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Now that Christmas and New Years are behind me, I think it's time to get back to novel writing. I have been working to make my first novel (now titled "An Urge to Kill") fit with my critique partner's suggestions. They suggested I cut out the first 3 or 4 chapters, beginning with my MC starting his first day in a new school, not remembering the accident that took his family's lives. He starts off offending the school's bully/screw-up and life continues to get worse as he begins remembering bits and pieces of the accident until he realizes it was caused by some driver who cut his family off, sending them veering into a gasoline tanker truck. He then vows to kill the person who caused his grief if he can find out who he is.

In my old version, I built up to the accident, showing the MC upset at his parents and sister because he wanted to spend Christmas Even with his friends and get a date with a girl he'd had a crush on for over a year. Then a speeding driver cuts them off.... When he wakes up in the hospital he doesn't remember the accident. Then at the funeral he vows to kill the person who caused it if he can find out who he is.

These versions are pretty much the same from when the MC starts school. I'm really struggling to decide which version I like best. Which one I should try to market.
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About Paul West

Paul West is a freelance writer and novelist. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Paul claims to be a "Prune Picker," though he now makes his home in Taylorsville, Utah.

You can follower him on Twitter: @PaulWWest

Published: Wednesday, January 04, 2012

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