Writing Whinge

[przed]

In spite of a visiting friend and a lovely migraine that's only now on the retreat after three days of making me miserable, I've actually managed to get some writing done.

The Good News
The final edits on my Wild Wild West story are in, and the zine it's in (the final issue of Gentlemen Never Tell, edited by the lovely Marian Kelly) should even now be on its way to the printers.

More Good News
I finished what I thought were the two final scenes in the Pros story I've been working on for-freaking-ever. (Not to be confused with the Pros novel I've been working on for even longer than that.)

The Not So Good News
Those two final scenes wrenched the story into a corner that there was no getting out of.

The Okay News
Whilst washing the lunch dishes up (let's hear it for working from home) I figured out a fix for the bloody story.

The Not-So-Okay News
The fix is going to require the wholesale gutting and replacement of those last two scenes. Fuckity-fuck-fuck-fuck

I shouldn't be surprised. This story was supposed to be a lark, something I could finish off in a week, tops, but it's got a screwy structure that's been a bear to work with, and in the *mumblemumble* years I've been writing it, it's morphed and mutated in a way that's necessitated multiple rewrites and amputations of various sections. I rather suspect that the discarded scenes now outnumber the ones that are actually in it.

Still, I think I've finally cracked it this time. And maybe I'll even get the bastard sorted out this week.

Doesn't make me feel like bashing my head against a wall any less, though. :-/

Comments

[heliophile-oxon.livejournal.com]

You know we're going to love you for ever when we read them, though, don't you? Please don't damage any walls - we need your head intact!!!! (I suppose you may need it too, come to that). Take care of yourself - it sounds like you deserve some treats and tlc, to me.

I think you're brave to cope with discarding scenes, btw. Go you, quality at work!!!!

[przed.livejournal.com]

I hope you'll love me forever. *g* But right now, I'd settle for having the bastard thing done. Without damaging either walls or my head.

As for discarding a scene, it isn't too hard once you've realized it just isn't working. And I have to admit I'm saving all the best ones in hopes I can pop them into another story some time in the distant future.