How my protagonists sabotaged novel # 2   

In January, I boldly wrote in a blog that, though I was lacking many plot details, I was inspired to write another novel. I would just sit down and do it and see where it all went and where the characters led me.

I was so smug, so pleased with myself,  such a wonderful smart resolution.  Now, I must eat a big slice of humble pie.  I have been writing less and less as the months go by.

In the depth of winter and into the early spring I did write a few chapters. I got my main characters on the move. My secondary characters joined the party.  Even some third-layer folk stepped up to the plate cap in hand.  There was a conflict, a mystery in the works.  All good you might say.

Then I turned totally Pollyanna. The main characters got together over supper and a few glasses of wine and had a heart-to-heart – a pox on them! They explained how they understood each other and how they saw the situation from the other’s point of view. They listened respectfully and then agreed that they could sort this out together. They would cooperate and collaborate.

NO, NO. Not by chapter Five.  What were they thinking? What was I thinking, to let them get away with all this love and reconciliation?

How can you write a novel and have all the challenges, stress, conflict, suspicions, distrust, hate and misdeeds (you get it..) resolved by chapter Five? (sorry for all these rhetorical questions going on here) You can’t have the protagonists all chummy.  At this rate, they will end up in bed together. Then I would be left with another déjà-vue infidelity situation. I do expect my character to take the lead and show the way – but not this way, please. Have a bit of common sense and compassion for the poor author.

 I look around and see authors and the lists of books they have written. In the book market culture, you can`t even begin to have a serious selling profile until you have several toms under your belt.  Another sigh.

So dear reader, what do I do now?  Chuck the whole idea out. Or I could have another go at writing my novel and tell my heroes to behave themselves, which in fiction-land is NOT to behave.  This is not chummy chummy United Nations here guys, let`s have some authentic conflict.

So to those dear friends who so kindly ask me when they will be able to read the next novel I say `Let`s hold our collective breath and in the meantime deep breaths`.