I’ve been having some difficulties with chapter six. Finally I realized this evening that the scene I was about to start writing, for the middle of chapter six, should actually be the end of chapter nine, according to my outline.
So this evening I spent a lot of time thinking about the story arc of this character, what I actually wanted to have happen. I developed a new scene with which to start chapter three (that I’m really excited about writing now!) With that new scene, 2000 words at the end of chapter three move to the start of chapter six (which actually makes the chapters make more sense — I was having difficulty splitting that action into more than one chapter.) This means I really only have about 2000 words left for the end of chapter six, and I know the scene that has to go there now. (Still need to decide the fate of some secondary characters — are they alive? Dead? Worse than dead?)
Then I restructured chapter nine. It was fairly easy to come up with two very important scenes (that had pretty much been around in my head anyway). On the walk back from the tea shop I developed the middle scene that ties those two together nicely. So chapter nine is now plotted out.
I still have “and something brilliant happens here” in more than one place for the next few chapters — that is part of my process. However, I also feel like I’m back on track. I’d hoped that the way I’d outlined the chapters I wouldn’t have to do this sort of realignment, but maybe I should just accept that it’s something I will always have to do as part of my process.
I don’t know if I’ll make it to the Clarion West party tomorrow night. I may spend the night at home writing, as I may have to do day job on Saturday and won’t be able to spend all day writing. And I’d really like to finish this chapter.