Pacing

After writing chapter four of Don Findy, I was slightly concerned that it might not do enough to hold reader's attention (more on this later). I sent over an early draft to my writing friend Jason Kerry (see also my support work on drafts) along with my comments of concern.

He replied;

'Ok, this has some of the best moments of the story, and it has a nice pace. But I would be careful not to get too into explaining character and not enough getting into plot. It seems more that its about following the character rather than a plot. Unless the story is about don findy, period. Don Findy: Detective - but as it is, it seems you need more plot, to get it going somehow. Some moments in this are great though - the words as images, curves of letters - if you rework that a little, it will sound beautiful. Good stuff.'

I have wanted it to be heavily character based because it has always been more about Don Findy than the plot. That's what's interesting to me. In Chandler's novels it's always Marlowe that keeps me coming back - the plots, however familiar I am with them already, are something for Marlowe to live inside. That's how I see it anyway. Plus, as noted elsewhere in my support work, the whole piece grew from the name and the character. The character is the novel.

However, as I said, it was me that initally voiced this concern of no plot and so when I started work on chapter five a few days ago, I decided to start moving the plot forward. I hope by starting with the line, 'It was around half past eight when I heard the gunshot,' I will keep any unsure, or waning, reader's interest going.