The next book (and other stuff)
I recently began outlining my next book and can tell you now, it won't be a followup to Belham as I originally thought it would be. I will write a sequel to Belham (possibly after the next book) but two things came up which changed my plan. Firstly, the rough outline I had for Belham 2 didn't quite work so I need to rethink it. Secondly, the idea for the next book came to me and was just so right and compelling, I've gone with it instead of working on a couple of short story ideas. Ordinarily, I would have written at least one of the shorts but as I've spent so long editing, I'm keen to get stuck into something meaty. So that's led me to the next book.
It's gone through a few changes over the last week and is now at the plot outlining stage. I like to have a rough idea of where I'm going otherwise I tend to get lost several thousand words in. The funny thing is I was playing with the idea of simply winging this one, but I realised early on that won't work. That's not to say it won't be the way to go with a future book. It's just not the best way forward at the moment. In any case, one of the changes which has come up is the gender of the two principal characters. At first, I had a man in mind for both. There was something wrong with that and I couldn't quite put my finger on it. After a day or two, it clicked. My characters are women. Obviously I can't go into much detail why this change has come up – not without spoiling a book I've yet to start writing – but I'm definitely convinced it's the way to go.
This is one of the reasons I say a writer should listen to their characters. Whatever the story is, it's their story. It's not mine. I can guide the plot but if it ends up going another way (or if someone turns out to be a woman, for that matter), then that's what happens. The outline should be done by the weekend and I begin writing next week. I can't wait.
And other news – Belham is now with a writer friend who will read it and give me her feedback. So that should be ready for submission within a couple of months. And I got my third review for The Red Girl on Amazon this morning.
It's all good.
It's gone through a few changes over the last week and is now at the plot outlining stage. I like to have a rough idea of where I'm going otherwise I tend to get lost several thousand words in. The funny thing is I was playing with the idea of simply winging this one, but I realised early on that won't work. That's not to say it won't be the way to go with a future book. It's just not the best way forward at the moment. In any case, one of the changes which has come up is the gender of the two principal characters. At first, I had a man in mind for both. There was something wrong with that and I couldn't quite put my finger on it. After a day or two, it clicked. My characters are women. Obviously I can't go into much detail why this change has come up – not without spoiling a book I've yet to start writing – but I'm definitely convinced it's the way to go.
This is one of the reasons I say a writer should listen to their characters. Whatever the story is, it's their story. It's not mine. I can guide the plot but if it ends up going another way (or if someone turns out to be a woman, for that matter), then that's what happens. The outline should be done by the weekend and I begin writing next week. I can't wait.
And other news – Belham is now with a writer friend who will read it and give me her feedback. So that should be ready for submission within a couple of months. And I got my third review for The Red Girl on Amazon this morning.
It's all good.
No comments have been added yet.
