by Slhelt Garner
@sheltgarner
So, I’m now working on a four book series at the moment and there are gaps in the outline of the first book. I know how to fill these holes in the plot will come to me, but it’s going to be a little bit. I’m giving myself until the July 4th weekend to brood on this issue.
The more I think about it, the more the characters in this first book are improving. This first book — what was once a prequel — is going to be a tad shorter and more character based than maybe some of the other books may ultimately be. Things are still sorting themselves out on that front.
For the time being, I’m doing a lot of staring up at the ceiling struggling deep in thought about how to make at least three very unique — yet not identical — female characters who are extremely important to four books that span several decades. (Deep breath.)
All of this a huge amount of fun, but also a huge amount of work. I’m going to have to confront some fears. When I decided to reboot this project, I was just on the cusp of having the first book in a two book series figured out. Then, out of the blue, it occurred to me that I had the blueprint to two books set in the past relative to the story I was working on. And, well, now here we are.
Things are both moving fast and are kind of held up with this new first book. They’re going fast in that I know the overall plot of the story, but are held up because the more I think about the story, the more I realize I really need to dig deep for to figure out some of these characters that have been — to date — more just moods created as part of a huge backstory I had come up with for two books set in the modern era.
I have to admit that occasionally, I’m struck with a serious case of self-doubt. And, yet, the two additional novels I’ve come up with are compelling stories in their own right. So, I keep going.
