In the past few days, I’ve been working on a new schedule because I’ve been in a hell of a writing slump. It’s felt like a block, but most days I could write something even if it wasn’t quite the number of words I’d like. I’ve started to spend about some time at the computer or with a notepad scribbling ideas or rough sketching a scene that might appear later in the book early in the day. It hasn’t been that long, but so far, it’s helped me focus and get my head into what I want to write that day. The word count hasn’t been staggering, but it’s better.
I’m still struggling with the first of Dragon’s Keeper, the overplotting with the notecards of the first few chapters is still haunting me and has kept me from making much progress. I will eventually get past that and to the more loose sketch of the last of the book. I’m not going to give up on actually finding a way to plot ahead that works for me. Too much detail obviously doesn’t work. I might even find a way to make it work with the storyboarding because I do like the concept.
Why am I so determined to find a way to plot? One to make my life easier. I’m always looking for ways to better the craft or new tools to help make things easier. (One of the best finds I’ve ever made is still Lynn Viehl’s Novel Notebook.) I’ve modified some of the sections to better suit my style and what I need to know for the way I write. As I’ve written before I’m not fond of the midnovel slumps or having to rewrite most of a book. The last hasn’t happened lately. (Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!) I have had to rewrite a few chapters when I pushed a character in a direction it wasn’t in her character to go. I know it’s not totally going to fix those problems, because hello, dealing with characters, a muse and my own brain here. There will be troubled times ahead regardless.
All my progress has been on several other WIP notably on Rana’s story, a secondary character from Fire Princes’ Bride. There’s still a long way to go, but I’m happy to be getting back into this world. The Santir Ancients characters have also been quite fiesty and I’m hoping to encourage them into finding some sort of accord soon, but Cami is a bit stubborn.
