Progress Report, in which I learn the value of the Boy Scout motto

Posted on June 25, 2007 by Matthew S. Rotundo
An abbreviated week, owing to my recent travels, so this may be somewhat less than impressive.

I had hoped to make some serious headway on the rewrite of “Gone Black,” but I’m still not ready to move past the note-making stage. An important secondary character is giving me fits. I’ve been trying to get into her head a little more, understand why she reacts the way she does, but so far I haven’t been able to figure her out. If she doesn’t work, then an entire subplot falls apart. I got to the point where I began considering removing the subplot altogether. That would certainly shorten the story, and drastically alter it. I had to think hard to remember why I felt I needed this subplot in the first place. Again, challenging one’s assumptions is a Good Thing, but it sure ain’t fun.

After some soul-searching, I believe I recall why I need that subplot, and I may have gotten a glimpse inside my secondary character’s head. I hope so, anyway. I have no intention of bogging down in this rewite for weeks. I plan to have this thing ready to go by the 4th of July, latest. That should be ample time. Should be.

On the lighter side–here’s something I meant to mention in my last installment:  A few weeks ago,

[info]jaylake

was in town, as he is wont to do.  After dinner one night, a group of us spent some time tooling about in an attempt to spot his new novel Mainspring in the wild.  We tried a nearby Borders.  Still on order.  We went across the street to a Barnes & Noble.  No joy, but another location had two copies in stock.  So Jay and I rode out to said location and secured them.

On the way back, he and I got to talking about Petra.  And he asked me to pitch it to him.

Gulp.

I had a decent logline ready for it, but I just kinda extemporized the rest.  And it showed.  And Jay so advised me.  (He also gave some wise and helpful tips, for which I’m grateful.  Thanks, Jay!)  He pointed out that you never know when you’ll be asked to pitch.  And I’m here to tell ya, he was dead right.  The last time I’d pitched a novel, I was strolling with an editor through Greenwich Village at 2 a.m. on a Halloween night.

So, yeah.  You really never know when you’ll be asked to pitch.  Best be ready for it.

No updates for Write Club.

And with that, I believe my work here is done.

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