First scene

Wow!
I can't believe it's been more than a year since I last took a "dip" here.
I've been concentrating on other projects, but HB has never long been out of my thoughts.
It'll be a while before I get back to it full time.
In the meantime, here's a posting of the first few paragraphs:


HB (working title)

Chapter One

A girlfriend once told Darius Scarlett he had a woman’s sense of smell. She’d said it accusingly, as if sensitive olfactory nerves were exclusive to females. True, he could smell gas leaks before the sensors did, and sulphur before a match was struck. He could even tell if a woman was willing from ten bar stools away. A gift, maybe. Blessing or curse, today it was the latter.

The other detectives were already there--the air in the briefing room, hot from late afternoon sunlight, was ripe with their smells: McMann’s cigars, though unlit, had a strong horse-shit odor; Warren's last meal, something with garlic as usual; Medson’s feet, cheap shoes and nylon socks; Doane’s faint perfume, pleasantly fresh; Breckenridge, brand new dad, baby powder dust an aura surrounding him.

Darius slid into the chair next to his partner.

“You’re late,” Kim Doane whispered, slight disapproval in her voice..

He had his reasons, but now was not the time to explain.

“Detective Scarlett, nice of you to join us.” Inspector Armand cast a brief glower his way. “All right, people.” His voice, like his shirt, was crisp. “This is Sergeant Grant from FCS, Financial Crime.”

Grant had a face of stone. “One of our detectives was murdered today.”

~

That's all for today.

I'll dip again, sooner than a year, I hope.

--Cat

Back for a dip

I know it's been ages. I haven't been idle, but not working as much on HB as I'd hoped.

Something odd (or maybe not?) I started reading two mystery novels, different authors, different publishers, sold a year or so apart. Both started exactly the same way: prologue - evil serial killer villain's point-of-view as he licks his chops preparing to murder/mutilate a woman or child; chapter one - handsome/tough/rugged cop hero + his baggage vowing to catch the b*stard/scumbag; chapter two - beautiful/resourceful/yet naive heroine + baggage and/or kids who you know will either herself or her child appear in the villain's sights and thus be in mortal danger.

I'm disappointed by the sameness of these novels. The writing itself is good but not memorable, the characters are interchangeable and I forget who belongs in which book.

I may be absolutely wrong about all this clonery -- the books may take divergent paths, even offer surprises. But I won't finish reading the second one as tales about serial killers murdering kids are an instant throw away for me.

Predictability in any novel leads me to instant forgetfulness. And though I want the villain to meet his deserved lethal end, I might even snooze through the exciting car chase/falling-off-a-cliff/shootout unless there is something that sets it apart from at least one of the others.

Am I judging too harshly? Possibly. Perhaps I read too much. Or not enough.

This is just my opinion.

--Cat

Already a revision ...

The muse has spoken. I've revised the beginning of chapter one.

I admit it had been rather dull, not much of a grabber. I don't know if this is much better, but I feel it's stronger. Still not an immediate plunge into the story, but a brief paragraph about the hero, enough to reveal something about him and pique interest.

The "plunge" occurs two paragraphs later.

This is just the start of the revision process, of course. There will be a thousand more.

--Cat (hoping to make it to chapter four)

Time Passes

I've started chapter three of HB.

I thought I could just barrel through and write a rough first draft then edit later, but I can no longer work that way. Now I need to tinker with what I've written until it's (to my eye) polished.

I know I'll still edit again when all is done, for only then will I be able to see the shape of the novel, if it all works.

One interesting thing that came out of this -- I discovered a new character in chapter two. He's minor, doesn't have a lot of page time, but he'll make a splash on paper.

When I have these chapters whipped into best shape I'll post a few short excerpts.


--Cat

Progress, or lack thereof

Where does the time go?

No, I haven't abandoned HB.

Chapter two is underway.

Brief outline:

chapter one:
~undercover cop is murdered in a coffee shop
~the only witness runs
~detectives are assigned to find her

Sounds pretty straightforward so far, like a million other mysteries. My job is to make it unique. Although the story centers on the witness, it's told entirely from the point of view of the lead detective. The reason for that will become apparent as the story progresses.

chapter two
~detectives begin looking for the witness by searching her home, talking to neighbors, learn startling information.

Later.

--Cat

Progress...

Chapter one, rough draft, is done. (1840 words)

Had to pause and go back to my saga--I had a sudden thought that a brief prologue is needed, to explain things.

So I toggle back and forth. But the saga should now be done, and I'll begin chapter two of HB.

Cat

Tiny Progress

I wasted some time this morning (a common occurrence, wasting time....)

I decided to change the name of the main female character, so I did a seek-and-replace on all pages that contained her name. I soon discovered the new name didn't read right to me. She started her existence in my head as H, so H she shall remain, at least until I finish writing the book.

Of course I went through everything again and changed it all back. I will call this "two steps forward and two steps back."

Brilliant.

However, my first chapter is half done.

Cat