Friday 30 April 2010

Klingon Books


I'm not sure if any of you other writers out there have these, but I have this book that I've been writing on and off since 2007--since Nanowrite of that year actually (not constantly but I keep going back to it for a week here or there and then abandonning it). This book simply won't let go of me. Over the years I'd have easily written 70-80,000 words on it, counting the many deletions and different versions of it. Yet what do I have when I look at this manuscript? Zippo. Absolutely nothing of interest is occuring between the couple. He's too nice and she's too whiny. They're on a tropical island and at some stage they'd probably have sex if I ever made it to that part, but for the entirety of the 2.5 years I've been fiddling with this book they've basically been arguing, eating, arguing again, going for a swim, lusting after each other in secret and then you guessed it, arguing. I don't know why I keep fiddling with it, perhaps it's my stubbornness. I feel that I should just be able to make the ms work because it's a very basic, friendship becomes affair becomes relationship story, but no matter what I do, it just doesn't.

I'm starting to think perhaps this couple simply doesn't belong together. They're boring me, so I wouldn't inflict them on an honest reader for the world. The problem is I don't know how to kick them out of my life--or off my hard drive. Sounds easy in theory but I feel like if I delete this limping ailment of a manuscript, the second it's gone I'll think of some brilliant plot idea that will make it magic.

I don't hoarde objects in my house, but I hoarde old defunct books on my hard drive. How do I cure myself of this bad habit?

(On the house front it looks like all is going ahead and we're officially moving in June. Well, that's a lot to think about isn't it?)

Sami

4 comments:

  1. Woo Hoo on the new house :)

    Don't delete the ms. Okay so the book isn't working, but you never know when you might be able to grab a chapter or two and adapt it for another book. Just cross it off the mental list and forget about it.

    :)

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  2. I agree with Cait. Don't delete it, you never know when you can draw on a chapter or two. Put it aside. Moving in June. wow. Can I ask, is it to another city or nearby. :)

    Suz :)

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  3. I agree. I had one of those klingon books that I'd been writing on and off for about 5 years. I even changed the genre but still couldn't get there. Well, I finally finished it this year and cut it down from 85000 words to 40000 and you know what??? I STILL DON'T LIKE IT! hehehe But as Caitlyn and Suzanne said, don't delete it. You could use parts of it. I've done that, too!

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  4. I'm moving only about 20km from where I am now Suz, but moving is still moving. The kids have to change schools and daycare too, so much to do for me.

    Thanks for the thoughts Kiss and Cait. I knew I wouldn't be alone in my pain!

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