It is begun. I did some outlining of the second book of the Sand Sifter series (say that three times fast) yesterday and was filled with evil glee at the mischances I was going to put my characters through. Oh the reversals of fortune and fate! Oh the angry gods! Oh how fun to make my characters squirm! Pretty excited that I'm getting started in January this time instead of March like I usually do.
Started the prologue today and am filled with panic. I don't know how to write the middle of a series! Yikes, how much info do I fill in - do I assume the readers have forgotten everything about the first book? I suppose I should disperse the info through the first couple of chapters - but what do the readers need the fastest? And how do I know I'll make this one interesting enough for the reader to want to move on to the last of the series? How do I manipulate the characters into doing bad deeds while having my audience still love them? Arrgh! How am I going to make all this work?!
I know, I know, one bird at a time - take it one bird at a time. Maybe I need to reread the Annie Lamott book - I always find it soothing to realize there's another author out there with my brand of crazy. I should clarify - an author with my brand of crazy who is published. It gives me hope that soul-killing doubt and wrenching insecurity won't keep you from being published if you have a little determination.
So I write. And I hope. And if it all sucks at the end - I rewrite. Simple as that - right? Bird by bird I persevere.
Friday, January 23, 2009
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1 comment:
Right, bird by bird. Excellent news on starting the next book!
The middle can be good. Many people felt the Empire Strikes Back was the best of that part of the Star Wars trilogy. When you start to panic, remember the evil glee you felt planning it out.
:-)
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