Into the Weeds

Been having a pretty good week when it comes to the current story (number six). Not so much in terms of forward progress. That continues to chug along at the typical rate. Where I've been making big gains is in plans for upcoming scenes. Moments that were somewhat vague in my head or in the storyboard are taking more definite and powerful shape. Ideas evolved into substantial events.

Times like these, 'aha' moments while I'm in process of writing a story, always make me very excited to go back and do revisions. I make the change to the plan while actively writing the story, pop a review note into places in the manuscript that will need to updated, then carry on as if the story had always been written this way. It lets me go back and flesh earlier parts of the story out after having settled on the concrete ending.

Tinkering can be quite laborious, of course. I've always made little changes here and there in previous books, but the last one (story five) was the first time I had ever removed whole chapters. Significant changes made to plot and pacing. There are a few similar spots that will require surgery in story number seven. One of those scenes where its need for change becomes more and more apparent every time I run it back in my head. The spirit will remain, but it needs new form to have a chance at being believable. Should also make the section more active and exciting as a whole.

Toodles.