An interesting twist

I must say that when something I'm writing takes on a life of it's own it becomes glaringly obvious! Just the other night I was writing part of a chapter, when for some reason out of nowhere I started writing about a character that I had never thought up before. I'm talking about physical characteristics, mannerisms, habits. It was just crazy! I went back and gave a quick look to my outline and sure enough, this guy wasn't in it!

However, knowing enough to bring the story back up, I proceeded to write several pages of interactions with this character and the main character. Not only that, but this guy will also make an appearance again later in the novel! Wow... Sometimes it seems like I'm not really the one in control of writing this story, more like it's just waiting to be written how it wants itself to be.

I'm a "little" bit behind schedule.... ok...ok, like 5,000 words behind schedule, BUT I'm doing about 2,000 - 3,000 words a day now, so I'll be back on schedule before you know it! (Provided no other unexpected characters decide to pop into my story!!)

I was talking the other day with a guy that I know and he was telling me about a conversation he had with Ashton Kutcher while he was making "The Guardian". Ashton said that the best thing he likes about being a movie actor is the fact that he gets to try out so many different jobs, things that he would never have the opportunity to do otherwise.

I think it can be the same for authors out there. To be honest, working on this novel I've met some really cool people that I would have never had the opportunity to meet otherwise. I've also done some things that I never would have planned on doing. Touring San Quentin prison for one was pretty cool and when I go back to walk death row it will be another cool experience. I will be touring the town that I'm basing the novel in probably later this month or early next month. I will also be hiking in the Diablo mountain range while I'm up there.

This coming summer as I begin work on my 2nd set of series I will be going scuba diving off the coast of California quite a bit. I will also be speaking to several oceanographers, making boating voyages out to locations and researching aquatic life in general. I REALLY hope that in the future I'm able to look back on all this as the starting point of my life as a published (and wildly succesful) author.

I've noticed that when I'm going to write a novel or any kind of story I want to get as much accuracy as I can, while keeping the more scientific aspect of it easy to read. For those of you that have seen "Redemption" starring Jamie Foxx, don't believe what you see in the movie, they took a LOT of artistic license there (according to several of the guards from San Quentin).

Now, after my visit to San Quentin, the first thing I did was perform some major rewrites on my opening chapter and make copious notes about what I need to change in the final chapter as well. I want prison guards to be able to read the novel and agree with everything that's in there. I also want the residents of the town where I'm basing the book in to be able to say, "Whoa, this is where it all took place. Right here is where she was taken."

I want the reader who has never before been to either of these places to be able to accurately see it in their mind. If one day they find themselves in either of the locations I want it to be a sense of Deja Vu for them.

Well, I can feel my novel pulling me back, so I'd better heed it and get back to work. I wonder where it will take me today?