I'm finished. After six months, three weeks, and two days, I now have a completed manuscript for book one of a work tentatively called The Paths Life Takes. I hooked up my removable floppy disc drive to my ancient laptop and copied it on to disc, ready to take to the printers on a moment's notice should the need arise.
My main reaction right now is one of relief. It was starting to feel like the proverbial albatross around my neck. Until I had finished editing, reformatting, and preparing it for printing, I didn't feel able to continue on with part two of the story. With book one incomplete, it didn't seem right that I let the characters continue on with their journey.
I think part of that was because of how fast I wrote the first draft. I didn't really feel like I had gotten to know my characters all that well because I hadn't spent a great deal of time with them yet. We had been introduced briefly, spent a small but intense time together, and hadn't talked since - sort of like someone you meet at a party with whom you have a great conversation but don't talk to again. You know something about them, but only as it pertains to the topic of conversation. It's not until you have a chance to meet the person in the cold light of day, away from the exhilarated atmosphere of a party, and whatever was feeding your exhilaration, that you begin to form a truer picture of their character.
That's the way I felt in regards to the people who were populating this world I had created. I had spent time with them under very specific circumstances – hellbent for leather to get a first draft done, but hadn't really gotten to know them yet. So much of what I had written during the first draft phase had been by instinct alone that I had no idea of what details I may or may not have included for each person.
What colour were their eyes? How old were they? What's their favourite food? What colour is their hair? Being their creator, I can see each one of them in my mind's eye. As I was writing the story I was watching them carry out the actions I described. But what kind of image had I painted for the reader?
I wasn't interested in having painted a completely realistic portrait where ten pages are spent describing each person in minute detail down to their preference in toenail length. But it was also important that enough information be provided that each reader would be able to form a picture of the person they were reading about in their head.
Article comments
1 - SonnyD
Hooray! Congrats, and all that. Knew you could do it. You deserve to take a day off and watch the grass grow and listen to the birds sing before you suffer burn-out from all the work you've been doing.
2 - Richard Marcus
Why thank you mr. D, but I feel like I've been resting on my butt for the past month or two as it is. I hope to get into book two this week, now if only the publishers would start ringing the phone off the hook...oh well that's a dream for another day.
3 - cat
Fascinating analysis that could only come *after* a break from and return to, the original manuscript. Having yet to complete a NaNo myself, I've often wondered how many participants come out the other side with a piece that has the viability to become more than just "A NaNo Novel." Your astute assessment of applying (true) Method acting to ones characters has reinvigorated my desire to take on this year's NaNoWriMo. Thank you very much!
4 - D
That is a cliche and myth based assesment of both Stanislavski's and Strasberg's work, erroneous in its assumptions and wrong in fact and reality.
5 - Richard Marcus
D
If you are refering to my assesment I'd have to disagree with you, as I've based it on reading the works of Stanislavski, and applying them as an actor for ten years.
I've also read enough, analysis and commentary by and about Strasbourg to understand what he was teaching. One need look no further to "stars" who emote but don't create characters to see the results of Strasbourgs teaching on American Acting.