Today is gonna be a big day. I'm crackin' the whip and not letting up.I'm taking my VERY rough draft and playing with plot. I've promised myself that it's okay to let it go. It's okay to switch things up. The basic premise won't change, but a whole lot else is likely to. I may lose a lot, but because of my progress with craft, I hope to gain a lot more.
A lot of this comes from a course I'm taking online through ACFW. One of my mentors, Colleen Coble, is doing an awesome job taking us through things that in theory sound easy, but in practice . . . well, I have felt like a third grader trying to grasp the meaning of Einstein's Theory of Relativity—as taught in Mandarin.
The rest comes from my need to get back in the saddle and not look back. My characters are coming with me, because I need their support. I know them. I'm building them. They're building me.
The thing that will be weird? Brainstorming. I LOVE brainstorming, but there's usually more than just me involved. And I'm usually brainstorming someone else's project.
So, my stained glass plot window may be up for a re-do.
Still reading To the Power of Three.
And working on that Maass exercise. I may have had a breakthrough. If so, I'll let you know.
It's all better with friends.
Great post. I love brainstorming too but I've never been able to use my own material. I'm always the one encouraging and helping others. Don't know why I can't pull a Robin L. Hatcher. She talked once about how she does it. Anyway, I can't--probably because I'm holding my ideas, characters, etc too close to my chest. I started out in Colleen's class but went out of town for more than a week and never went back to it. It was great and so 'over my head' that I was in awe. I think she probably one of the most brillian mentors I've ever had the pleasure of watching in action.
ReplyDeleteI wish you God's blessings as you rewrite your piece. :) Taking everything apart is scary. I did it once. :-(
You are a fabulous encourager, Jess.
ReplyDeleteI got a lot done, but now I'm entering the zone of POOPY PLOT and think I may be here for a while.
{sigh}
Don't you just love it when you have a "breakthrough'? I just wish they came to me more often.
ReplyDeleteI am enjoying Colleen's class also, haven't come up with post yet, but still enjoying the class.
What's a breakthrough?
ReplyDeleteRight now, I'm just breaking out. (And not in the Donald Maass meaning.)
You'll get a kick out of this . . . much of my new "plot window" indludes little stickies that say "Add Layers" to my scenes.
Sheeshkabobalino.
Marching on. . . .