Playing Cards

All of the scenes from HM are now on index cards. I finished transferring from the manuscript to the cards over the weekend. It's interesting how the book changes when I move one or two cards around. I find it less intimidating to experiment with the cards than to cut and paste the actual manuscript.

It's also easier to play with new scenes. Write a few sentences to give an idea of what the scene will be and put the card in the mix. Then read through the cards. Does it feel like something's missing? Or that there's too much about a particular suspect/lead? Throw another one in or throw one out. Repeat.

The danger, I suspect, is getting too caught up in the shuffling process. As I said, it's easier to play with the cards. Eventually, though, the time comes to start the revisions themselves.

I believe I've reached that time. I have been invited to submit to Creek Writer's Council. I'll be submitting at the end of June. I want to have the revisions completed before I receive my critiques in July.

One more run through the cards. Then the rewrites begin in earnest.

Wish me luck.