A fun and sometimes annoying thing that happens to me in the middle of a story is I get a great idea and then have to work it in. Sometimes this is a minor change, sometimes pretty major. I have done my best to actually plot out my current project, including an outline and even a little flow chart on what would characters do. Still, after waking up after a nice nap or a great night sleep I suddenly have an idea “here is how to do X, or this is something Y would do.” This is especially helpful when I am stuck on an idea. I know what I want to happen just trying to figure out who to make it happen and not look too canned.
I know it is part of the creative processes and you cannot plan for all eventualities. Luckily the new things that are being integrated are not radically changing my current narrative. I’ve been using a program called Y-Writer. The program helps you the project into chapters and then down to scenes. That way I can make a change to a particular scene and not have to search some ginormous document. I can find it quickly, edit it, or even delete a scene. I’m still learning the software but I am using it in conjunction with Word.
The scary thing is what had started as a short story has turned into a 60,000 word piece and I still have chapters to write. They are plotted out but I have to get this stuff down. In the meantime I keep reviewing and editing what I do have. It is good to take a little break once in a while and go back with a fresh mind. My steno pad is invaluable as well since I work on scenes or ideas on my breaks and lunch so I don’t forget them.
I have several other pieces I need to review, update, and finish. I am going to try the self-publishing route at first. Has anyone had any success or suggestions for this? If so please shoot them my way!
