What is going on here? It's a very simple chapter. Really it is. Two of my characters are traveling (in a spaceship, across the galaxy), on their way to confront the bad guy...well one of the bad guys...okay, it's who they think is one of the bad guys. Trust me, it will all make sense when you read it in context. I know what's going to happen. I know who's involved. I know where it begins and ends...well, pretty much anyway. It should be easy-peasy and on to the next chapter, right? Right. So why have I already written it twice and am under the nagging suspicion that it's going to take at least one more attempt to get it right?

There could be several reasons for this, but I believe the overriding one is simple human nature, more particularly, the behavior of the human reader. Like any reader (or at least me, when I read), the closer I get to the climactic scenes of a book, the faster I want to go-I WANT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. The problem with being the writer and not the reader (aside from the fact that I already know what happens) is that as the writer I can't rush through it. I have to ensure my characters remain true to themselves and take every step they're supposed to take, say every word they're supposed to say, and yes, stop and pause every single time that it's appropriate for them to do so.

It's maddening really. They need to just hurry up and get to where they're supposed to go and do all the things they're supposed to do so that I can get on with writing their sequel.

I suppose that would be all well and good, provided I was the one actually telling the story instead of relying on the characters themselves to tell me how it all really happens. (Sigh.) I guess it's better to write it correctly than to write it quickly. They do understand the book is due out this summer, right?