Because the song told me so!

~ Annalisa Crawford

There I was, working through my book, re-typing and re-drafting… and then three things happened:

  1. It got hot… so hot… my head doesn’t like making sentences when it’s hot. (It’s actually lovely, if all I had to do was sit in my garden with a book and a glass of wine – as I did yesterday – but today I have work and writing and stuff…)
  2. I realised, although I’d merged chapters and scenes to improve the pacing, I still hit the same point where the prose just works and the story flows and everything is great. The first 80 pages are not like that.
  3. However, just after I realised this, I watched The Lost Boys and listened to the theme song, Cry Little Sister, and instantly knew what needed to change – although, oddly, the song and the story have nothing in common!

I have two major things to change:

  1. At the moment, my MC is scared of the Big Threat straight away, I need to make her intrigued at the start, to draw her in and increase the curiosity of the reader
  2. To add a new character. This may or may not pan out, but I think I need someone to act as a sounding board for the issues the MC is facing.

So I now have half a book printed out to revise, and the other half still waiting to be typed up… and I’m not sure which is more important. All I do know, is that I’m not going to hit my 4th July deadline.

How are the temperatures in your neck of the woods?

25 thoughts on “Because the song told me so!”

  1. It was cold and overcast here a few weeks ago. Then one day we woke up and hell had taken over the city. There was no warning. It’s hellish. Hideously, hellishly hot. My brain shuts off too. Good luck with the rewrites! Better to miss a deadline than not be writing (me) and have no deadline.

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    1. You’re not writing? Is that because you’re between books or stuck? (I hope you’re not stuck!)

      That was the way our heat occurred. It’s looking cooler on Friday though… and wet.

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    1. I find the inspiration hits when I’m least expecting it. Although my current method is to visualise a train as I’m falling asleep – and nope, the story has nothing to do with trains, either… No vampires, no trains 🙂

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  3. Inspiration can come from anywhere, it seems! Looks like you made some productive decisions, in spite of the heat. Summer hit for us yesterday after a couple of weeks of rain, I didn’t have time to do any work though so I’ll see how it goes today.

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  4. I like that song. Whatever it takes to get the creative juices going.

    It’s been really hot and humid, although today it’s cooler. And pouring.

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    1. Music usually helps me, it’s just finding the right song at the right time! I always feel like a wimp when Americans comment on my weather moans – our heat isn’t usually a patch on yours 🙂

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    1. I’m going to resist the temptation to be envious of your cold weather, because this kind of weather doesn’t happen often – I just need to find a better way to deal with it 🙂

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  6. Hi Annalisa … hot up the coast! Longest night today or tomorrow … I heard them playing tennis as I walked back up just now – reminded me of days long ago with the family playing tennis … probably til we couldn’t see …!! Wonderful you’ve worked out the way to go … I’d do whichever is easiest or the one you want to … and the new deadline will be met – congratulations … and that wine and book sounds good … cheers Hilary

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  7. Don’t use heat as too much of a distraction. Then again, I do. Ha! It’s been close to 100 F here in TX and our pool refreshes at 80 F. That’s TX summer. We drink lots of iced tea. And the house, car, everything is air conditioned.
    Good luck with that new character. I hope things gel for you.

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    1. We don’t have the regular heat to warrant contingency plans like AC at home – we just suffer for a few days then it gets cold again. They forecast a 15 F drop in temp tomorrow!

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  10. It’s far too hot where I am too! As you say, great weather for the beach, poor weather for writing!
    I’m also at the stage where I need to add a new character: a best friend for my MC! It’s a tricky thing to do, but I hope it works out 🙂

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    1. At 5.45pm it was hot and sunny. By 6.30, clouds blurred the sun. At 8, we were walking the dog in thick, rolling mist. The great British weather 🙂

      Good luck weaving that character through your story – MCs should never be alone!

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      1. British weather sure is crazy 🙂 We had sunshine this morning, then a mini thunderstorm, and now, sunshine again. Unfortunately the storm did nothing to clear the air!
        Thanks: I can’t believe I didn’t realise this new character was needed sooner 🙂 Good luck with your changes too!

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  11. Yay for finding inspiration! Here’s hoping the muse stays with you.

    Heat. LOL. You do know I live in Florida, right? Granted, it’s not like Arizona where they’re topping 120 degrees Fahrenheit, but it is very warm from April to October, even at night. Still, I wouldn’t trade it. I love living here.

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  12. Sometimes those revelations come from the most unexpected places at the most unexpected times. Isn’t it wonderful though? Weather in the mountains is hot! Over 100 C. last week. At the beach, it’s a cool 68 C. I choose whether to be hot or comfy. Good luck with that project.

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