For some reason, whenever my characters need to drive somewhere I draw...things...out way...too...long. I don't mean to, but even during emergency situations I suddenly make them have some major conversation as they stand outside the car doors with the keys in their hands.
In a current WIP entitled Possession, I think my characters did this FIVE times--pretty much every time they got in the car. To be fair, this was only just a first draft modified by one quick revision before my CPs saw it.
It happened so often in the story that it became a critique group joke. We've now coined the phrase "get in the car and go" to apply to anything (writing related or otherwise) that needs to speed things up a bit.
| Little Red Corvette, baby you're much too slow at getting into the car |
So what's my writing tip of the day?
Recognize your hang ups and try to curb them. Now I make sure it doesn't take me five pages for my characters to "get in the car and go".
But also try to have a sense of humor about your failings and foibles...you'll never be perfect. There's always room to grow.
Perfect people are boring, anyway...right?
| I'm perfect and everyone wants my hair |
Hahaha... this great advice, and great of you to spot it in your own writing. I have recently been accused of rushing my endings - and it's true. Once I get through that last big conflict I just want them all to drink smoothies and watch a movie and BAM! We're done folks. It's a wrap. But apparently readers want a bit more, so I'm learning to give it to them. Guess I need to hold my horses while you get in the car and go.
ReplyDeleteBut we can both still drink smoothies because they taste so good! :.)
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