Wednesday, March 2, 2016

March IWSG

I'm feeling a little more on top of my posting this month. Slightly more, anyway. As of Tuesday morning had no idea what I was going to post about because writing life is pretty good right now. I've been barreling forward on Bound in Blue: Book 3 of The Narvan at around 1K a day. I like the direction its going and the words are flowing freely.

I have a couple of upcoming author events to attend, where I can promote A Broken Race. Interviews have been kept up on, except for reviewing my answers to Ms. Marketing's questions from our last meeting. Yeah,  I've got to get on that.

But now, Tuesday evening, I've just received the initial editing overview notes from a prospective publisher of Trust: Book 1 of The Narvan. I'm holding off on any big announcements on that front until I digest these and decide if I want to proceed with a contract should all parties agree to move forward.

I've played the get the contract before the initial notes game before and it wasn't pretty. Lifopoly anyone? I much prefer this order of events.

These notes, I think I can work with for the most part. But as I sit here, having read them over four times, I'm seriously pondering how on earth I'm going to conquer the issue of too many subplots to do them all justice. Yes, there are a lot. I know that. It's a complex story. All of them are necessary to pull the story together at the conclusion and provide the framework for the rest of the series.

The immediate solution that comes to mind would be to divide the first book in two thereby making the plot in each less complex and more leisurely to digest. I do have a rather breakneck pace set because that's the speed at which I like to read.

With the requested addition of areas needing more description and room to follow the suggestion of expounding on the existing subplots, reaching two novels worth of word count isn't an utterly stressful prospect. However, that would create the situation for a cliffhanger ending, because we'd essentially be leaving off in the middle. There is a scene that would lend itself to this purpose, but I hate detest very strongly dislike cliffhanger endings. I prefer each book to have a satisfying conclusion.

What are your feelings on cliffhangers? Does it drive you to buy the next book or annoy you to the point where you'd never buy anything by that author again?

Please check out posts by other ISWG participants here.

6 comments:

  1. I think a story needs to have a satisfying ending. The big thing needs to be wrapped up, but some of the subplots can be left open for the next book. If it just ends, it feels like a trick, and sometimes by the time the next book comes out, you've forgotten important details. Look at what you need to keep in the story. Simply it some, but leave in what is important to you.
    Mary at Play off the Page

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    1. The conflicting issue on my end is that is HAS been simplified to the bare bones already. I'd prefer to increase the word count and relax the pace than drop something vital to the overall arc. I agree with the feeling of being tricked when books don't really end. I'd prefer to avoid that.

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  2. Cliff hanger endings depend on how
    Much I loved the characters. If I felt like they were real and I could see the book perfectly in my mind, then I will most certainly wait and bite my nails while doing so. But like you, it's a hard place to be as a writer. Good luck with your lovely projects.

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  3. I don't know... I say I don't like cliffhangers, but then I kind of do. The whole "what's going to happen next?!?!" is like a drug to me. Plus, I've been told I write cliffhangers. More or less.

    As far as the subplots - not to compare - but the Game of Thrones series is riddled with subplots and those books are highly successful. I think you should just tell the story YOU want to tell.

    Good luck!

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    1. Thanks for dropping by That's my plan one way or another. :)

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