A writer’s journal of a story it has taken over 20 years to tell
Follow my work at yr1.stories.com
A new character is attempting to join this story and I don’t know if it’s worth the trouble.
Every time I move from one scene to another I see him poking his head around the corner. Does my main character need a counterpart?
I know it would be a lot of trouble and I’m worried it will dilute the central character. I’m also worried that I’m subconsciously looking for a narrative crutch, something to make it easier to get plot on the page through dialogue.
But always there is that second voice trying to comment, trying to be heard. I’ve spun this story in so many directions over the years that it feels like pedaling backward to suddenly be adding pieces again.
I will give him a chance but part of my focus is economy of plot. I want things to happen quickly and move forward, like a 75 minute film noir. Not over explaining, no extraneous pieces. I am going to be looking for excuses to cut him.