When the writer is getting bored, what do you think any poor hapless reader is going to be thinking?
2007 November 19
I’m still behind (just short of 30,000 words at the moment) and I’m still struggling through my very unplanned part II, which to be honest is so boring, I was having trouble keeping my eyes open whilst writing it, so what on earth would a reader think?
I considered that some time back. Realized that in its current state there really should be NO ONE reading the thing. It’s posted, but more as a safety backup (and, I admit, it looks cute). Heck, even the characters seem bored. Finally took the MC on a side trip, just to get her out of the house. The plot was going nowhere, anyway.
When I get bored with what I’m writing I stop writing it, and rething why I was writing it. The way I figure, if it’s boreing me, than it certainly will bore the readers!
I try to find a way to liven the scene up. Say, add a dead body (doesn’t have to be one of your characters, just some random bystander). By adding a dead body to the scene, your character now has to respond to this dead body. It helps to add interest to youe story and allows you character to move on past the boreing bit so you can get on with the rest of the story.
Now, you don’t have to add a dead body, you could do a million other things as well. I’m going to brain storm a list for you off the top of my head.
The mother-in-law shows up.
A rabid dog jumps out of the bushes.
Lightening strikes just inches away.
A book falls off the shelf and opens to the passage which says…
The phone rings.
An 1850’s gunslinger shoots his way across the street.
A tree falls across the path.
Someone calls out for help.
An unmanned speed boat crashes into the dock.
The angel of death suddenly appears.
A teddy bear comes to life.
How many more can you think of?
Now, go back and pick one of those items and add it to that boreing scene, have your character respond to it and see where it takes you story.
I hope this helps. Good luck!
~~EK
Thanks for your messages, Bytch and EK. EK the adding something exciting bit works, the supposedly innocent imprisoned victim my MC rescued from jail has just gone and killed a whole load of people, leading to lots of angst from the MC!
Lacer