I've been thinking about what needs to be cut from chapters 2, 3 and 4. All three chapters run a bit long, though chapter 4 was actually pretty good, if I may say so. However, they aren't page turners like chapter 1 was. I need to go back and look at what I did in chapter 1, I think. Now, I can't have and don't want that kind of heightened drama in every chapter, I'm not writing a thriller...this time.
I'll see what the feedback is on chapter 2 and 3. I'd like to compress things a little more but I'm concerned that if I do that, there will be too much information in too short a span. A novel does need space to breathe. To, as Jael does in Chapter 4, smell the flowers. It doesn't move the plot forward but I do like those moments in chapter 4 where Jael is seeing the world from ground-level for the first time. I may put more of that in chapter 2. I need to show Jael's internal loneliness early.
Nancy Kress had some good advice about that in her book 'Beginnings, Middles and Ends'. To have a character change, we need to show the capacity and impetuous to change well before the turning point/event. Jacob's changes are easier, maybe because he's more relatable, I think it's Jael I need to keep on polishing and honing.
Well, I'll keep on with the copy edit pass. Reading aloud does help catch problems. Chapter 4 was refreshingly light on typos and language issues. In fact, I think it's my favorite chapter since chapter 1, I'm almost tempted to jump from 1 to 4 but we'll examine that later.
I'll see what the feedback is on chapter 2 and 3. I'd like to compress things a little more but I'm concerned that if I do that, there will be too much information in too short a span. A novel does need space to breathe. To, as Jael does in Chapter 4, smell the flowers. It doesn't move the plot forward but I do like those moments in chapter 4 where Jael is seeing the world from ground-level for the first time. I may put more of that in chapter 2. I need to show Jael's internal loneliness early.
Nancy Kress had some good advice about that in her book 'Beginnings, Middles and Ends'. To have a character change, we need to show the capacity and impetuous to change well before the turning point/event. Jacob's changes are easier, maybe because he's more relatable, I think it's Jael I need to keep on polishing and honing.
Well, I'll keep on with the copy edit pass. Reading aloud does help catch problems. Chapter 4 was refreshingly light on typos and language issues. In fact, I think it's my favorite chapter since chapter 1, I'm almost tempted to jump from 1 to 4 but we'll examine that later.
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