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It’s been a while since I’ve written anything constructive about the process of writing, so we’re probably overdue for a writing tip or two.  But tough luck, I’m not giving you one.  Instead, I want to talk about what I’m working on at the minute, and why I’ve barely managed to write 1000 words over the past two days.

Although it’s still a while until the first INVISIBLE FIENDS book comes out (eight months and counting, folks!), I’m currently working my way through book three, having more of less finished book 2 already.  Now, while each book is a self-contained story which anyone can pick up and read without first having read the books before it, there is a larger story arc which spans all six books.  The finale of this story arc is foreshadowed in a prologue at the beginning of each book, so by about page four of book one readers will have some idea of where the series is going to take them.

Usually I rattle out about 1500 words a day as an absolute minimum.  The reason I’ve been struggling over the last couple of days is because book three is an important ‘chapter’ in the larger story arc.  In fact, the point in the story I’m at now is a major turning point.  It ties up some plot strands from the first two books, sets in motion some events that won’t pay off until books four, five and six, and – more importantly – turns my protagonist’s whole world upside down.

On top of that, it introduces the villain of the story, kills off a major character, and brings a whole new level of darkness to the series.

That’s why I’ve been checking email, reading the news and making a cup of tea every five minutes – because I’m scared of getting such an important bit wrong.  If I screw this chapter up it could potentially ruin the rest of the series.  Seriously, it’s that significant.  I have literally been too terrified of messing up to write any significant number of words.

And then I remember some advice I gave in a previous post on writing tips: It doesn’t matter if the first draft is right, it only matters that it’s written.

I’m going to keep that in mind when I sit back at the computer tomorrow.  There’s a very good chance the chapter won’t be perfect when I finish it, but it doesn’t have to be.  Not yet.  That can come in the next draft, or the one after, or the one after that.  All that matters right now is getting the words – any vaguely appropriate words  – down on the page.  The rest I can sort out later.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009 at 8:05 pm and is filed under Invisible Fiends, Writing Lessons. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.