Yesterday morning I finished the last scene (not the final scene, that was done long ago) of the protagonist’s story. If it actually felt DONE, I might be more excited about it. But knowing me and the way I write, there will be some major revising to do. Probably twice. Then I’ll be done…at least until an editor gets ahold of it.
I also hit the 75,000 word mark yesterday. Having never written any single work this long, that milestone feels like an accomplishment.
Before writing this post, I had to Google some definitions. Not being a professional writer, I’m still learning the vernacular of the craft. For example, I’d been talking about all these story arcs in my novel but that was a misuse of the term. The story arc is the overarching structure of the novel, often displayed visually as a line chart (something I did earlier in the writing process to help ensure I didn’t end up with a book of mush). Instead, I should be talking about the plot, subplots, and parallel plots, which are a form of subplot.
Today I’m working through two of the three subplots in the novel, both of which are in an almost-complete-but-not-quite state. My guess is 4-5 hours of work and I’ll have them in first draft shape. One of these two subplots is a parallel plot, which is fun because there’s greater freedom writing it. You may remember my painful experience of having to kill one of the subplots. That one was a second parallel plot and was ultimately too much for my little story to carry. This parallel plot fits better into the story overall, adding some sideline drama to the excitement on the field.
That will leave the third (but first, really) subplot to write. For some reason, I find it complicated, but it is essential. Not only does it create the structure for and some interest in the main plot, it creates the opportunity for sequels or spin-offs. Yay! Not even done with my first novel and already thinking about how to cash in.