in search of merriment

What a gorgeous day! Snow weights the pine branches like those in my childhood paint-by-number paintings. Blue sky stretches over forest, field and pond. I walk. It’s a feel-good day. In my window, sunlight powers the gears of my new rainbow maker. They rotate the crystals, and light flashes, separating into all its colors.

What we need is a solar cell for writing. Input a manuscript and see it instantly separated into its parts. No, I don’t mean the readability programs that leave no room for creative expression. What I want is a device that tells me where the plot is weak, what sensory details I’ve neglected to use, which character needs more development. If there is anything like that out there, maybe I wouldn’t trust it. Back to the shrunken manuscript and trying to channel Gertrude Stein – “In the midst of writing there is merriment.”

shrunken manuscript

Honey, I shrunk the kids! No, just my manuscript. Using Darcy Patterson’s technique http://www.darcypattison.com/revision/shrunken-manuscript/Shrunken-manuscript, I’ve reduced Hildegard to 30 pages of single spaced 10 point text. I made a pink X on each chapter I felt was strong. So 13 out of 19 chapters are strong. So far, so good. I see where I need to concentrate – chapters 4, 5 and 6 - three weak chapters in a row.

At least I don’t have Sagging Middle. Chapters 8, 9 and 10 are strong. So how do I strengthen the earlier chapters? I’m going to have another look at emotional tension and dialogue and action, for starters. I’m getting there! Stay with me, Hildegard!