Not normal...but lots of fun.

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Extra Scenes, Take One


So, I've been thinking about my book a lot of late. In particular, I've been considering many of the scenes I want to write that I don't believe will make it to the final draft. Somewhere inside of me, there's a place that requires those scenes to be written in order to finish the book at all. But I also know that they'll kill some of the surprise and intrigue if I allow them in the final draft.

The problem is: I think those scenes might be some of the best in the whole, flipping book.

Of course, I haven't written the whole, flipping book yet, so I can't say for sure. But that's the way I feel it will be. I know I'm putting the cart before the horse, but I'm wondering if I should include those extra scenes in whatever packet I eventually send to an editor. You know, so they can judge whether some should be included while others be excluded.


At this point, it really doesn't impact anything I'm doing. I just find myself thinking about it an awful lot. Regardless of my decision, I'm going to write those scenes in the first draft, and then revise the book in such a way so that you discover those things through another avenue. It doesn't matter what I decide, that will be how I write it, and I'll take those scenes and place them in a folder labeled Extra Scenes.

But what would you do? Would you write them, delete them, and think the story was better without the baggage, even if they were some of the most exciting moments in the story? Or would you keep some of the best of them in? Or would you take them all out, and share them with someone else, to get their opinion?

Writing quote of the day:

"Talent is helpful in writing, but guts are absolutely essential." Jessamyn West

Thanks for your time, everyone, and for all the reading and commenting you've done of late. I truly appreciate it. Happy writing!

4 comments:

  1. I think you should at least write them, that way if you do change your mind in wanting to include them they're there waiting for you :)

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  2. Yeah, I agree with Hazel, especially if it helps you get a complete view of your story. If they don't make it into the final draft you could always post them here for us :)

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  3. I agree as well. I tend to write a lot of things that I know will never see a publisher's light of day, but I write them anyway for several reasons:
    1) it's cathartic. I have all this stuff rattling around in my brain and I get a clearer picture of things if I just get it out and put it on paper.
    2) Some times even the crappiest stuff leads to great things.
    3) Quite often I end up writing a line, a phrase, a little quirk that I can incorporate elsewhere without the entire page it initially came from.
    4) I sometimes end up with some pretty cool character development I didn't even know I needed.
    Happy writing Kyla :)

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  4. Hmmm.. you should write about the thoughts on your mind. That at least can help you with. :)

    jewelclicks.blogspot.com

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