February 18, 2010
I struggled to reach 10,000 words in Death and Life, and since reaching it I haven’t written much new. I’ve been reading the old drafts of The Invasion (earlier version of the story) and spending some time plotting the way forward. The narrative voice has been difficult for me, as I am deliberately working against my instincts, writing in a way that is not usual for me—or trying to anyway. I am sure that it is more ‘me’ than I really care to admit, but it is different enough that I’m having trouble with it. Also, the narrator himself is a difficult personality to get down. I’m still trying to figure him out, and until I do it is likely that progress will be fitful.
However, I have rewritten the first 10,000 words so many times that I think these chapters have are fairly well polished already. Barring any dramatic changes, they will likely keep their current form more or less intact during future revision. Well, I say that now, but likely when I go back after finishing the book I will want to tear it all apart. Meanwhile I press on.
Filed under Death and Life.