So Mark called me this morning, stuck in his novel. “Here’s the next few things that happen, but if I write them all out, it’ll take chapters and chapters, and it’s enough like the other thing I wrote about earlier…”
“So summarize it,” I said. “We know what happens; we’re ready to get to the next crisis point.”
“Yeah but…this is the really interesting part of the [thing that happens to the main character]!”
From my Lofty Pinnacle of Wisdom and All-Knowingness, I said, “Yes, of course, but remember: the things that are interesting to the *character* are not necessarily the things that are interesting to the *reader*.”
“Ah!” he replied. “Of course! Brilliant! I’ve never thought of it that way…”
Then I went back to my own novel, where I have scene after scene of the main character looking for parking.