Monday, March 31, 2008

Dinner and a motivation

So, we had our buddy Chris over last night for lamb stew and "John Adams" on HBO, but of course we were all talking about our latest projects. Jon, my husband, is learning violin and has now been playing one year. Chris couldn't make his recital, so Jon reprised his three tunes, which sounded great. Chris told us about some issues with her work in progress – I don't want to reveal what it is until she gives me the okay, but take my word for it, it's going to be great. And we all agreed that at some point you just have to muddle through. The next phase will reveal itself in time. And I started thinking about my current WIP, "Probable Claws" (aka, Theda #4). I'd planned on a scene and I no longer remembered why that scene was in there. Jon pointed out that it would be fun to see the characters interacting, but I'm trying to work on my plotting skills, so I was thinking, "How will this scene advance the plot? What will readers learn in this scene that I need them to know, or what misdirection will be applied?"

Well, I came up with a list and now I have to do it. I don't know if it was the company of creative people or the wine, but I'm inspired! So, what are you working on? How's it going?

(Oh yeah, and me on the new Benjamin Black, "Silver Swan.")

4 comments:

pattinase (abbott) said...

On a flight to Florida, I heard two men talking about their annual spring break. They were well into their thirties so a story began to gell about how two such men, preying on college girls ten years out, might get their comeuppance.

Clea Simon said...

oh YES! I'd want to read that!!

Anonymous said...

Hello, it's me, Chris. Not only was the dinner motivational and delicious, (tender,juicy chunks of lamb in such a good sauce), but reading this made me happy about it all over again. Thanks, Clea.

Clea Simon said...

thank you, Chris! I can't wait till we can see more of your WIP.