Sunday, March 22, 2015

#NovelSnip

#NovelSnip is a tiny portion of my fiction writing project.  This week I wondered whether I should write an outline of the whole story.  I googled that idea and found out that a good approach could also be, "Don't plan; just write."  I decided to go that route for now because at this juncture, I worry that writing an outline would be a form of procrastination.  Another issue is point of view.  Do I switch off?  Let the narrator be omniscient? It seems like the books I've read recently limit the point of view to one character per scene.  So maybe I should do that?  But I didn't in this scene. So, here it is:

Alice and Ethan slouched on the sofa.  Evelyn and Frank each took an armchair across the coffee table from the children.

“As you know,” Evelyn began.  Alice snuck a sideways glance at Ethan, who was staring at his bare toes.  “Your dad has been looking for a new job.”  Evelyn leaned forward, resting her elbows on her thighs and looking intently first at Alice, and then Ethan.  “The good news is,” she breathed, “he finally found one.  A good one.  One he’s excited about.”  Evelyn paused deliberately between each phrase, and Alice, embarrassingly, fought the urge to giggle.  Frank shifted, crossing his legs.  “The interesting part of the news,” Evelyn continued, “is that the job is in Atlanta, Georgia.”

“Georgia?” Alice repeated.

“Yes,” Evelyn said.  She looked over at her husband who was smiling awkwardly at the ground in front him.  Evelyn inhaled slowly through her nose.  “Your dad will be moving to Atlanta next week.”

Alice felt a swell in her chest and sat up straighter. “Are you getting divorced?” she asked, slightly louder than she meant to.  

“It’s a separation,” Evelyn said definitely.  “We’re going to do some thinking.” Frank’s breathing, Evelyn suddenly noticed, had become audible, inhales and exhales rattling through his nostrils.  His gaze remained on the floor.  Alice and Evelyn looked at him.

“Do you want to add anything, Frank?” Evelyn prompted. Frank shook his head and flicked his eyes up toward Alice for a moment.  She looked away.  “Ethan?” Evelyn continued.  “Do you have any questions?”  Ethan, shook his head and curled his toes. “Okay,” Evelyn said with some finality.  “Let’s -”

“I’m taking the dog,” Frank blurted.
And that's #NovelSnip this week.  There's more.  I've been aiming for high production over lots of editing.  So, don't even worry about it.

1 comment:

LH said...

I'm taking the dog.
That made me laugh. it's so FRANK!

I continue to enjoy your novel.