Aren't Fridays Wonderful?

[queenoftheskies]

Today was quiet. I like quiet. Only myself and the security guard at work. Nobody to bother me. Monday, where will be people in to pack accounting records, but since I'll still be working, I had to gather everything I need into my office and it's off limits until Tuesday or Wednesday, whenever I finish.

Thanks to everyone who sent good wishes that the news I've heard is good and works out. I appreciate all your support during these hard times. I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much, but it looks like the chance that things might work out is back. It just takes some working out and, so far, the people who were running the company still want to work it out. They've had some road blocks, but there's still a chance.

I made better progress writing today, and was pleased. Got two plot points down. Not too many more to go!

Ancient Secrets 3,500 words today

231,464 total words to date

I decided that 235,000 words wouldn't cut it, but that I don't need too many more past that, I don't think, so I upped the expected word count to 240,000.

231,464 / 240,000 (96.0%)

And, my julnawrimo word count progress to date:

127,680 / 150,000 (85.0%)

Comments

Plot Points and Mapping

[queenoftheskies.livejournal.com]

I am soooo rooting for the good guys!!!

I'm very long-winded. Not necessarily a good thing, but I think I'm fairly close to being done. Then I have to cut it all out again. LOL. Or at least half of it.

Not a dumb question. The way I write now is that I make myself a road map of the story. I list out all the major plot points, put them in chronological order and then assign them to potential chapters. (My way of breaking it down into bite-sized pieces I can handle.)

After that, I write a paragraph about each chapter. It's almost like a more detailed, mini synopsis, I guess. I use that as kind of a road map while I write, though I allow things to change as they go along if something better comes up.

Then, at various points on the journey, I sit down and make a list of the remaining major plot points I have left to cover to finish the story. A month ago, I think it was, I sat down and listed 22. Now, I think I have 5 left. So, I can see I've made progress.

Each plot point is the highlight of a small section of novel. Sometimes, it can be one key scene. Sometimes it's a key event that takes several scenes to lead up to it.

I think this process is going to help me lots with future novels. Hopefully, I'll refine it as I go along. I wish I'd worked into it before, but I think nailing down what I really wanted this first novel in the series to be has helped me also nail down a way of writing that works well for me.

Did that make any sense at all? Or was it as clear as mud? It is getting kinda late and I'm eyeing the bed with longing. :)

How is everything with you?

Re: Plot Points and Mapping

[dragovianknight.livejournal.com]

I wish I could make that method work for me. But, usually when I ask myself, "What happens next?", my answer is, "I dunno."

*sigh*

Re: Plot Points and Mapping

[queenoftheskies.livejournal.com]

That's why I start with listing all kinds of possibilities that could happen. If it ends up that I can't use them in what I'm working on, I save them to see if I can use them in something else later. :)