Week 41 - Back to Square One

Now that I have turned 40 (that’s weeks of the blog) and I am beginning to head towards the end of my novel, I thought that there was an obvious topic for this week.

Beginnings.

Last weekend I reached the end of my second draft a whole two weeks ahead of schedule (probably helped by the early exit from Wimbledon of a certain female Russian player). It was time to sit back and take stock. What do I actually think of my novel now it’s in a second draft form?

It’s better - much better - than the first draft; but then again, I’m a better fast bowler than my Grandmother was...it’s all relative....

While the book has certainly improved, it is clearly not “there” yet. The early chapters still seem to be in need of some work; probably as they were written first, they’re not of the same standard as the later chapters.

I have also identified three new scenes that need to be written, which I plan to do over the next ten days.

But most striking of all is the prologue. We all know how important the beginning of a novel is, which is probably why I have re-written the prologue EIGHT times.

Last week marked re-write number nine. Interestingly, I did not exactly re-write it as cut huge chunks from it. It has gone from 1500 words to around 400...and the odd thing is that it’s about three times better. Go figure, as the Americans say.

Kate Mosse discusses how important the start of a book/chapter is and uses examples such as George Orwell’s 1984 (for my money his Coming Up For Air has the best opening line in literature) http://www.mosselabyrinth.co.uk/advice/15.asp

My prologue is certainly not up there with the likes of Orwell and Dickens, but after it’s ninth re-write it’s getting there.

And that’s a beginning.