7. The process-server

How do you know when a storyline should hit the cutting-room floor?

Photo by Thalia Ruiz on Unsplash

We’re back with Angela in this extract, and I introduce a legal storyline that falters out and disappears mid-draft because I realised I didn’t need it. In this scene, Angela finds out she is being sued by Richard Dunn.

Let’s talk first about over-complicating storylines. It is normal in a first draft to throw everything including the kitchen sink at the story to see what sticks, and this is an example of that. We have Angela finding out her stalker is free and – she expects – desirous of revenge, and to increase the drama/tension I have compounded this by adding in the fact he is suing her for a large sum of money. But after writing this scene I realised this storyline would probably have to conclude with a court case, and I don’t like writing them (or reading them) so I removed it. Also – brownie points if you’ve finished the book by now, but this isn’t a spoiler – it’s scarier if he isn’t there. If he is nowhere at all, and she constantly looking round corners, expecting him to jump out, but he never does.

Read the extract below: