Does anyone else take the beat/word count too literally like I do?? I am getting so caught up that I’m already in act 2 and still under 20k words…yet the pacing and flow is good. I don’t want to go back and add fluff just to beef it up, ya know?
I wouldn’t worry about it too much at this stage! We are using it for more of a loose structure but I hope it doesn’t feel rigid! You never know what your word count will end up being or how scenes will move and flow in future drafts so you can never really need too “literal” with the beats, you know?
I'd already written several aborted first drafts of this novel. But THIS TIME, I am flying, revelling in sprints with no editing, no planning, just seeing where the story goes. This prompt gave me a new tension I hadn't even thought was going to happen - all caused by one of those awkward text exchanges where both parties take the other's words out of context, leaving them both drifting away to attempt to unpick what had gone wrong. I'm having fun so far thank you x
I’m here! My character’s are in Fort Collins Colorado. When my main character Angeline meets a young stowaway named Veronica she is thrust into the dynamics of a new space in her life.
There’s also allot going on but I think this is actually what drives Angeline to the end of this story!
So exciting and I can’t wait to hear about everyone else’s stories!
Does it count if my inciting incident doesn't happen in the manuscript? (I hope) it's clear from the rest of the novel. But that would mean I've technically started in Act 2. And if so, why does my Act 3 feel like an Act 2? Can I even have two inciting incidents? Idk if any of this makes sense 😭
Replying to myself here. Ofc I can have two inciting incidents. I'm just not sure the first one (the one not technically in the novel) even counts as an inciting incident 🤔 I guess it doesn't really matter
Does anyone else take the beat/word count too literally like I do?? I am getting so caught up that I’m already in act 2 and still under 20k words…yet the pacing and flow is good. I don’t want to go back and add fluff just to beef it up, ya know?
I wouldn’t worry about it too much at this stage! We are using it for more of a loose structure but I hope it doesn’t feel rigid! You never know what your word count will end up being or how scenes will move and flow in future drafts so you can never really need too “literal” with the beats, you know?
No, it’s not too rigid! It’s just how my AuDHD brain works lol. Structure is both helpful and a hindrance!
Yes, having a very similar conversation with myself! Telling myself it can take the form it’s naturally asking to take.
I love that. Good reminder.
I'd already written several aborted first drafts of this novel. But THIS TIME, I am flying, revelling in sprints with no editing, no planning, just seeing where the story goes. This prompt gave me a new tension I hadn't even thought was going to happen - all caused by one of those awkward text exchanges where both parties take the other's words out of context, leaving them both drifting away to attempt to unpick what had gone wrong. I'm having fun so far thank you x
Yeah these prompts are great right! I opened this stack today and I’m like yes! My tension is rising!
I’m here! My character’s are in Fort Collins Colorado. When my main character Angeline meets a young stowaway named Veronica she is thrust into the dynamics of a new space in her life.
There’s also allot going on but I think this is actually what drives Angeline to the end of this story!
So exciting and I can’t wait to hear about everyone else’s stories!
Yes! It's on!
Does it count if my inciting incident doesn't happen in the manuscript? (I hope) it's clear from the rest of the novel. But that would mean I've technically started in Act 2. And if so, why does my Act 3 feel like an Act 2? Can I even have two inciting incidents? Idk if any of this makes sense 😭
Replying to myself here. Ofc I can have two inciting incidents. I'm just not sure the first one (the one not technically in the novel) even counts as an inciting incident 🤔 I guess it doesn't really matter
Do you have a list of the beats and approximate word count that you could share?