I thought my Mc Angeline would undergo a different arc in this story. As I entered the 16-18 mark I struggled.
I did get progress on the field because I had points plotted. X was out there they needed to get to x. I even pulled a Wizard of oz and knocked my character right out in a hail storm.
Anyway.
It was x.
In my story a party searches for seeds to bolster the failing genetics of the fleet food program. (Future blah blah)
But eventually I realized the drama was there. The future was right there in those seeds. Just like in the story my novels drama would be about the decisions my main character will face, and her experiences along the way.
Do they play along with the fleet expectation and quietly execute their mission in secret.
Or do they break away and tell the people of the fleet somehow that earth is safe again.
It’s a classic information struggle. With the existential dread of the fleets food scarcity issues, juxtaposed by a fertile and healing earth.
The question becomes why not tell the rest of them? Who has control? Why do they want it?
How does humanity show back up?
How does earth feel about that?
It’s still really confusing but I think it’s coming together. Thank you for these!
Yes, my protagonist will reach this stage this week. She has nothing to lose, and is, therefore, solely guided by her impulsions and gut feelings. It would, undoubtedly and unfortunately, turn out to be an imperfect choice in the next act, even a catastrophic one.
Now I just want to know why the country club job doesn’t work out as planned. 😂
I got my 1700 words in today. I’m still in set up/Act one, but I’m getting some glimpses about where it could be going. I can always go back and edit if I’m taking too long to get there.
Another great post. Since my work is about the downsides to certain psych meds, and my character’s unassailable belief in them, a fleeting or false victory might be when she has an early, robust response early on.
My mother is my protagonist, and she hoped that, after a diagnosis of stage 4 cholangiocarcinoma, she could have surgery to remove it. Very similar situations.
There’s a moment where she thinks she’ll get what she “thinks” she wants and she’s employing magical thinking and denial to get it. what she really wants has been along side her the whole time and she’s been stoking it without realizing it and when she truly becomes the embodiment of it what she wants it will be the product of that process.
I thought my Mc Angeline would undergo a different arc in this story. As I entered the 16-18 mark I struggled.
I did get progress on the field because I had points plotted. X was out there they needed to get to x. I even pulled a Wizard of oz and knocked my character right out in a hail storm.
Anyway.
It was x.
In my story a party searches for seeds to bolster the failing genetics of the fleet food program. (Future blah blah)
But eventually I realized the drama was there. The future was right there in those seeds. Just like in the story my novels drama would be about the decisions my main character will face, and her experiences along the way.
Do they play along with the fleet expectation and quietly execute their mission in secret.
Or do they break away and tell the people of the fleet somehow that earth is safe again.
It’s a classic information struggle. With the existential dread of the fleets food scarcity issues, juxtaposed by a fertile and healing earth.
The question becomes why not tell the rest of them? Who has control? Why do they want it?
How does humanity show back up?
How does earth feel about that?
It’s still really confusing but I think it’s coming together. Thank you for these!
So much to think about!
Thanks for this! It helps as my protagonist is about to cross that line.
Today finished chapter 9, https://open.substack.com/pub/idayas/p/first-november-write-novel-together-1cf?r=6pbfbu&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Yes, my protagonist will reach this stage this week. She has nothing to lose, and is, therefore, solely guided by her impulsions and gut feelings. It would, undoubtedly and unfortunately, turn out to be an imperfect choice in the next act, even a catastrophic one.
This is so helpful, thank you!
Now I just want to know why the country club job doesn’t work out as planned. 😂
I got my 1700 words in today. I’m still in set up/Act one, but I’m getting some glimpses about where it could be going. I can always go back and edit if I’m taking too long to get there.
Lol hopefully someday!
Amazing progress!
Great, super useful questions: 1914 words. Thanks!
Woo hoo!
I had to go back and add a few lines with these questions in mind. Happy I did!
Love it!
Another great post. Since my work is about the downsides to certain psych meds, and my character’s unassailable belief in them, a fleeting or false victory might be when she has an early, robust response early on.
My mother is my protagonist, and she hoped that, after a diagnosis of stage 4 cholangiocarcinoma, she could have surgery to remove it. Very similar situations.
There’s a moment where she thinks she’ll get what she “thinks” she wants and she’s employing magical thinking and denial to get it. what she really wants has been along side her the whole time and she’s been stoking it without realizing it and when she truly becomes the embodiment of it what she wants it will be the product of that process.
Denial and magical thinking and being lucky
As helpful as these tips are, my story doesn't match these beats at all
Part of this is because I started with him on an airplane, flying into a Northern Ontario town to start an exciting new job.
Normalcy is established primarily through reflection/flashbacks, but even then, almost every experience is new, right from the start.
This is more of a "small-town kid goes to bootcamp" story, where what he wants is to keep his head above water.
Anyway, I've got the first act mapped out, it's going to end with a false setback: he dies