We made some updates to Part One (Chapters 1-10) of The Spectral Agent. They don't change the overall main story points, but Jan and I felt it would make the story better.
Jan’s first drafts are all action action action too 😂. Publishing this weekly changed the way I thought about cliffhangers. In a book, I wouldn’t worry so much about cliffhangers.
The story is a little episodic and wrapped up too nearly at the end of each chapter. It didn’t leave people longing for more.
I like long arc TV series that have a small plot point that is wrapped up in the episode, but bigger questions unanswered.
So now I try to alternate. An action chapter might end on a cliffhanger, while the next chapter is a reprieve and might wrap up the previous chapters but leave me unanswered questions.
Is tough to balance 😅. Good luck on your revisions.
This is actually really interesting to read your process, as I’m in the process of revising a novel. I actually added three or four scenes to my first Act, because my characters literally didn’t get to take a breath and were constantly bombarded with action. I think I was punishing them too fast 😂 now, I don’t end all my chapters on major cliffhangers. But I do try to leave some intrigue for the next one.
Jan’s first drafts are all action action action too 😂. Publishing this weekly changed the way I thought about cliffhangers. In a book, I wouldn’t worry so much about cliffhangers.
The story is a little episodic and wrapped up too nearly at the end of each chapter. It didn’t leave people longing for more.
I like long arc TV series that have a small plot point that is wrapped up in the episode, but bigger questions unanswered.
So now I try to alternate. An action chapter might end on a cliffhanger, while the next chapter is a reprieve and might wrap up the previous chapters but leave me unanswered questions.
Is tough to balance 😅. Good luck on your revisions.
This is actually really interesting to read your process, as I’m in the process of revising a novel. I actually added three or four scenes to my first Act, because my characters literally didn’t get to take a breath and were constantly bombarded with action. I think I was punishing them too fast 😂 now, I don’t end all my chapters on major cliffhangers. But I do try to leave some intrigue for the next one.