On the Road: New York with Zelda
This is probably going to be a huge Duh for the rest of you but I finally figured out the problem with Zelda’s negative motivation: It’s negative.
As you may remember, Zelda didn’t want to go to Rosemore, but Rose lures her in and then keeps her with the promise of helping her find her father. I was trying to explain this to Mollie yesterday–always a good way to solve something, by the way, explain the problem to someone else–and it occurred to me that what I had to do was let go of that first scene entirely and start over.
Because the solution is that Zelda wants to go to Rosemore because she thinks Rose knows who her father is. Positive goal. I’m so happy. And I can spin the conflict out with two positive goals: Zelda wants Rose to tell her who her father is so she can go find him immediately, and Rose wants Zelda to stay and help Scylla serve for the holidays. Which gives me the conflict/struggle which Zelda will lose because Rose holds all the cards.
Of course, that means I’m going to have to rewrite that first scene almost completely but it’s worth it. I’ve finally got a positive goal, which means I have push.
Really, travel is very good for writing.
Wow! Good for you in figuring out Zelda. Yes, it was a DUH moment, but then I have a lot of those too.
So glad you found a positive for Zelda. This story is going to be such a worthwhile read after all these changes, and collages.
Travel safe.
And Mollie is definitely a GAW. She’s really come through with the “plant” job, and now the by being the sounding board.
Thanks Mollie.
Ohhhh–that totally works. I like. Gives motivation to Zelda from inside herself, rather than motivation being forced on her from outside. Much better.
“Really, travel is very good for writing”.
See? This is why my BART run in the mornings is so valuable to me. It’s time where I can just think without a lot of outside interference to bother the whole process. Well, there is the traffic, but I can deal with that and still work on plot stuff.
That first scene is so totally going to ROCK! Can hardly wait to read it. I can hardly wait for this book, period. It’s the one that I keep thinking you’ve already written and want to go pull off my book shelf to read again. Did it again yesterday and thought, “No, I can’t read that one yet” and sighed.
If you need any ARC readers, I would love to take a look at it–mystery is my thing. (Have I mentioned my shelves of Christie and Sayers and Francis and Doyle and Cornwell and….). *grin*
Oh damn - I loved that scene. But I know what you mean. Good for you for working it out. Amazing what talking to someone can do.
Yay. The roadblock is cleared and Zelda is on her way. Now all you have to do is write it. Book done yet? Snort.
Thanks Mollie.
Get away from home, see old friends (and daughters, well, not old), do a little blood letting - BTW, how is that foot? Did you get your shot? - and amazing things come out because you weren’t stressing over them.
Hmmm, think I need a trip out of town. /;+)
Glad to hear you’re having such a good time and that it’s doing great things for the writing.
I see in Jenny’s future …. A really BIG cross stitched piece in cherry red lettering with cherries scattered about the border, nicely framed, where her eyes alight whenever she looks up from writing a saying….. POSITIVE MOTIVATION ONLY.
It’s so nice to come home after a long day with kids in junior high–on their last day before Spring break!!– to read Argh Ink. It’s like getting a free ice cream cone. I’ll miss that first scene, too, but I have a feeling a Crusie heroine going for a positive goal will make for an even more exhilarating read than the other opening. Stand back, everyone! Here comes Zelda! :>)
Well, and the nice thing about there being a NEW first scene is that we ALREADY GOT the old one! So, more scenes!
Very cool. And I guess we’ll find out WHY she wants to find her father when it comes out.