I was reminded yesterday by John that the last time I posted was 10 February. It has been a trying past couple of weeks. To re-rail, one had to derail, and it was quite a train wreck.
Some of it was due to dismantling the story line as I had it three weeks ago and having it sprawled out all around me on the floor, trying to figure out how to put it back together. I wasn't too concerned that I would meet the challenge of that task; it was much like cleaning out a closet or room and having belongings all over the bed and floor and thinking what kind of mess have I gotten myself into. But, slowly, by picking up one piece at a time, order is restored.
I would talk about the story line that I did have and what I have now but I know that there are many folks following the blog who would rather I not give away the ending. So, suffice it to say that the story line has changed DRAMATICALLY! In the process, I have interviewed several people, including a Vietnam vet, a judge, a lawyer, a financial adviser as well as friends. I am very happy with what I have now and it seems to be holding water very well.
Having the story line secured under my belt has suddenly solidified my two main characters. They now know where they are headed and what their mission in the novel is.
The other major cause of my derailment was physical. Doing PT for the disc bulge in my neck was at first causing considerable pain. Old sciatic problems that I had under control flared up and staying away from a bike all contributed to a deep emotional low. The knowledge that the disc bulge was greatly affecting my physical activity seeped slowly into my system and it was hard to accept. So, I had the falling apart of the story line coincide with the discovery of how severe the disc problem was and that was no fun.
The good news is that a neck traction device I got yesterday from PT seems to greatly help relieve pressure on the disc. The other good news is that I feel I'm back on track with the story. I have reworked scene one and I'm in the process of reworking scene two. From the outside, the changes won't appear that dramatic from what has already been posted. I was very eager to keep the core or the beginning scenes that I had established as they felt like a very good start. But, just as small jet thrusters on a space capsule can greatly alter the path and course of the vehicle, the changes in these first two scenes are similar course adjustments, sending the story in the direction that it needs to go.
And, of course, there have been changes going on behind the scenes which most of the public is not aware. It's as if we are witness to a rocket launch and we follow the rocket in it's first few hundred miles into space but we have no idea what its final destination is. Down below, at control center, the powers that be have suddenly decided that instead of heading for Venus, the spaceship will now head for Mars. The initial launch is still basically the same but the destination is now quite different. Same with the novel.
If all goes well, I may post the reworked first two scenes today. After that, I will let them stand and move on to scene three.
BTW: Rachel asked me why I called them scenes instead of chapters. One, I think of chapters as being longer chunks. Two, scenes just seem more apt as we are getting a glimpse of one basic event. And, three, I guess it may have something to do with the fact that I have a playwriting background and think in those terms.
Okay. Enough distraction. Back to work!
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