Chapter 30 was a pain in my ass.

Since I decided, with excellent help and coaching, to shorten this book by 30 chapters (120k words +/-), I noticed that one of my pov characters ends up with only two chapters in this book. No spare room for a mediocre chapter (not that there’s ever any excuse for a mediocre chapter). I had to turn what was supposed to be a bridge into a shining landscape.

Chapter 30 was a pain in my ass.

Since her character arc was ending so abruptly, I was caught a bit short.  How do I showcase her importance in two scenes? How to leave my audience wanting more of her? Should I just cut her out as a pov character? (Nope, can’t do that, she’s a load-bearing wall in this story). Spent a whole day writing a scene with this character in Atualon, decided that was ‘meh’, spent another day banging my head on the brick wall…and then on Thursday I finished it. It was okay. It was pretty good. I had most of the words in the right order.

Friday morning, on the way into town, it hit me as if that brick wall had fallen on my head. I didn’t have any time to write until that evening–even writers have to pay rent–so I let it percolate in my hindbrain all day long.  Got home and struggled with writing it because it’s an intense scene (edited for spoilers, but it’s killing me not to tell you).

Chapter 30 was a pain in my ass. And it’s the best thing I’ve ever written. I can’t wait to share it with you.

Jai tu wai,

Debi