Bob and weave

I didn’t write on Sunday. I had been thinking it was because I was being lazy, and just didn’t get around to it. It wasn’t until tonight that I figured out that no, it was because what I thought was the next scene, actually wasn’t. There needs to be at least two, possibly three scenes between what just happened and that scene.

So I did finish about 1000 words tonight, on a scene I hadn’t originally planned on writing.

This novel is told with a back story and a front story. I had thought that I had figured out the three remaining arcs of the back story, how each would be completed in two chapters, kind of mini-arcs.

Normally, I don’t bob and weave. I write books in the order in which they’re read. I don’t write all of one character than another. I don’t write all of one story then the next. I write it exactly how the reader gets it. Front story to back story to front story, or character to character.

However, I decided to make an exception with this mini-arc, and write both chapters of this back story piece.

Yeah. I’ve completely blown by the word count for two chapters, and am well into a third chapter. And I have another 3-4 scenes I need to write before I finish this arc. It may well be four chapters long.

Once I finish writing it, I’ll type it up as fast as I can.

Then put it to the side while I write the short story that’s due for the short story workshop. Then attend the short story workshop. Then recover from the short story workshop. So once I finish these chapters, I’m putting the novel down for 3-4 weeks. Hopefully it won’t kill me, or the novel.

Any suggestions from people for how to keep the inspiration alive while I have to turn to other things? While I’m writing other things? I generally only work on one thing at a time.

I don’t want to do too much planning of this novel before I put it down, but at the same time, I don’t want to forget things either.

Crossposted from my website. If you'd like to comment, you can do so here or there.