As I was finishing off the screenplay for Bangamahbamup, I started thinking about what to write next. I had lots of choices, lots of cool complete ideas and some not so complete ideas too. But I knew I had to get back to the story that started this novel writing gig. 12 Cups of Coffee.
I had always envisioned it as the first book of a trilogy and when I went back into my notes I found most of an outline for the next book. But once I started looking closely at that outline, it was pretty sparse in places [ like the middle third ] and was going to need work. So that’s what I did. Worked it. Took it apart and put it back together again. And again. At the same time, to really familiarize myself with those characters again, I gave the first book a thorough edit, getting rid of almost 3,000 weak or extra words one at a time – fun, fun, fun.
And the book is much better for the edit, I’m happy to say. I thought I’d be losing Jamie’s voice with that much editing, but it’s still there, strong and confused as ever.
Which brings me to the present. I’m having a hard time hearing his voice in my head, a definite requirement for writing the sequel. I think the winter has been pretty hard on me and I’m not in the mood to write about an optimistic 34 year old right now.
And my go-to avoidance technique is to start thinking of other stories, other ideas. And, yeah, that’s what happened and so I’m working on a great idea for a time travel novel set in present day and 1980’s Vancouver. Two totally different cities. It’s going to be great! The current working title is ‘No Place Like The Past’