Justicar Jhee and the Spectral Armada
A Justicar Jhee Mystery
A Justicar Jhee Mystery
There is an irony about the scenes on which I get stuck: I often write more about the scene than I do in the scene. My current scenes average from 1200-2400 words. Normally an over-written scene is one where I’ve rephrased or added tidbits which I must resolve and prune. Another way I over-write a scene is all the writing I do outside the scene, when something about it trips me up.
A scene can have small, innocuous problems I can’t quite put my finger on. I, then, resist writing the scene. All my conflicting ideas for a scene bottleneck in my brain when I look at it. I start work on the scene. Doubts and niggling sensation the scene is not going the way I want build. One part of my brain goes, “but wait what about…?” Then another part goes, “Remember, you decided against doing that because….” “If I don’t do it, then I can’t do this other thing which I really wanted to.” Except it’s not usually not that clear and articulated. Instead, I go to tackle the scene and get a vague feeling of dissatisfaction or resistance I can’t name, which manifests as a paralysis.
The solution I found is to “talk” myself through the problem via writing. I start with either the written out question, “Why am I resisting writing this scene?” or simply “Resistance”. Then I write out all my unresolved questions and feelings about the current scene. Lastly, I hand the various parts of my brain the talking stick. Often, when writing out the problem, the solution presents itself. This is often when the dialogue described above actually happens. You can’t solve the problem until you clearly articulate the problem.
An innocuous scene reared back and gobbled up my writing time. It wasn’t a mega-scene but one which began life as a filler scene. Or more like an add-on I thought up to a different scene while padding my word count during the first draft. It had a bit of foreshadowing via some throwaway lines, some nice banter, and characterization. It was short, sweet, and more or less complete. With the new outline, it took on a much bigger role.
While the scene had some challenges I talked through, they appeared late; around the time I had almost wrapped up enough to move on. I’m still working on the scene, but it’s not a hopeless slog. The end feels around the corner. The scene’s worst trait is it inspires and informs other scenes. I work on it and a bit of backstory, solution, or an idea for something else pops into my head. I must then furiously scribble that down before returning to the scene.
This scene turned out to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing. I’m delaying not stalling. I might enjoy it too much. Am I using how good I feel about it as an excuse not to move on to scenes on which I am clueless? The previous scenes which took this long felt like a torturous quagmire from which I could not extract myself. With this one, I don’t feel lost or in despair. I’m excited to work on it. I can quit this scene anytime I want. Right after I figure out this one last thing.
The scene wound up a bit jumbled. In the end, I outlined it beat by beat. It’ll need a clean up pass once my mind and it have taken a break from each other.
My brain may already be shifting into editing to mode for this. An increase in complexity of the first book, has made this one feel a bit thin. Every new thing I learn about the world and characters has become grist for the mill.
A few extra details and things inspired by Book 1, have arisen. I do still worry this may feel too similar to the others.
Have a lovely day!