Bewitched & Betrayed -- Chapter 1 started, I think.
I have my catalyst, I think. For me the catalyst is the action-packed, kaboom event that propels a book off the starting line. It's also the steel cable that runs through the entire book & plot, connecting the major action points together, turning scenes into a seamless story.
At least that's that plan.
Yesterday, the idea for Chapter 1 came to me, so I started writing it down. I hadn't planned to start writing until this weekend, but my muse (as usual) has other ideas. My idea for Chapter 1 meets all of the requirements -- an action-packed, scary as hell page-turner. Works for me. I could be off to a false start, but I don't think so. Not only does it meet the requirements, it very nicely foreshadows a major event at the end of the book. I think I have a winner. (big, huge satisfied & relieved grin)
My deadline for Bewitched & Betrayed (aka B&B) is May 1, that's 8 months from Monday. I'll be going for my usual two chapters a week. That's my goal, but as always, we'll see how that goes. Books go at their own pace, and nothing we poor writers can do is going to hurry it along. And since Chapter 1 is still in that squishy, half-set Jello phase, I'm going to cut myself some slack on that two-chapter-a-week goal right now.
Today and tonight, I'll be nailing down character motivation -- the one or two big motivating points for each one of my main characters. I'll then weave that into the catalyst and the plot synopsis, in hopes that will help me to start turning a synopsis into a solid story.
Wish me luck. ; )
Lisa
At least that's that plan.
Yesterday, the idea for Chapter 1 came to me, so I started writing it down. I hadn't planned to start writing until this weekend, but my muse (as usual) has other ideas. My idea for Chapter 1 meets all of the requirements -- an action-packed, scary as hell page-turner. Works for me. I could be off to a false start, but I don't think so. Not only does it meet the requirements, it very nicely foreshadows a major event at the end of the book. I think I have a winner. (big, huge satisfied & relieved grin)
My deadline for Bewitched & Betrayed (aka B&B) is May 1, that's 8 months from Monday. I'll be going for my usual two chapters a week. That's my goal, but as always, we'll see how that goes. Books go at their own pace, and nothing we poor writers can do is going to hurry it along. And since Chapter 1 is still in that squishy, half-set Jello phase, I'm going to cut myself some slack on that two-chapter-a-week goal right now.
Today and tonight, I'll be nailing down character motivation -- the one or two big motivating points for each one of my main characters. I'll then weave that into the catalyst and the plot synopsis, in hopes that will help me to start turning a synopsis into a solid story.
Wish me luck. ; )
Lisa
posted by Lisa Shearin at
8:08 AM
7 Comments:
Wow, you really weren't kiding when you said you like to plan things out before you ever start writing. 250 pages of notes, now writing down all of the modivation for the characters?
I have to admire people like you, but I must admit that I was pretty proud of myself when I wrote a half page (hand written) on the plot of my story before diving in.
Good Luck!
Only a half page? Wow, I wish I could do that. I tend to wander too much -- apparently I need structure. ; ) And I also tend to make what could be a simple solution more complicated than it needs to be.
Oh I wonder all over the place. That's probably the main reason I just gave up on my last book after the first draft, there was just no real flow to it. It was all over the place and I just didn't have the energy to put into fixing it.
I suppose it must have been difficult for you to allow Raine to just poke it with a stick, huh? You must have spent a lot of time searching for a more complicated solution.
LOL! That scene gave me FITS! I think I tried everything under the sun, and finally went with the KISS principle (Keep It Simple, Stupid), and had her just poke the danged thing with a stick. ; )
Hi Lisa! Wow, I just wanted to say: HAPPY WRITING! ;)
I think I'll be starting a new novel next week, and want to spend the rest of this one thinking and sorting a few details out. It's exciting, fun, and a little scary too.
Have a great day!
Thank you, Yolanda!
1/2 a page...my plotting probably spans 2 pages. I don't know. haven't actually finished the current outline yet. Definitely not 250 pages of notes!!! (my muse is rolling her eyes, if I did that, she'd go on strike from having so much structure)
Yolanda - I too am starting a new wip next week/this week. It's exciting!
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