Last night I hit the 33% point in my first draft. It’s a good feeling! Even better, I was thinking about the story all day, and that’s always a good sign. The pieces of how things will be told are falling into place in a very satisfying way.
The scene that I’m writing right now is a formal dinner between several starship captains. Every time I write a scene like this I’m always reminded of Herbert’s Dune, specifically the scene where Paul is at a dinner his father is hosting and he looks around at all the diners. It’s a fascinating bit of writing in many ways, and while I never try to emulate it, I am always comparing myself to it.
To contrast that, I suppose, would be the way Martin handles feasts in A Game of Thrones. Martin is obviously more interested in the sweeping politics and machinations, but he takes a considerable amount of time to describe each dish, each location. And while I’m not the biggest fan of Martin, I will admit that the Red Wedding is one of those scenes that was written so perfectly that I will never forget it. For better or for worse, Martin knows how to write a dinner!
I don’t think the meal I’m writing about right now will hit either of those lofty comparisons, but that’s okay! I’m enjoying writing the tension, the suspicion, and the confusion of the protagonist at exactly what is (or might be!) going on. It’s a very satisfying feeling… plus I get to think about Space Food, and that’s always fun!
Hope everyone out there is staying safe and healthy!