UPDATE JUNE 2024:
It seems that 2024 has been kicking my ass. Work pressures and being a new Grandma have distracted me from my book – and no I’m not complaining! My life is full!
The book is still gonna happen… this story will out! But I’m not 100% sure exactly when I can share it with all of you! Watch this space though – it’s gonna be epic!
Are you curious about how I’m rewriting Here Lies Vincent Jacobs? Believe me! The suspense is killing me too! And I’m the one writing the story!
I can’t believe that the story came about with random prompts that were voted on through an Instagram story post and I put them together and wrote about them. I’m a firm believer that some of the best things in life happen when you’re not planning for them. And I’m always game to just go with it.
Here’s what I can tell you about my story. I love it! You’re gonna love it!
Ha ha, OK fine.
I introduce 7 important characters during the course of the story, with 3 additional supporting characters. I set the book in South Africa – some scenes taking place in Cape Town and some in Sandton, Johannesburg. The story follows 36 main scenes before we come to the “end”. The “end” has 3 possible outcomes.
Not a lot to go by? Let’s see what else I can tell you.
The story is a psychological thriller. The protagonist’s job is no longer a tax office employee. I have completely taken out the duplicate ID number bit. There’s several hidden Easter eggs in the story.
Speaking of which, have you noticed the other Easter eggs? In each of my YOU ChooseDay stories so far, I have written in a little something that references something else. Cryptic? You betcha! The point of an Easter egg is for it to not be obvious. In one story, the reference swaps around names from a famous movie line. That’s the only clue I will give you. Comment in each story if you pick up the Easter egg.
Somewhere towards the end of Nano I felt like I was writing a good story but it wasn’t great. I was missing something. In a conversation with my daughter about it, she tried to pep-talk me believing that my concern was despondency and short-selling my skills.
Never. If there’s something I know for sure, it’s that I can write. What I also know for sure is that I can write better.
It took a couple of days for me to find the solution and it came in the form of the “Writing a Psycholofical Thriller” course. I suspected that my story was heading this way but I wanted to fine tune my approach to make sure I did the story (that was taking on a life of its own) justice. I particularly appreciated that the instructor didn’t harp on the narrative arc and the basics of writing (although she does touch on them enough) and focused her course on building suspense and how to tell the story. I was relieved too that I was already doing some of the things, but just needed a more clear structure.
And so came about the Storyboard. I mentioned this in my Nano recap post, but it’s worth mentioning again.
The Storyboard consists of 3 sections – the Characters, the Settings and the Scenes
I identified each character and labeled their role in the story – protagonist, antagonist, mentor, ally, enemy, etc. Each character has a profile and it’s clear where they fit into the story.
I split the settings into 4 main locations as the story flows.
I outlined the scenes following the Hero’s Journey narrative structure and can clearly follow the arc to tell the story.
This coloured-papers-stuck-on-my-closet-concept reminds me every day of where I am in the story, and what I still have to write. It also reminds me that I have no idea how this story will end. I’ve identified 3 possible outcomes, but I feel like until I write to that point I wont know what feels right for the story so it’ll be just as much a surprise to me as it will be to you.
That’s the plan anyway.
Over the next 6 and a bit months this plan will include the writing the story by the 16th of February. Edit, edit and edit again by the 30th of April. Design the cover, format the book and prep for publishing in May. Publish the book on the 1st of July.
It’s real now. I’m publishing a book next year. As of right now, I’m going the self-publishing route. Of course if any traditional publishers out there love my original story and are keen to take it on, call me!
But the point is that I’m not going to let the lack of a formal publishing deal stand in my way of getting my book out there. So that’s where YOU come in. In typical psychological thriller style, I will tell you what you need to know to follow along on this journey with me, but I intend to keep you in suspense until the very end.
Along the way, I may reveal a character profile, even a few lines from the story and there will definitely be a cover launch! So follow me on social media, subscribe here, and help me make this book a success!
