Writing update: Smooching trajectory
Last week, my brain was dominated by the TwitterFiction Festival (which was fun! so much fun!). This week, it's dominated by a new nonfiction project which is so much more manageable and fun to think about than Cave Art right now. I am tempted to stop writing Cave Art and focus solely on this new project. I think it's possible I have too many projects going on.
BUT ALAS, that is what this writealong is all about: finishing big projects! Because finishing projects is fun, even if sometimes it's not fun while you're doing it!
So, here is another update from the land of Cave Art, where I have plotted Malena's smooching trajectory with Dominic, her love interest.
The Chick Lit Cookbook asks:
When do you put in a love scene? Which is the right moment? How do you know when to have your characters go at it and when to hold them back?
The short answer is: Wait as long as you can.
The long answer is: try mixing up a few tried-and-true templates until you get a romantic plotline that makes sense for your character and story.
I've decided to use a variation of the When-Harry-Met-Sally plotline:
~ When Harry Met Sally ~
Step 1: Girl and boy hate each other for no good reason. Both are strong personalities, or they disagree on a “deal-breaker” issue, or they come from feuding families, work for competing companies, etc.
Step 2: Plot happens. Girl gets into a bind and calls boy for help because no one else is available. They share a moment. Potential Smooch #1 here, but hold off if you can.
Step 3: More plot happens. Girl mellows out about the issue she and boy feuded about.
Step 4. Girl realizes she loves boy. She finds him. Smooch #2 (or #1) here.
Maybe this seems a little simplistic. It is. I was trying to be funny. But really, aren't most romantic storylines pretty similar to each other? If there's no obstacle in the way, there's no story. If there's no reason why two people can't get together, they will. Unless they get in their own way, in which case you've got a When-Harry-Met-Sally.
Anyway, here's the gist of When-Malena-Met-Dominic:
Malena meets Dominic at the archaeology campsite. He's a bit aloof from the rest of the group. He doesn't always sleep in his tent, makes a lot of trips into town.
Malena sees Dominic wearing something she hates--since she's into fashion, I'm thinking Crocs.
Malena forgets about Dominic for a while and has a brief thing with Damien, the young hotshot archaeologist.
Then CRISIS! Malena's accused of defacing the cave art.
Damien lets her down. (Hmm, perhaps the two D names were a poor choice...?)
Malena finds out Dominic has kids, which explains his absences and long phone calls.
She realizes she has been into Dominic for a looong time.
Will Dominic realize the same thing? HOPE SO!
Thanks for reading along, faithful followers. My goal is to finish another chapter by the end of next week.
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