I was trying to flit through the MSs, figuring out what needed done on each, and then I got stuck. I’ve spent a couple days now poking at Keen. It’s different from my other books, and that’s confused me as to its issues, but I did know it had them.
So. poke. poke. headdesk. poke.
Tonight it hit me (some of it, at least) in a great big DUH! moment. My MC has no compelling need. I know he should have one, to drag him and the reader through the book. I know it, good lord, how could I not, after all these stories written and all these writing books read?
Yes, he’s madly in love with Keen. No, Keen does not reciprocate. But there’s no urgency! Keen has already been around for a year, he’s taken citizenship on Luc’s planet, he’s not going anywhere. Need, yes. Compelling, no.
Every other book has one. Ben needs to save Eve, Eve needs to save the world, Donte needs to save Jordan, Taro needs to keep Rafe, Rafe needs to save Taro…and Luc wants to get Keen to go out with him.
…huh?
No. Gotta fix that. Which means I’ve got to hurt them both more (can’t up the tension with happy, after all) and I dunwanna.
But I will. Also, that lazy afternoon library infodump of a first scene has got to go. I think, instead, I’ll start with…screams in the night.
Oh yes. This is gonna be much better. ^___^
You’ve got me thinking about what my characters need, so if you don’t mind I am going to think all over your blog (I’ll clean up after myself, promise!)…
So, Marie NEEDS! to have a family and kids before she dies and then (later) NEEDS! to end this curse to save those kids./ Sarah NEEDS! to quit separating herself from her twin sister by being her opposite and live a life worth living while she’s still living. [Dear God(dess), that second bit is sort of a revelation.]
Aeliana NEEDS! … to work out a lot of issues, to feel like she has a real family, to find a cause worth fighting for.
Celeste NEEDS! to have power (to make up for a time when she didn’t have power) vs. Ang’mal’s NEED! to save her (from herself, mostly.)
Patrick NEEDS! to figure out what this angel-shite is and … oh yeah, that book isn’t finished. And probably should be restarted.
Mairead NEEDS! to hide The Truth from Finbarr … and Finbarr NEEDS! to live his life on his terms which means finding The Truth. [And I need to decide what The Truth really is, woe.]
Lucia NEEDS! a job and Amistad NEEDS! a family, and together they NEED! to work through oh-so-many issues, so they can be happy together or apart. [And make up their minds which it is, please.]
*looks around at the mess she’s made pulling out all her dolls. quickly tidies up.* Thanks for the playroom!
No problem! Plotting, planning, and pondering are all welcome! (also, yay for revelations!)