Chapters, Who Need Them!

After completing a second novel this November I looked back over my manuscripts and decided that they felt more like two parts of the same book. It was then that I decided to merge the two into Book 1: London’s Bleeding. Once decided I then had to start putting in Chapters.

When I write for the first time I tend to write one long string of prose without any chapters. I do try hard to put in paragraphs (mostly). This style of writing leads me to the rather long and drawn out process of adding chapters! I am aware that a book needs chapters if not for structure then so the reader can stop reading at a set moment rather than in the middle of the action. Some of the main feedback I got from readers was there need for chapters.

It was long long long process but after it was completed I was relieved. I now feel like I can set myself realistic editing goals for example I will complete the redraft of chapters 1-3 this week.

Overall I think chapters are needed for reader and writer. In the future I will try to put them in. Its just that Olivia talks too damn fast. 😉

New Years Goals

So Christmas is upon us! This is the time of New Year’s resolutions and thinking back over the year. This year I have been very proud to have written two first drafts of the Olivia Everett series as well as much short and flash fiction. I also completed NaNoWriMo for the first time, and after having had a short comedy sketch commission by The Peryls I now consider myself a freelance writer. My new years resolution or new years goals (it seems the very phrase ‘new years resolution’ is code for ‘will not succeed’) for 2012 will mostly be related to writing.
1. To complete the redraft of the Olivia Everett books
2. To submit the finished novel to at least one agent
3. To have something published in any form i.e internet magazine, writing website, anthology, newspaper etc.
4. To have one of my plays put on (or at least rehearsed read)
5. To blog at least once a week
6. To complete Script Frezy in April
7. To complete NaNoWriMo in November
I plan to look back at this post once at least month to make sure I am keeping up with my goals and to keep up with my blogging in a much better way that I have the past few weeks. I would like to ask any people out there if they would like any short stories commissioned. I feel I work well with a brief for my fiction and welcome any suggestions.
Wishing all those reading a fantastic Chrsitmas and New Year and may Yuletide blessings shower on all of you.

An Extract From Part Two

“It was very dark in here, there was music playing but not too loud and it looked like there were a few levels. I didn’t know where to start looking for Ben, there were buckets of beer and champagne scattered around the room for anyone to take. There was also a bar at the back of the room which looked to be serving food I couldn’t make out what it was and the someone walked past me with a bacon sandwich. My stomach growled at me, I headed to the bar and took a sandwich, I started eating it and tried to think of a way to find Ben in this three story mess. A dribble of ketchup ran down my chin and I reached up to dab it away when I felt someone do it for me. I looked up to see Benidict, Arch Vampire of London licking ketchup off his finger the symbolism of the scarlet liquid was striking.

“Hello Ben” I said looking into his eyes, I knew he couldn’t Gaze me with my Nan’s pentacle tucked in my shirt. “Livy” he responded extending his hand to help me up. I stood up with out his help he tutted “What is the great emergency?” “How did you know I was here?” I asked him. His face became conflicted “I am torn in how to answer that” I sighed the mind games had started already “Just answer the question Ben” he continued. “I smelled you Livy, I can smell you coming a mile off, I am drawn to your particular scent” he took a deep breath in through his nose for emphasis. I shuddered, I had to ask. “Can we go someone where more quiet? I don’t really want to be competing with this noise” I gestured around me. He nodded and walked forward, I followed him up the stairs and through a door to the back of the room. The noise behind me muffled and the lights had become brighter, he led me to a white door marked staff only and went through.

We walked into an office, there was a man with long hair snorting cocaine off of a desk, the sign on the desk read bar manager but I was betting this wasn’t him. The man stood up defensively, I felt the tickle of Gaze and heard Ben “Leave us” the man obliged and walked out swiftly. Ben pulled up a chair for me and leant against the desk so that I was lower than him, I doubted that it was an accident.

He looked down at me and now that we were alone I started to feel nervous and to be honest a little weirded out about the fact that I had kissed another man earlier. I didn’t own Ben anything we weren’t together and I had no intention of dating a dead man but there was sense of betrayal being around him. “You seem nervous Liv, more so than usual” why could he read my emotions so well, I put my hand into my pocket and pulled out the note. I went to hand it to him but when my fingers touched his the coldness of them made me jump and I dropped the note. I bent to pick it up and whacked my head on his knee, he laughed above me, a low chuckle. I fixed him with a glare “Shut up” I mumbled this made him laugh more. I thrust the note at him and he took it still smiling and began to unfold it. I saw him read it and then read it again, his face had become serious and he placed the note gently beside him on the desk.”