You know this famous joke about the guy who paint all the floor … to get caught in a corner, surrounded by a freshly applied layer of paint?
I do not know if you are like me, but there isn’t one story where I did not commit this blunder in writing… Even when I had a plan!
Last time, I was so hesitant that I missed a contest. It was a historical fantasy thing that worked perfectly … as long as I did not notice a 5-year gap in the dates!
A head-banging puzzle!
It was terrible conundrum, a head-banging puzzle: either I changed the date and the age of the main character, and the plot fell flat. Or I kept the factual error by arbitrarily changing the year, and it was a great story. (The story being in submission, I do not speak more about it).
I should have done more research. The mistake would have jumped in the face and it would have given another story.
I am happily preparing a series of historical mysteries following Domus Justice. (published in Fiction River 27, edited by the talented Kris Kathryn Rusch) I realized that — I who adore the antique period – I took liberties with the plans of the Domus (house) in question. Moreover, it was not clear where were the toilets, hum!
So, in the subsequent stories, after serious re-study of the plans, I saw that I misplaced the altar of Lares, in a corner of the back garden. Heaven what to do? See this Wikipedia entry for a layout.
In this case, I decided not to change anything in my text about this site … and to pay more attention next time!
In establishing your historical setting, you have to “do your homework”! But be careful not to stretch this search time indefinitely …
Following the right tracks!
I’m also wading into writing a crime novel (technically, a mystery). I found out that I sent my shy heroine twice to the same place. It allowed me to insert a beautiful sequence in the center of the novel … And to advance the investigation because she discovers a special clue.
But, what my heroine already knows when coming back to this place breaks some of the reveal progression, the tension. In addition, I have a bad tendency to multiply the oppositions when only one could do the trick. In short, have I put too much, diluting the danger?
Ah, la, la … I’m not out of the woods!
In a detective novel / polar / suspense where all the details must converge towards a strong resolution, painting myself in a corner (whereas I made a plan, I recall it!) led to a catastrophe. I got embroiled in my tracks, adding motive over motive for my villain, to be certain that the assassin had a strong incentive to act!
I have not solved this problem yet, so I’m working on another creation while letting my creative subconscious search for a viable solution.
And you?
When was the last time you “wrote yourself in a corner”?
For my writing friends and artists, exhaustion and overworking are two companions of the indie worker. I’m no exception this year, starting my own company.
My reading pile will stop growing! (Extract from 
Humans, to the scale of the waves…
The waves in all their power. Photo taken from the 4th story.
At this 
For a SF writer, those big algeas are a nice find!
Detail on the driftwood.
Unidentified flowers, at the salted and moist sand near the Inn at Spanish Head. Try to find the name for the Sunday artist!
Running on the 101 sidewalk : Lincoln City.
