I Used to be Undecided, Now I’m Not so Sure

About ten years ago when I decided to take writing a bit more seriously, I started a novel. I was determined that it would be the first thing I would publish.

What?

Then someone said start small. Write some short stories first. Okay, but I still want to publish a novel. I was a little naive about it all back then.

Character Development: When Your Main Character Tells You How It’s Done

My main character from Rochelle’s Briefcase popped into my head the other day and boy did she give me serve!
It took me a little by surprise. I mean, it shouldn’t have. Who else’s head would she be in?
It was an interesting exercise in character development. Here’s what we had to say to each other:

Rochelle’s Briefcase – Done. What’s Next?

I finally finished Rochelle’s Briefcase. Well, the first draft, anyway. I posted the final chapter yesterday on Story-time and it feels like I rushed the story to its end. Because I did.

Just over a year ago Goran Zidar started up the Story-time website where authors can post serial novels a chapter at a time and readers choose what happens in the following chapters. A great opportunity to write a novel-length piece and get directional feedback almost in real time. Well, novel-writing real time!

Rochelle’s Briefcase – Chapters 13, 14 & 15

Hi Folks!

Thanks again to everyone who read and voted at the end of Chapter 12. I think I forgot to put up a notice that Chapter 13 went up. Oops!

Rochelle’s Briefcase – Chapter 12

Thanks everyone who voted at the end of Chapter 11.

I reached a crossroads in the middle of chapter 12 and couldn’t decide which was the better way to go so I wrote both threads and put that up for the vote this time round. Chapter 12 looks like this (complete with coloured background!):

 

It seems most people decided Jake was playing a joke . Without giving too much away this becomes apparent in Thread 1 but not so much in Thread 2.

So if you like, have a read of both threads and decide which one we follow in Chapter 13. Catch up chapters can be found here.

Enjoy!

Rochelle’s Briefcase – Chapter 11

Greetings everyone,

I’ve been madly working away at Chapter 11 of Rochelle’s Briefcase after receiving some encouraging feedback. Thanks heaps to everyone who has been reading it and voting.

The voting at the end of Chapter 10 decided that the other mob, the infamous and mysterious Team B would arrive at Rochelle’s place first, so needless to say Chapter 11 starts with high tension.

I really enjoyed writing this one. It introduces a couple of new characters and I’ve done a scene or two from a different point of view. I hope you find it interesting.

And the ending! Gotta love it.

Don’t forget to vote!

You can find Chapter 11 here at Story Time or the main page for catch-ups here.

Enjoy!

Rochelle’s Briefcase – Chapter 10

Greetings everyone!

Thanks everyone who has been reading and voting and supporting Rochelle’s Briefcase. It’s been great fun writing it, even though I change my mind an awful lot in the process!

The poll question at the end of Chapter 9 was “How does Rochelle respond to the policeman’s question?” Voters decided that Rochelle would refuse to answer. Interesting when you’re being pressured by an officer of the law! Let’s see how this one pans out.

Chapter 10 can be found here.

The main page is here.

Enjoy!

Rochelle’s Briefcase, Chapter 9 – A Scrivener Experiment

Greetings everyone!

I think one or two of you might actually be following my serial novel, “Rochelle’s Briefcase” so I’ll just mention that Chapter 9 is up. Voters who read chapter 8 (or skipped straight to the poll) decided that the car parked outside Rochelle’s place was a police car and not the well-known blue hatchback, not the ominous black car with tinted windows, and not Tina’s car.

Rochelle’s Briefcase Chapter 8 Is Up

Hi Story Time fans!

NaNoWriMo seemed to make me lose momentum on Rochelle’s Briefcase. I seem to blame a lot of my apparent slackness on NaNoWriMo. Meh.

Anyway, I’ve finally got Chapter 8 up for my serial novel, Rochelle’s Briefcase on Story Time after readers voted on the question of Who was calling Rochelle on the phone. The final vote was for Ruby, despite the fact that she had apparently been kidnapped.

I hope you enjoy the latest episode and don’t forget to vote on what happens in Chapter nine. If you need to recap n what’s been going on there other chapters can be found here.

Cheers! 🙂

Rochelle’s Briefcase Chapter 7 Is Up

It’s been a while but I’ve finally got Chapter 7 up from my serial novel, Rochelle’s Briefcase on Story Time.

No excuses for the delay but I’ve worked on my part for another little project in the meantime and even though that was only a short bit I was still interested in the feedback and aftermath of it.