Read the WIP yesterday for the first time since I started it 150 or so pages ago. It’s a mess, but that’s to be expected. Good news is I’ve got something I can work with. Maybe only small pieces of this draft will survive but I have the characters (except the antagonist) and the story (except the conflict). I have the setting. I’m really good at setting.
During reading and after, did some brainstorming and came up with some ideas for an antagonist and conflict. Figured out that if I add these two things my heroine will have no choice but to kick ass since they threaten her to the core. Well, they better anyway. Antagonist is kinda fuzzy, although he’s already in the book. Had a walk on part that I plan to expand and sharpen. Have a handle on the conflict although I’m not sure of the specifics like exactly what to make the McGuffin. (The McGuffin is a concrete symbol of the conflict).
Not sure of much except that when I write it, it will come clear. Or not. If I decide to go that way.
Went to bookstore and bought the new Janet Evanovich (research) two other mysteries (research) and The Writer’s Journey (also research) by Chris Vogler. I already have Joseph Campbell’s Hero With 1000 Faces, which is the book Vogler was inspired by. I read the Campbell book years ago; I’ve been an avid fan of mythology since high school. So anyway, Vogler uses Campbell’s hero’s journey to explain story structure.
He gives the whole outline of the journey and by skimming through the book I was able to apply it to the WIP. Most of my WIP is already moving along those lines. But what’s helpful to me at this point is to see the way ahead. To have a little map. I’ll be reading that book, and maybe making an outline, as well as doing some work with my antagonist next.
After I get three loose end projects finished and mailed off.