WIP: The Color-Coded Cards

cards.jpgHere are the scenes for my Work-in-Progress, spread out on my dining room table. Three main characters each have a point of view (the white, purple and blue cards). The hot pink cards are scenes from the point of view of a fourth, less significant, character. The green cards represent a first person account of the past from yet a fifth character. Hmm, as I describe it, this  book is looking like quite the ambitious undertaking! However, I think it will be seamless once it’s written. At least, that will be my goal.
One of the great things about using different colors for each character’s POV is that I can see in a heartbeat when one character or another is hijacking the story. I can also see if I have too much of one character’s POV in a row, so that the other characters get lost. And I can see who’s missing. It’s quite obvious that Hot Pink’s POV has “gone missing” in the second half of the book. I don’t want that, so I will take a look at the scenes and see if any of them would work better from her POV.  At the same time, I don’t want to manipulate the story simply to make the color pattern prettier! That’s a slippery slope.
I need to work very quickly on this book. With a looming deadline and the inevitable interruption of holidays, it’s going to be rough, but I’m enjoying writing the continuation of BEFORE THE STORM in this new story.
I’m off to book club this evening to feed the creative well. We read LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE. What a delight!

9 Comments

  1. brenda on November 16, 2007 at 6:48 pm

    You never cease to amaze me. I am so excited for the books to come out.
    Am off to store…family starts arriving tomorrow. The rest come next Thursday…a great week of family…I can’t wait…
    All of you on this wonderful BLOG-I consider friends-and we have not met–have a great holiday. I know that it can be quite difficult at times-been there and done that–know that we have a common bond-two in fact-we like the author, D.C., and we love to read…
    Keep reading and making suggestions…

  2. brenda on November 16, 2007 at 6:49 pm

    P.S. I think I will have my students highlight (in different colors) material from different sources for research papers. That way they will understand that they must synthesize the sources…the colors will help. THANK YOU SO SO MUCH.

  3. Diane Chamberlain on November 16, 2007 at 11:59 pm

    LOL, Brenda. Your students are going to HATE me.
    Have a wonderful week with the family.

  4. Krysia on November 17, 2007 at 7:38 pm

    Sounds like a good way to organize. Well i think i found out a way to get out of my lease. I found out im havin a baby so i had to quit my job. I can’t risk getn hit in the stomach. My bf wants me 2 move in with him. So we’ll see how it goes.

  5. Diane Chamberlain on November 17, 2007 at 11:28 pm

    Krysia, what news! Are you happy about it? Can you find a safer job? I hope your bf is a sweetie.

  6. brenda on November 18, 2007 at 10:47 am

    Krysia-you are having some really traumatic happenings in your life. I hope you are happy and that your boyfriend will take care of you. I am sorry you had to quit your job-can you get another one? Safer? Thank goodness you are able to get out of that lease. We will be thinking of you-and for heaven’s sake-keep us updated.

  7. Krysia on November 22, 2007 at 4:37 pm

    He is very supportive and a wonderful guy. I haven’t gotten out of my lease yet, working up as he put it the “cahones” to tell my landlord. I don’t have a new job lined up yet but I need something soon. My insurance ends on the 30th as does my employment.

  8. Diane Chamberlain on November 22, 2007 at 7:58 pm

    Hey Krysia, glad you have a supportive guy in your life. Is there a Starbucks near you? Working 20 hours a week give you bennies.

  9. Krysia on November 24, 2007 at 8:53 pm

    nope the nearest one is in the town i moved from. they have somewhere close to 10 of them there (several are more um little huts in grocery stores and the one in B&N). i think i got my old job back. it was more money anyways. i’ll find out monday.

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