_eoi_layout_9.fca_eoi_layout_postbox div.fca_eoi_layout_name_field_wrapper, .fca_eoi_layout_9.fca_eoi_layout_postbox div.fca_eoi_layout_name_field_wrapper input { color: #919b83 !important; }#fca_eoi_form_251384 .fca_eoi_layout_9.fca_eoi_layout_postbox div.fca_eoi_layout_name_field_wrapper, .fca_eoi_layout_9.fca_eoi_layout_postbox div.fca_eoi_layout_name_field_wrapper input { background-color: #ffffff !important; }#fca_eoi_form_251384 .fca_eoi_layout_9.fca_eoi_layout_postbox div.fca_eoi_layout_name_field_wrapper { border-color: #e1e1e1 !important; }#fca_eoi_form_251384 .fca_eoi_layout_9.fca_eoi_layout_postbox div.fca_eoi_layout_email_field_wrapper, .fca_eoi_layout_9.fca_eoi_layout_postbox div.fca_eoi_layout_email_field_wrapper input { font-size: 18px !important; }#fca_eoi_form_251384 .fca_eoi_layout_9.fca_eoi_layout_postbox div.fca_eoi_layout_email_field_wrapper, .fca_eoi_layout_9.fca_eoi_layout_postbox div.fca_eoi_layout_email_field_wrapper input { color: #919b83 !important; }#fca_eoi_form_251384 .fca_eoi_layout_9.fca_eoi_layout_postbox div.fca_eoi_layout_email_field_wrapper, .fca_eoi_layout_9.fca_eoi_layout_postbox div.fca_eoi_layout_email_field_wrapper input { background-color: #ffffff !important; }#fca_eoi_form_251384 .fca_eoi_layout_9.fca_eoi_layout_postbox div.fca_eoi_layout_email_field_wrapper { border-color: #e1e1e1 !important; }#fca_eoi_form_251384 .fca_eoi_layout_9.fca_eoi_layout_postbox div.fca_eoi_layout_submit_button_wrapper input { font-size: 18px !important; }#fca_eoi_form_251384 .fca_eoi_layout_9.fca_eoi_layout_postbox div.fca_eoi_layout_submit_button_wrapper input { color: #ffffff !important; }#fca_eoi_form_251384 .fca_eoi_layout_9.fca_eoi_layout_postbox div.fca_eoi_layout_submit_button_wrapper input { background-color: #fc9211 !important; }#fca_eoi_form_251384 .fca_eoi_layout_9.fca_eoi_layout_postbox div.fca_eoi_layout_submit_button_wrapper { background-color: #aa5336 !important; }#fca_eoi_form_251384 .fca_eoi_layout_9.fca_eoi_layout_postbox div.fca_eoi_layout_privacy_copy_wrapper div { font-size: 14px !important; }#fca_eoi_form_251384 .fca_eoi_layout_9.fca_eoi_layout_postbox div.fca_eoi_layout_privacy_copy_wrapper div { color: #597473 !important; }
Want the Blog Posts to Come to You?
Get the blog digest once a week. Effortless, offbeat, and it comes to you.
I will not share, sell, or trade your personal information. I respect your privacy, and value your trust. - Holly Lisle
