Day Seventeen - 32,551 words and counting

This month, I'm writing a novel. All my progress can be found on my private blog. The commentary for each day's work can be found below.

The more I think about it, the more I like the idea that Gessica keeps all of her guests under constant surveillance. Moreover, I'm pretty sure it's with the blessing of the Patroness, who is not above such tactics herself. The biggest question is how many people are "in" on the practice. All the most senior attendants would be, of course, and probably others. My initial idea would be to make Fiya the spymaster, but the "unassuming secretary as spymaster" has been done before and better.

I have a feeling that in the final novel, this chapter will get seriously pared down, and that's making it harder to push through and write it. I think that the biggest problem is that it's not working hard enough for me. I need to get something out of it, a scrap of information that will drive the plot. Now that Mistress Gessica has shown up and split up the group, I think Merona will try to engage Illiantine about i.

But I think I need to have set up earlier in the chapter that Merona has an ulterior goal. But what? I have the germ of an idea... yes, I think that will work. And it'll make a good way of ending the chapter.

Of course, that leaves me about 700 words short for the day, so it's time to start Chapter Nine. We're back to Bryony, who when last scene was enjoying the chance to do a bit of exploring with her new friend. To my chagrin, I find I am about to introduce two or three more characters. I'm going to have to go back and see just how many characters I've introduced per chapter so far. It has to be pretty high. I just haven't had much of an opportunity to reuse them lately, although I promise, everyone that has come up so far will have an important role to play as the story progresses.

I've got two choices, to introduce Sili and Keoly, or to introduce Devan next. He needs to be memorable, somehow, and I need to think about how to best introduce him. Fortunately (?), I've run out of time to write this morning, so the next chapter will have to begin later in the day.

Man, this was such a busy day, I didn't think I'd have time to finish. But I didn't want this to be the first time I come in under my daily goal. Still, the beginning of chapter 9 was an immense struggle for me. Every word cost an effort, and I don't like where it's gone. Maybe after a good night's sleep, the way ahead will be clearer.

For what it's worth, chapter 9 continues tomorrow.

Today's Total: 1,822 / 1,689 words (107.9%)
Progress to Date: 32,551 / 28,706 words (113.4%, 2.3 days ahead)
Total Progress: 32,551 / 52,347 words (62.2%)