With my novel finished, I find myself with some time on my hands. The way I see it, I have three options. I know my next project, and have had it planned out in my head for a few years already in various forms. So, I can bang on and get cracking on this novel, or I can give myself a rest and take a month or two off and allow myself to relax and enjoy my free time, or I can immerse myself in the technical side of writing and try to learn a few new tricks.
Now, I want my writing to improve, and simply cannot sit still and do nothing. It just isn´t in my nature. So, I am going back to the drawing board. I am clearing my mind and am ready to learn more about this craft I love.
With my new novel being a much more character driven piece than my previous two projects, I am keen to learn as much as I can about characters. Their development, how I can evolve them; construct or, as is the case for this new novel, deconstruct their lives.
I also want to learn more about plot structure and story arc’s. I also want to try, as I have mentioned in previous posts, to plot my novel and my characters more than I have in the past.
A while ago I downloaded y-Writer 5. It looks to offer me everything I need and I am actually quite excite to crack it open and get planning. I hope to be able to start fleshing out my characters pretty quickly. There are two main characters in the novel, and their lives are pretty interweaved. They are best friends, and colleagues. They have known each other since school and have a rather complicated history.
I am reluctant to give away much more at this stage, simply because I haven’t started writing it yet and as I am sure you can appreciate. Even the best laid plans can be ripped apart in the blink of an eye. Maybe the things I hope to learn will lead me down a different path. Who knows… seriously, does anybody know, it would be a big help.
I am also tempted to have a re-read of Macbeth, I mean that character has such a clear arc and such a clear deconstruction of both his own character and on a broad scale as an example of human nature and how we can destroy ourselves. My story is not Macbeth, and I do not intend for it to draw any parallels, but I think that there is a lot I can learn from him.
I am sure that you have noticed that there are a lot of things I want to learn about, and my plan is to take it one at a time, starting with characters because personally, I think that is my greatest weakness.
If you had to pick an aspect of your writing to take the time to read up on, and learn more about, what would it be?
Official Site of Alex Laybourne - Author 
Congratulations on reaching that finish line! I think you’re supposed to light a cigar and pour yourself a glass of bubbly, enjoy the moment and then climb back on the horse! Actually, I rely on the story to drive me, so if you’ve got something itching to come out, I say go for it!
As to what I would work on, I don’t know. Sometimes I think I improve simply by reading a lot and writing as close to every day as I can.
-Jimmy
I agree with you on that point Jimmy. By writing everday and reading as much as we can we develop naturally, and that has always been my way. I am taking a break this time, simply because I want to ensure I get the characters built up correctly. I am confident I will start writing next week, I just want to get a few things straight and clearly understood in my own mind before I start.
A cigar and bubbly would be nice, however I had to make do with a cup of Euroshopper Coffee and a biscuit.