Clee Hill: Blog

The latest chapter of the Luke's and Stef's story is in the submission queue, this time with the added benefit of a proof-reader having gone over it and found my goofs. Of course, some things got changed afterwards, so there may be one or two new ones.

This was a fun chapter once I got the 'voice' of Leri right, and she is an interesting spin on the dynamic between Luke and Stef, something that will continue to jump and twist around as the plot unfolds. Initially she was meant to be held back for Book Two, but she makes sense in terms of the plot of Book One to bring in ahead of schedule, though her presence will be much the lesser in Book One compared to Book Two.

Also, in case anyone questions what they three teens get up to in the garden, it is not of character, but it may be out of keeping, in the same way that Chapter Ten's scene in Jensen's was far more in keeping and far more critical to the on-going plot than might be imagined.

Anyhoo, I hope everyone enjoys this early upload, and time for me to mess around with Luke and Stef as I get into the meat of Chapter Twelve.

Cheers...CH

Leri.

This character is fast turning into something of a problem child.

Originally, she wasn't going to be in Book One, but there is utility to her character, so she got brought forward.

Next, when first drafting her speech patterns, she fell much too easily into a comedy Welsh voice. It's a voice I might use for someone else, but she's not a comic character, so it's time for a partial re-write.

I then spent a happy afternoon writing her introductory scene. It wasn't quite right, but I put that down to being the first pass. Then I walked the dogs this morning, and as I did I realised that scene needed re-writing.

Sigh.

She's a fun character, plays nicely into the Rowden sibling dynamic, but she's a little slippery right now.

CH

For those catching up or going back, there's been a mix-up with chapters. The correct days for the correct chapters are queued up in the submission wizard. Sigh.

Cheers...CH

My thanks to all those who caught this chapter's goofs.

Sigh.

Time to try a different word processor - again! - and hopefully this one can grammar check. Reliably.

Now, one of the aids for proof-reading is to render the text onto a coloured background so that it looks new and different, the intention being that you read the text afresh and thereby spot the issues.

Seems my colour-blindness really didn't help in that.

Next chapter I'll try proofing with an alternate font and different coloured background, and we'll see how that goes.

Anyhoo, there's a new version of Chapter Ten in the submission queue with lots of corrections in it, as 'donated' by the 'early adopters'.

Cheers to all...CH

Into the queue, so should be up soon.

Plenty of fun in the jewellers, plus the imminent arrival of a new character in the next chapter to stir things up for the Rowden siblings.

Oh, in case anyone thinks that what Stef does is in any way a departure for her character - reasons.

This story is tightly plotted, characters are already developed, so if anyone does anything, there's a reason to it.

As the reader of a not-yet finished story, those reasons might only make sense in retrospect. Especially as they're not apparent to the characters themselves. Yet.

Gnomic, huh?

Cheers...CH