Following the deficit from yesterday, I revisited the two page synopsis first thing this morning. Nothing like writing deferred. A few plot points obsoleted themselves in the last month, so they were stricken. One point needed to be added. Continuity gaps between the manuscript and synopsis happen when I neglect a review for too long. I also caught several occurrences of a horrible character name, intended entirely as a placeholder – like the Working Title above the word count meter — until a proper one revealed itself. Only that baptism was two months back and still, there the name was in black and white…Diego Sterling. Oh, the horror.
After the synopsis, an idea hit me for a very small scene, which wrote itself quickly and in what I believe is the correct spot. Freewheeling like that is a rarity on this project, usually a lot more anguish and brainstorming drives this bus.
Then I wrote two pseudo-pages. Those who program might recognize a similar term, pseudo-code, which is where I nicked the idea. Pseudo-code are snippets that probably won’t compile, but demonstrate the basic flow structure of a script or module. Pseudo-pages are the same idea, just written in English ( or whatever language desired ). They are scattered, resemble mental scribbles, and sort of make sense to the author but not very much to a casual observer. I wanted to be clear on the last 15-20 pages and aware of the loose ends that need tying. The exercise forced both.
It looks like the ending will answer all but three points: one major, two minor. The big point everyone will notice, well, if I do the deed right, everyone will. The minor ones are more subtle. Not that the Easter eggs are for me, I’d just like more than one way into the next episode.
Then the real writing started. Once I caught sight of the finish line, that went pretty well. Another handy benefit of the pseudo-pages.
Just discovered your site. Looks very interesting. I like your idea of pseudo-pages, I can make use of that. I’ll be starting NaNoWriMo next week, keeping a journal at Mystics of the Ordinary.
Good luck with your book!
Hey, thanks Robert. Good luck to you as well. Someday I’ll try one of those contests…
Must feel good to have the finish line in sight. Good luck.
Amen, Pollster. Amen. Also feels a bit odd. Like, what the heck am I going to work on now? I have this directory of little text files, one file per idea. Nothing involved, just two to three line situations. When an idea strikes, I create a new file and chuck it in the hopper. Of the 14 or so files in the hopper, almost all are short story sized in scope. However, one idea is another Mike Brody book, the other is a novel of a totally different sort. It’s been eating at me for months.