by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner
This weekend, I did a lot of structural tinkering with the first three chapters of the third draft of my first novel and I think they’re stable now. I think it’s possible that I can now zoom through much of the novel — maybe until I reach the midpoint — because those first three chapters are stable.
I understand where relationship stand as the story opens, which really allows me to go faster going forward. It won’t be until about the mid point of the novel that I will have to again to struggle with some severe structural problems that will come to a head in the third act.
The third act is going to have to be totally re-imagined and rewritten.
But I’m really pleased with what I have so far with this third draft. The main problem, of course, is I had hoped to wrap the third draft up by April. Now, however, it looks like it could be as late as July.
For a number of reasons, I’m going to start to read, watch and develop more so in case some disaster strikes the main creative project, at least I will have improved my overall position when it comes to storytelling.
Or something. Something like that. I am very grateful for the unique situation I find myself in and I feel like maybe I need to show that more. I too often just kind of daydream and waste way too much time instead of, say, watching a movie that I might not otherwise watch.
