Continuity

I’ve been working on a draft of a manuscript that happens to be book four in a series. I’ve lost count of the number of times that I have worked on this draft, but it’s been a few. Originally, this book was actually two books in the series. One following the other, but after I finished working on the overview and back story for the series, I needed to trim. It became a series of nine books rather than thirteen. It did mean though, that the climax I had originally for book four (which would’ve generated endless amount of comments) now sits much sooner. Needless to say, it’s been a challenge.

Where is this going?

Continuity.

So important for stories that have complex back stories which involves events happening during another time that need to be included in the rest of the book. As I reflected on the order of things, I realised that I had left out the results of those previous events. So, I started the rearrangement again. I also needed to add a few scenes that involved the antagonist a bit more and those controlling him. I also knew that there were scenes I probably wouldn’t need, so they are being weeded out and filed away elsewhere in the system for posterity and potential resurrection if the content is able to be re-worked. (I’m getting good at that now.)

It is important to make sure that the flow is consistent. That each scene has relevance to those prior and those following. Isolated scenes can usually be removed. For me in this contact, isolated refers to a scene that has no bearing on anything else that is going on. Whilst it might be good for characterisation, or setting, or even context, if it doesn’t move the story along, it doesn’t need to be there.

There’s nothing wrong with a scene that may appear to be out of place amongst its neighbours, but if what we are showing the reader has direct relevance to an event that is about to happen, then it’s good. That’s not isolation. That’s enticement.

Keep on top of where the story is going. The writing program I use is excellent and has helped me with being able to break up my story into individual scenes that I can then move around. It has been very helpful with what I’m doing right now. It has meant making sure that the physical text is right, and that has meant referencing and cross-referencing a number of other scenes or external documents to make sure I have the right people saying the right things in the right context about the other right people in the right order.

Let the story flow. Let the scenes move the story forward.

Happy writing.