Secrets & Scents - Day 15

Yep, I had to go back to add a few scenes that I’d missed.

Last time (four days ago! yikes) I wrote what I thought was Chapter 18. But I had this nagging sense that I was missing some of the story. Well, eighteen is now nineteen because I inserted two scenes (two half-chapters) into some previous chapters and thus I had to have my previous last chapter adopt a new number.

Whew. If you can follow that and what I’m about to try and explain, you’re a better person than I. First, I wrote another Sunday morning scene from Ben’s POV and put it at the beginning of Chapter 17. We the readers needed more time with Ben and the guy he’s guiding up in the mountains. A photographer who wants to capture some wildlife…on film. (Is that a hint?)

Anyway, this made Chapter 17 too long, so the last part of seventeen became the first part of eighteen – and since I already had a Chapter 18, that chapter is now Chapter 19!

But then the new eighteen was only a half chapter, of course, so I added a scene to fill it up to about 1500 or 1600 words (my happy place when it comes to chapter length).

This scene features Office Barry bringing in a suspect for questioning. (Remember my one and done plot? A guy is conked on the head and we don’t know who he is or who did it or why.) So a suspect at this point in the story is always nice. I’m over half-way done with the novel after all, I guess I better have a suspect or two for the readers to think about. (grin)

To raise the stakes a bit, I introduced Sugar Pine Station’s loveable but gossipy editor of the weekly Bulletin into the mix. He’s a regular in my Ma Tutt books but he hasn’t had an opportunity to appear in this novel yet. Well, with an arrest, this is perfect timing for Tommy Fairbanks to get the scoop.

I also introduces the Chief of Police, Wilmer Duncan, who has a kind of ongoing feud with Tommy. I don’t know why I set their relationship up like that, except to say the characters told me that was their status. My creative brain at work, I’m sure, setting up opportunities for future conflict in my forthcoming Sugar Pine Station cozy novels. Fun!

 

Just a random cartoon that has nothing to do with my blog post today.

Writer’s Tip…

            Same advice as last time, but also go ahead and heed your creative brain’s desire to plant those seeds for future development. A set up today could lead to a novel tomorrow.

Progress: Writing Secrets & Scents... 

Introduction – Part 1: Launching a New Series 
Introduction – Part 2: The Missing Novel 
Day 1 - 3100 (Chps 1 & 2) - Total: 3,100 words 
Day 2 - 3300 (Chps 3 & 4) - Total: 6,400 words

Day 3 - 3150 (Chps 5 & 6) - Total: 9,550 words

Day 4 - 3100 (Chps 7 & 8) - Total: 12,650 words

Day 5 - 1550 (Chpt 9) - Total: 14,200 words

Day 6 - 3050 (Chps 10 & 11) - Total: 17,250 words

Day 7 - 1650 (Chpt 12) - Total: 18,900 words

Day 8 - 1500 (Chpt 13) - Total: 20,400 words

Day 9 - 1600 (Chpt 14) - Total: 22,000 words

Day 10 - 1550 (Chpt 17) - Total: 23,550 words

Day 11 - 1550 (Chpt 15) - Total: 25,100 words

Days 12 & 13 - 1600 (Chpt 16) - 26,700 words

Day 14 - 1600 (Chpt 19) - Total: 28,300 words

Day 15 - 1550 (to Chpts 17 & 18) - 29,850 words

~*~

UPDATE: Follow my Kickstarter project!

Here's a placeholder image for Secrets & Scents - A Kelli & Jo Candle Shop Mystery by yours truly. I'll be launching a Kickstarter Campaign Sept 13, 2022, for cozy mystery fans to acquire their exclusive pre-release edition of this latest novel with a brand new, professionally designed cover.

In the meantime, if you become a Patreon Subscriber, you'll be able to read Secrets & Scents as I write it! New chapters of my WIP every week, plus a backlist novel a month and bonus short stories exclusive to patrons.