Why did SNAFU take so long

[icarus]

The story behind SNAFU, or, Why-The-Hell-Did-This-Take-Ten-Months?.

Don't worry, don't worry, the next part's done, at Beta-reader number two as we speak. There were relatively few edits so far.

What happened is that isiscolo was beta-reading Sex, Drugs and Death Eater Rock annnnnd... was deeply disappointed. She'd loved Beg Me For It, and among the grumbles was the comment, "I thought I was going to see Ron's plan."

Oh.

Um.

Er.

I was never going to show Ron's plan. Yes indeedy, I was gonna cheap out and jump from Death Eater Rock to the aftermath of Stand In The Ruins, telling about the battle after the fact.

The more I looked at it, I realised, "Ah shit. She's right."

I was really worried about writing a battle, and confided in wildernessguru all my doubts. He's a military analyst, and entirely too honest: "Yeah, I don't think you can do it."

When the dust cleared and I stopped throwing objects at him, I had to admit that at that point in time... he was right. I was a loooooong way from being able to pull this off.

So I swallowed my pride, apologised for throwing things, dusted him off nicely and asked, "So. What do I need to know?"

Ha. Never ask a military analyst that question.

Sure enough, I soon had a reading list four feet high. I kid you not. I had to thin this down quite a bit. There were movies, and websites - that I can't find now - on tunnel warfare, and schematics for weapons used in Afghanistan, as well as his finding random facts and reading them to me if he thought they might help. An ongoing "did you know that [insert obscure fact about Nepalese insurgencies and the British Gurkas here]?" I've collected a lot of my research here. Ten months of living this story, I tell you.

Still, it wasn't until I talked to two Vietnam Vets - both published writers themselves - that I had what I needed to know: what was it really like? It was partially what they said. But there was something else, in the way they said it. A kind of matter-of-fact sadness, edged with anger.

The voice tells you what it's like to be a soldier.

Comments

[boniblithe.livejournal.com]

That's awesome. I love the behind-the-scenes glimpses into your brain!

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

It's generally rather embarrassing since my life requires a laugh-track. "Huh? What? You mean after pages and pages I spent hinting at Ron's plan I have to actually deliver?" *cue the pratfall* But if people are amused I might do more of these.

Icarus