Monday, October 15, 2007

We Have Lift Off!


I started Chapter One on the Italian novel, tentatively titled Catch and Release, last night.

And it felt great.

I've been trying to figure out a way to plot this novel so that I don't run into any dead-ends, thus prolonging the entire process. Here's what I came up with. Chapter by chapter outlines. Does this stifle my creativity? On the contrary! Before I started writing last night, I sat down and wrote a short synopsis of everything I wanted to include in this chapter. I sat down at the keyboard and felt, well, free. I didn't have to worry about sitting there and trying to think of what was going to happen next. I could see the scene in my mind.

No, I didn't put every detail in my short chapter synopsis - but just the essence of what I wanted to happen in the chapter. My plan is to write one of these short synopsis for each chapter before I write it. That way I'll hopefully be able to catch any potential problems before they start.

Otherwise, weekend consisted of a bit of shopping, a horrific tension headache on Saturday that thankfully was pretty much gone by Sunday, and lots and lots of rain. We're slated to have thunderstorms and cloudy skies for the rest of the week. Since I thrive in this kind of weather, that's a forecast I can live with!

6 comments:

  1. Gosh this blog sounds like me. I gain 10 pounds per novel! I'm also starting my next project- Thanks so much for the kind words about LOTTERY. Please email me so I can thank you in person!
    patricia@patriciawoodauthor.com

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  2. Individual chapter synopses -- that sounds like a great idea. Congratulations on getting off to a good start!

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  3. Whoo-hoo. Great news that you got started and that you're excited and motivated. Good luck with it. Keep going.

    I never, ever start a book without chapter synopses, but then, I'm a planner extraordinaire.

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  4. Anonymous7:49 AM

    Congrats, Melissa! Love your working title, too. :)

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  5. Anonymous3:12 PM

    LOL--I know exactly what you mean! Have fun with it!

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  6. GReat job! The first chapter is the hardest, I find. And a chapter outline is an excellent idea, I might steal it!

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