The plot thickens…

What do you do if you’re almost finished the first draft of your novel, and you find yourself tangled in timelines, with a spaghetti-esque plot, and sub-characters fighting your main characters for air-play?

I’m almost at the end of the first draft of my first novel, which I’ve been writing for about three years now (while trying to deal with life, the universe and everything).

It started out as a story about three women in business, navigating midlife (a.k.a. write what you know). I knew the first and last ‘scenes’ but that was the extent of my plot.

So I’ve written about 65,000 words and, while I know each character’s story, I keep finding gaps and getting tangled up with timelines. The lovely Sash said I should check out Justine Larbalestier’s idea of doing up a spreadsheet for your novel.

It’s time-consuming, but it’s worth the effort. I now have a fabulous spreadsheet with the point of view, day, place, word count, a brief content outline, plus notes and the editing needed for each chapter. (Thanks, Justine!).

I’ve also discovered that, in addition to my three main characters, I have at least four sub-characters getting air-play (well, they keep me amused!).

Perhaps I should be writing a sitcom?

Obviously, some will have to go…meanwhile, I’m plugging on until I can write ‘the end’. Then I’ll get stuck into editing — and probably (aagh!!) a complete re-write.

…onwards  

Elle

 

Hinchinbrook – back from the wilds

As we waited for the ferry to collect us at the end of our Hinchinbrook walk, you could have knocked me over with a feather. Not because I was exhausted, but because I was in shock.

I started the walk thinking I’d be counting the days AND kays (kilometres) until I reached the end. But here I was, feeling sad that it was over and wanting more. I was elated.

I’d lugged my 15 kg pack along rocky trails criss-crossed with tangled roots; negotiated slippery creek crossings; scrambled up and down rocky sections; and (almost) got used to the March flies that were fatally attracted to my hair.

And I’d loved every bit of it, with the possible exception of my bloke whacking me over the head constantly (“It was the March flies!” Yeah right).

Even with the bities and the humidity, it’s such a fantastic walk. One moment we were deep in cool, lush rainforest or rock hopping across crystal clear creeks, the next we were walking through mangrove and palm swamps, open eucalypt forest or grass tree shrubland.

Along the way, we’d stop to cool off in deep forest pools beneath cascading falls or slide into the pristine blue of one of Hinchinbrook’s bays.

At night, the island came alive in a very Jurassic Park kind-of way. There was a whole lot of squawking, hunting and foraging going on beyond the campsite – which was strangely comforting, except when you wanted to go outside for a pee.

Who would have thought carrying all your ’stuff’ on your back for four days could be so damn relaxing? Hinchinbrook was magic.

And no, Sash, I didn’t see any crocs. Especially none with Jodie Foster* in a death roll. No opportunities there for heroic rescues and possible movie script deals.

We’re back in busy-ness land, dancing to the tune of our mobile phones again, but we’re already planning our next adventure… which involves trekking. Who would have thought?

Elle

* JF was on the island at the time, for her part in some movie they were filming there (Mim’s Island?)

For the Hinchinbrook slideshow…

But my mobile phone was out of credit…

I’m always amazed by those adorable, on-the-ball toddlers who save their critically ill parent by dialling 000 and telling the ambulance how to get to their house. Stories like those never fail to bring a tear to my eye. Mainly because none of those kids live in my house.

We’ve tried to teach our bunch emergency response plans over the years, but honestly… they can be stuck somewhere late at night, their mobile phone is out of credit, and they can’t call us. Apparently.

Try a public phone, I say. Or call us before you leave work so we can meet you somewhere.

Oh, we didn’t think of that.

Before you think I’m a parent with my head in the sand (she says, draining some gritty stuff out of her ears) I have to say our kids tell us way more than we need to know about their lives. You know that stuff about not wanting to know what your parents got up to? It works both ways.

This isn’t about covering their tracks so much as not knowing what to do when things don’t go to plan…

Which brings me back to mobile phones.

Our policy has always been that we won’t buy our kids a mobile phone – or credit. Even if other parents do it for their kids (which, of course, they regularly point out to us). Even if we want them to be able to call us when they really need to.

Even if they lose their $200 mobile phone a week after they buy it with their birthday money. We call that a cheap lesson (more about that another time).

I don’t question the fact that we all want our kids to be as safe as possible, and we see a mobile phone as one way to achieve that. What I do question is whether we’re fooling ourselves (or they’re fooling us) just a tiny bit.

 

The fact is, you can buy them all the credit you like, but the rate kids txt msg these days, they’d probably be out of credit when they need it most.

What did we do before mobile phones? How did we survive, get out of trouble, find our way home?

We had to do more planning before we went anywhere – like how were we getting home, did we need a lift, would there be buses, did we have change for a phone or money for a taxi?

All of us girls knew our killer heels were more than just a fashion item – and that a swift kick in the right spot could make a bloke crumple at the knees.

Maybe it’s time we let our kids know it’s a jungle out there and how to deal with it. After all, there isn’t always mobile phone reception.

Elle.

writing software

The word ‘Scrivener’ seems to be popping up constantly in my reading lately. So much so that I decided I just had to have it. I went in search, excited by the thought of something new and comforting myself with the thought that researching writing software is almost, quite nearly, like actually writing.

 Those of you in the know are smirking already, I can tell. ‘Mac only’ was what I discovered.

So what does a pc tapping girl have to do to get some decent software around here? Scrivener looked so shiny and new. So helpful. So cute. So… just out of reach.

What do you recommend? I’ve found things like PageFour and Liquid Story Binder, but it’s hard to know what’s best (especially when the shiny bauble Scrivener is dazzling me from up high). Does anyone (pc users only I’m afraid) have a recommendation on writing software? 

Sash.