Now that I have finished my first book (well, almost), I’m taking a well earned break from it, and putting some thought into the plot for the second book. It’s a series books, so the second book follows on from The Spiral Dilemma, and introduces a new character named Milaan.
The problem I am having is that at the moments, all my thoughts about this new book are like the jumble of cables in this picture. I have lots of ideas about different characters and different plots all tangled together in a confusing mess.
My goal now is to extract each idea one at a time and arrange them in a nice neat pile. Then once I have that, I can begin to piece them together, so that I’ll end up with one long, smooth line.
The trouble is, it’s harder than it sounds. I’ve been writing the last book for so long (4-5 years), so it’s been a long time since I actually worked out the plot for a new book. I’m confident that I’ll get it in the end, but when that end will come, I have no idea.
I know everything that needs to happen in this book, I just need to work out when and where, and make sure it paces nice and smoothly. Also there is one character whom currently isn’t doing much of anything at all. I really need to think of something for him to do, or think of a reason to get rid of him all together. It’s no good having him tag along just watching and not participating in events.
Stephen Donaldson once said “writers don’t get ideas; ideas get writers”
Well Ideas, come and get me!
Since I’m taking care of Dad full-time, I actually have much more time to devote to my writing, so I’m throwing myself back into it.
