I had a book epiphany today. The kind where you just stop everything you are doing and think, “My, God. That’s brilliant! I am such a genius!”
My incredible idea was that I should swap the back story part of book 2 (The Second Seal) with the one in book 3 (already written and currently gathering virtual dust on my hard drive).
Speaking of back story, here’s a little on this whole predicament:
All of the books in this series have four major storylines. Three of those are set in the present and the fourth is set in the past. The fourth storyline fills in the gaps in the other three and gives the reader a historical perspective on the rest of the plot. Except in The Second Seal. It didn’t really do that and I have spent no small amount of time trying to figure out a way to make that happen. However, all of my ideas fell a little short.
Until today.
I made a small change in a secondary character that tied him directly to the fourth storyline in Book 3 (I allude to this a bit in #2, but not a lot. You’d really have to be paying attention to catch it.).
The difficulty is in convincing my husband/writing partner/editor to do it. Because he is in love with the section from Book 2. I think this is because it is the last part of any of these books that he actually sat down and wrote. He loves it and is unwilling to change certain parts of it (more on this in an upcoming post). He really doesn’t want to make the change. I just think waiting until the next book is asking a lot of the reader, especially when it might help to know more about what is going on in Book 2.
I apologize for being so vague, but I don’t want to let any spoilers slip out.
Your thoughts?
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11 comments:
Dear The Mrs.
Ahem.
It was (really, Internet) my idea to tie the two. There wasn't a tie, and this makes the two parts sync together like beer and chocolate pudding. Trust me, that's better than it sounds.
As we discussed today, we already went over the tie from the historical plot to the present, and, well, yes. I like the old plot. It would make Fitzgerald weep with envy. It is so good it would make Hemingway want to take a shotgun and . . . oh, my bad.
The beauty of this tie (in my opinion) is that it brings together two of the present plotlines, provides a real reason for one of the character's actions, but yet doesn't explain just who The Old Man is. It's simply too much to pull in The Old Man along with the other characters and not end up with Madolyn Smith's (yes, that's spelled right) description of her husband's writing in Funny Farm:
You have a flashback, a flashback in a flashback, and, what is this? A flash sideways?
No dear. It's good. It was good before you rewrote the whole damn thing. Now it's even better. Stop before you become Andy Farmer.
With hugs and bunny kisses,
-John
The book was even good with the Italian Assassin.
Paging Mr. Machina, Mr. Deus X. Machina . . .
First:
Leaving out the whole "This doesn't make sense/It's not supposed to make sense" argument, the tie between them is exactly why these two should be in the same book. Like I said to you the other night, it's okay for the characters to be confused, but don't leave the reader wondering what the heck just happened.
Second:
No. It wasn't. No plot device in the known universe was as bad as the Italian Assasin. But, at least I now have new lows that I can aspire to.
No, you establish that they're father and son. You just don't show he's Darth Vader (yet).
It worked for Lucas. He didn't cut off Luke's hand until Empire. Empire was the best movie. You don't want to add Ewoks next, do you?
And, really, the Italian Assassin (not a Sylvester Stallone movie, really) wasn't all that bad. Sure, he just was a version of Basil Exposition, but he died wonderfully.
Oh, and Internet? We're sitting on our computers, back to back, writing this in our living room. She's listening to some crappy music, and I'm thinking about putting some Mojo Nixon in.
The Ewoks had their own cartoon, thank you very much! I'm just saying that it leaves TONS of unanswered questions at the end of the book. Afew of those I don't mind, but I think this leaves too many.
And the Foo Fighters, Audioslave and Flyleaf are not crappy!
Sure. The Ewoks had their own cartoon. So did M.C. Hammer.
No, it doesn't. You DO hit the main plotline, there's a truly beautiful ending. This is ancillary, and similar to wondering if Rosencrantz and Guildenstern's manager had difficulty signing up new acts after his headliners got waylaid on their way home from Hamletstock. No. It is CRUCIAL to The Third Seal, but a sideline in this book.
Foreshadow. My freshman English teacher told me that. Of course, she also told me to spell "fulfillment" as "fofillment" on my Frosh term paper.
By the way, (subliminal advertising)EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU READING THIS SHOULD GO OUT AND BUY SIXTEEN COPIES OF THE FIRST SEAL RIGHT NOW. (/subliminal advertising)
Point taken. Foo Fighters and Audioslave are not crappy. Flyleaf? Neverheardof'em.
Something tells me your readers are going to be amused by this byplay.
I feel more input is needed.
Because I still know I'm right.
But we'll table this for now ...
I have never been so damned confused before in my life. Damn it might be better to flip a coin.
Your stalker is confused and she doesnt like to be confused. It happens to much as it is.
If you two cant get along I am gonna have to let one of you go.
Do you want me to turn this computer around and take you back to isolation?? hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Married ppl are so funny.
Sean, go with your gut. Women have kick ass intuition that men don't have.
Sorry John. BUT you have good arguments, for sure. To bad most of it doesn't make sense to me. lol
Oh well finally you are on blogger. I could care less about the arguments (per say)
I am just glad I don't have to say my accolades to Mr John about YOUR book.
I am not too far into it. I am a dedicated slow, dozen pages a night kinda gal. I am really enjoying your book.
I purchased two. One for me and one for my Dad who reads like 5 books a week.
I hope you have fun here on blogger.
I will be looking for book two. :)
Bleusz,
Nah, just make John sit in the corner until he can play nice!
Tiffany,
I keep making that same argument but he just doesn't buy it. Silly boy!
Lynn,
Thanks so much! Glad you are enjoying it! I'd love to hear your comments on it when you have finished.
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