Whew, that was some hard work! I finally managed to cut a scene from around page 130 and move it very early in the story arc. This scene sets the stage better and provides true motivation for Jaid, the “Un-Indiana Jones,” to risk going to Guatemala, even to save her father. It wasn’t cut and paste, though. For one, the character cast was entirely different in the beginning scenes.
More difficult, though, was deciding how much Jaid would say to other characters, in particular, Sam. Would she tell him what she’d seen? Why or why not? Could I use the tape to complicate her doubts and confusion in one way, while providing better motivation on the other? Turned out, I could. At least I think I did.
There are only a few more items left on my list. One is strictly emotional conflict. I began worsening Jaid and Sam’s relationship in the last revision, but I don’t think I made it quite bad enough. I missed some good opportunities to make Jaid squirm. The other item on my list requires me to do a little more background work on Dr. Efrain Reyes. I need to know in particular why he believes what he does. Once I do, I can make some of his dialogue scenes with Jaid all the more tense. She knows, but doesn’t believe. He believes, but doesn’t know the details. They could each hold the secret the other needs–or end up deadly enemies, depending on how the cards fall.
Good stuff. I should be able to wrap these items up by the weekend as long as no new fires crop up. That gives me a few days to revise my synopsis and query. Gah, I dread messing around with the synopsis. I know the draft I have sucks bracken swamp water.
Meanwhile, I have a tentative title for both of July’s projects and I did some really good character work tonight. This may show how anal compulsive obsessive I am, but I created Gantt charts for my projects through September, color coded by project. June = 3 projects in various phases; July = 3 (one will be querying the Maya story); August = 4 (remember when I said I’d take some time off? hahaha); and September = 3. This includes major revisions to the Maya story, Return to Shanhasson (first draft was finished last year for NaNoWriMo), and Seven Crows, assuming I can get the first draft done in August. Ironically, this schedule does NOT include the two projects I’m writing in July. Assuming either is contracted, I’ll have to fit in revisions somewhere. If anything slips, it’ll be Seven Crows, but only for a month or two. I’d really like to finish it this year, along with Victor’s story.
Yeehaw, it’s going to be a scorcher summer!