by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner
I find myself in something of a creative pickle. On one hand, the first act of my mystery-thriller makes total sense. But it’s way too long at over 60 scenes. For it to fit the traditional structure of a novel, the second act would have to be 120 scenes.
That is just not going to happen.
I continue to struggle with different ways I might shorten the first act, but the beginning I have works really well and the overall plot progression is fine. It’s just too long. So, I guess what I’m going to do is just write the entire third draft of the novel and see what happens.
I’ve changed so much of the first act that I may figure out a way to bump up some of the scene count of the second act — just no where near 120. It *might* get up to maybe 80 total scenes, but even that would be pushing it. I still have to leave some room for the third act.
Ugh.
It’s all so frustrating. Everything is working out with the third draft other than the length of the first act. But I have to press forward. Maybe after I’ve finished the third draft, someone can give me some advice as to how to make its first act shorter.
This problem is bringing the issue of a fall back story to the front of my mind. I have three solid scifi novels to choose from. All I have to do is think up some characters and game out a plot for each of them. The universes are very well thought out by this point.
It’s all a bit overwhelming at the moment, but I’ll figure something out.
I always do.
