High on Plot Pot (*waves to Jessica*)

One drop at a time, I'm filling the 'plot pot' for my revitalized WiP.  Formerly known as Overcome, the story has changed on many levels.  It feels like a brand new project.  The inciting incident and the character who instigates it are virtually all that remain of the original storyline.  And that character, once the antagonist, is now the story's hero.

The new working title is Safe in Captivity, which hints at a major theme that will weave throughout the story.  I'm very excited about it, because the theme manifests itself both as physical and psychological elements that will play parts in every major character's motivations and inner conflicts.

I have twenty-five  scenes sketched so far that take me from the opening, across major turning points, to the ending.  As I ponder individual scenes, connecting points blossom in my head.  It's amazing how the process allows you to capture details, shows you more about the characters, more about the settings, more about the story.  My notebook is filling up.

Today, I'm working on a loose timeline, to organize the scenes in chronological order.  I have some online research to do, too.

Amazon Info HERE

Nothing happens by chance. I happen to be reading Dark Places by Gillian Flynn, and I'm completely inspired by it.  The organizational decisions Flynn makes to tell Libby Day's story are brilliant.  Her scene choices cut right the heart of the story, and her ability to weave exposition into a moment so that the pace actually increases has been, for me, an education in itself.  And the descriptive quality of her voice?  Nothing short of brilliant.  I'm still 50 pages from the end, and already I give it a five-star rating.

I'm not going to make the same mistakes with Safe in Captivity that I did with Overcome.  This plotting stage will be brief.  And while the energy is high, I'm going to write the draft.  Straight through, resisting the temptations to revise or backtrack.  I'll add notes to myself as I go, when I realize something from an earlier chapter needs an addition or subtraction.  My minimum goal is 8,000 to 10,000 words a month.  Feel free to hold me accountable :D

And don't forget to sign up for the February 16 Bernard Pivot Blogfest!

It's going to be quick to post and easy to read everyone else's posts, so join in the fun!

Full Details for the Fest and Giveaway HERE! 

Have a fantastic day,

                                    

Just Do It!

So, yesterday was a pretty crappy day.  A few loose ends had become frayed from neglect and required my full attention.  Spinning them back into resolvable strands I could tie up took all morning and most of the afternoon, leaving me exhausted and depressed.  But every terrible experience has its lessons to teach, so here's what was reinforced in my mind yesterday:

Don't put off unpleasant tasks.  Deal with them.  Or they'll seem worse over time and you'll begin to loose sleep.

Schedule time each week to deal with crap you hate to deal with.  I'm supposed to take care of unpleasant tasks on Friday mornings -- but it's been weeks since the last time I did.  Staying on top of matters, and out in front of potential problems, will make your life happier.

Organization is key.  Don't put an important piece of paper on the corner of your desk because you're "sure you'll remember that's where you put it."  At the very least, keep a file folder for papers that need dealing with.  Name it something like "Friday Folder" (or whatever day of the week you deem 'Unpleasant Task Day'), or "Deal With Me, Dammit!" and keep it in a prominent or visible place on your desk.

And the most important thing I remembered?  I'm human.  I make mistakes.  I get lazy, choosing to do the stuff I like to do over shouldering my responsibilities.  And it's okay.  I made a couple nice messes with that behavior, but I worked it all out.  I'm still healthy and alive.  The world is still spinning.  (And no, I am NOT responsible for that massive snow and ice storm some of you are dealing with today.)

 But I can do better.  And I will.  Promise.

Do you have anything hanging over your head you should have dealt with like, um, last week?  Why not take care of it today.  You'll feel better, and you may even sleep better tonight!