How's the Writing Going?

[snurri]

The novel was moving along swimmingly for a couple of months, there. Then I got stuck. At first I thought it was because I couldn't decide what to do with the Mississippi River, but it's really this scene with the guns, here. Right now I've got eight characters in a room waiting for me to decide what happens next. They are asking me things like, "Are you sure I need to get shot?" and "Doesn't all this tension seem a bit manufactured?" and "Do we need to keep pointing these things at each other while you figure this out?"

So there's your update.

Comments

[justinhowe.livejournal.com]

So the old Raymond Chandler "When in doubt have someone kick down a door with a gun in their hand" advice really wouldn't be helpful here.

[jamiam.livejournal.com]

But that is still totally the advice going through everyone's mind upon reading this entry.

[snurri.livejournal.com]

There are, in fact, more characters with guns outside! But it's too early for them to come in, because of the other characters UPSTAIRS with guns. GUNSGUNSGUNSGUNSGUNSGUNSGUNSGUNS

[jess-ka.livejournal.com]

I have, variously over the last few months, left my current characters in the grip of a giant sea snake, fighting a fire aboard ship, and bleeding on the rocks.

[snurri.livejournal.com]

I totally read that as "giant sea otter." Now I'm a teensy bit disappointed.

I want the peril, I do! It just gets cranked up to a certain point, and the spring gets stuck. Sigh.

[jess-ka.livejournal.com]

Heh. Giant sea otter! It will play with us to death! I like it. Maybe I'll have one of those, too...

[(Anonymous)]

8 characters in one room is a lot. That's daunting right there. (To me anyway. Perhaps not for you, because you're an amazing writer and all, but ... )
Maybe you should let a couple of them out.

[st-writes.livejournal.com]

Oops, not logged in. That anonymous was me.

[snurri.livejournal.com]

I keep thinking it's too many, too, but there are reasons for them all to be there, not the least of which is misdirection. And this is sort of the mid-book climax, so I don't think I need to hold back too much? But every time I try to write what happens next, I am stopped by the wall of suck.

[christophereast.livejournal.com]

This is the point in the process where I write something like [SITUATION IS DEFUSED] and start the next scene....

[snurri.livejournal.com]

Man, I wish I could work that way, but I have to do everything in order.

[christophereast.livejournal.com]

You're probably better off...I'm not exactly bringing in the big bucks! :D Good luck!

[haddayr.livejournal.com]

I write like you, and I personally am ROLLING in cash.

Well okay maybe not but I still think it's an equally valid approach.

[jennreese.livejournal.com]

I'm the same way -- I must write completely linearly, even if it means I get stuck on something for way too long.

My sympathies, friend.

[xjenavivex.livejournal.com]

yes this

[haddayr.livejournal.com]

Really?

I didn't know this.

[snurri.livejournal.com]

Always been that way.

[kameron-hurley.livejournal.com]

GUN KATA!!!!!!!

[(Anonymous)]

That "eight characters in a room waiting for me to decide what happens next" reminds me of Woody Allen's The Purple Rose of Cairo when the fictional movie's hero and heroine step out of the movie into the real world, leaving the other characters to loiter about the set, waiting for them to return to the movie so the plot can resume.

Pete (www.petelit.com)

[ecmyers.livejournal.com]

Someone sneezes and accidentally fires a gun, then everything goes Reservoir Dogs and someone loses an eye.

[xjenavivex.livejournal.com]

good luck making it out of the room alive

[experimeditor.livejournal.com]

Eight characters - do they all have guns? If so, get an 8-sided die (or borrow one from the nearest D&D geek) and randomly determine which gun goes off. _Then_ go back and figure out why. Push those characters, man! You're the boss! :)