No, not the old Dylan song. The times in my epic/saga.
As this is a multi-character multi-year work, I created a timeline on a spreadsheet. I've changed the order of events several times to coincide with actual occurrences, fictional occurrences, seasons, births, deaths, etc. And will no doubt need to change the dates again the further I get into sorting out my scenes.
I have the beginning, or most of Part One figured out in a satisfactory way.
Now it boils down to arranging the scenes in a sequence that makes sense. As I've changed a few things they don't work the way I originally wrote them.
It may seem a pain, but I actually like doing this.
Appropriate Bob Dylan quote:
A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between he does what he wants to do.
It should be a slam dunk finish. The chapter is written, just needs some cleaning -- shorter sentences, fewer commas. But I found that one of the scenes should be in a viewpoint other than that of the heroine. This involves turning the scene on its ear, as this viewpoint character sees things differently. One may say she sees things through green colored glass. (A bit of envy in a story can go a long way.) She may be wrong, she may be right. We'll have to wait and see.
Quotes by Margaret Atwood
A ratio of failures is built into the process of writing. The wastebasket has evolved for a reason.
My problems with this chapter stem from the zealous writer -- me -- who had written three separate versions, each basically showing the same events, yet each from a different character's point of view. Each might work, with a little tinkering. Choosing the right one has become a chore -- I change my mind every time I read them.
I finally picked the version that made the most sense: the scene will be in the heroine's point of view as she is the one mainly affected by the tragedy that occurs. This also gives me a chance to add depth and some surprising facets to her character.
Will it work in the end? My test reader will let me know.
--Cat
listening to Sweet Maree by the late great Steve Miller
