Thanks, you make a lot of sense. There is a plot-related reason why I wanted all the action to take place in the village - I wanted the fact that my character leaves for and returns from London so quickly and without the reader joining her there to be symbolic of her lack of freedom in the novel - we're stuck in this little village, as she is, and even when she gets out it's only for a short time and for really mundane errands. But I can replace that symbolism with something else that works better.
There's also a more important, structure-related reason. I'm writing in a stream of consciousness format that jumps from one character's head to another's in the following (supposedly seamless) way - MC encounters SC1, and we enter SC1's head. SC1 has thoughts for a while, does things, until seeing SC2 across the way, at which point we jump into SC2's head. Etc. over the course of 8 characters. Easier to keep them all in the same village if I'm going to do that.
This type of format requires a fair amount of planning if I'm going to make sure the right things happen at the right time and the right thoughts get thought at the right time. Hence, my angst over changing this aspect of things at this point in the writing process.
I think I've figured out how to do it though - I could take 2 or 3 of them to London with the MC and continue the structure that way - and return on the train where someone hears the whistle, and we jump into their head, etc. It just is going to require some re-planning.
I will give your ideas a try tomorrow - about writing the mystery part of it without worrying too much about the way it'll turn out. It will probably be a relief to just write without a meticulous plan!
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2007-11-10 06:14 am (UTC)There's also a more important, structure-related reason. I'm writing in a stream of consciousness format that jumps from one character's head to another's in the following (supposedly seamless) way - MC encounters SC1, and we enter SC1's head. SC1 has thoughts for a while, does things, until seeing SC2 across the way, at which point we jump into SC2's head. Etc. over the course of 8 characters. Easier to keep them all in the same village if I'm going to do that.
This type of format requires a fair amount of planning if I'm going to make sure the right things happen at the right time and the right thoughts get thought at the right time. Hence, my angst over changing this aspect of things at this point in the writing process.
I think I've figured out how to do it though - I could take 2 or 3 of them to London with the MC and continue the structure that way - and return on the train where someone hears the whistle, and we jump into their head, etc. It just is going to require some re-planning.
I will give your ideas a try tomorrow - about writing the mystery part of it without worrying too much about the way it'll turn out. It will probably be a relief to just write without a meticulous plan!
thanks, and sorry to be so long-winded.
j