Sunday, June 22, 2008

Lessons From My BIAW

My Kiss of Death Book-in-a-Week ended today. In all, I wrote 62 pages, 60 on Borrowed Time and 2 on Danger. This is what I learned:

1. I can't write two stories at once. I can jot down notes for one and immerse myself in the other. I can edit one and write the other. But I cannot write fresh scenes for 2 stories at the same time. When I tried I found I couldn't immerse myself in either world enough to love either one. (That's how I read too. I have to finish a book before even thinking of starting another.)

2. When I get started on a manuscript and I don't know what to write, I write dialogue. This was interesting for me. Yes, I wrote plenty of descriptive paragraphs and action paragraphs, but every time I said, "What now?" I always started with dialogue.

3. I think I write romantic thrillers. I've been saying for some time now that Danger has loads of action and the stakes just keep getting hotter for the hero and heroine. There are plenty of twists and turns. There are moments of tenderness sprinkled throughout, but the danger and suspense are front and center.

4. (Which ties it with #3) Although I wrote 60 pages on the new manuscript, I don't anticipate keeping much of that story. The ideas I had for it were all well and good, but at the end of the day, they weren't "thriller" enough for me and I got bored. There are elements that I will use for the next manuscript, but the plot line I thought would be Borrowed Time is quickly morphing into my current obsession...a thriller.

So tomorrow I'll go back to Dance Away, Danger. I'm looking forward to immersing myself back into that world and moving that progress meter again. The hero will pick his nickname too and I'll announce the winning suggestion.

8 comments:

Unknown said...

I'm glad you found your true passion. I go with dialog too when I'm stuck. It's a great way to dive into a scene and when you're writing fast paced stuff, it really moves the story forward. Congrats on surviving your challenge and kudos on the page count!

Catherine Avril Morris said...

That sounds like such great stuff to learn.

And, I done tagged you! (Visit my blog to see, if you wanna...) :)

Lexi said...

Thanks, Cat. I'm thrilled (huh, no pun intended) with my thriller word counts and lessons!

Lexi said...

Tagged? Cool. I've read yours, Catherine. I'll post mine later.

Kelly Boyce said...

I write dialogue too. Or I do introspection. But when I read it back its a bunch of talking or thinking heads. There's no setting, no action. Argh. I was doing that today.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a good exercise for you. BIAWs usually don't work for me, more's the pity.

Lexi said...

Kelly, if I'm not writing dialogue, I'm writing about somebody being chased or attacked!

Lexi said...

Cindy, yeah, even though I won't keep much of the BIAW writing, I at least learned a few things. That alone makes it worthwhile!