Monday, February 1, 2010

Day 1: 1700 words

I started the romance novel today. My goal is 2,000 words a day but I've already got a 300 word deficit. Still, it's a good solid start. The first chapter is always tricky for me--I always sweat over getting the right tone and not infodumping in the first few pages. I'm sure I'll have hit my stride in a day or two.

I was worried I'd lose interest in this one since it's set in the real world and is full of boring old humans and no magic or anything fun like that. Fortunately, I included Jacob sheep in the plot. I did that primarily because I used to keep Jacob sheep myself, years ago, so I have some real-world experience to bring to the story. Hey, write what you know, right? But I like sheep so they'll keep me interested. Plus, of course, the hero is convinced (for reasons that actually make sense) that he's turning into a vampire. That lets me include lots of angst and pseudo-paranormal scenes. Fun!

10 comments:

Aaron Polson said...

Oh glorious pseudo-paranormality! I think you've nailed it.

Fox Lee said...

And what does your protagonist do with these sheep? ; )

Alan W. Davidson said...

Natalie's evil. Romance novel...sheep. I get it! (no, not like that. And don't start with the Scottish jokes.)

Uhh, great start KC!

K.C. Shaw said...

Aaron--I hope so!

Natalie--They pet them and give them treats, of course. What did you have in mind? :p

Alan--I read a mystery novel where the main characters were sheep and solved the murder. Inadvertently, of course. So why not a sheep romance? Oh wait, that's not what I'm writing.

Jamie Eyberg said...

I just read a mystery last year where the protag was a dog. It was fantastic. I bet you can do the same for sheep.

LMEighmy said...

My most recent story was partially a romance, and pretty steamy at parts. That's not usually my way, but sometimes things just turn out differently. The new one's not as steamy...yet. ;)

Good luck with the romance!

Anne Spollen said...

Sheep in a romance novel -- I won't start.

Could you do some magical realism, like paranormal stuff just as part of the day, ho-hum kind of things that fly and such?

K.C. Shaw said...

Jamie--I bet that was fun! Dogs would make great sleuths anyway.

LMEighmy--When the action starts to flag and I can't figure out how to pick things up without the plot seeming contrived, I add a steamy scene. It always works! (Well, it works to keep the author interested, anyway.)

Anne--I'd love to, but it wouldn't work for a Harlequin Intrigue. They're all about the mystery (and romance). They do have a paranormal romance line that I may have to look into, though.

Cate Gardner said...

Sheep and a bloke who thinks he's a vampire, I do believe this could go way, way, way off plan. :D

K.C. Shaw said...

Hmm, yeah, I'm going to have to keep a tight rein on my imagination and my plot.