Adele Sims

Running well short of my goal, so have to step up the pace. Getting there.

A bit of a quick write while dodging 3yr old straight arming a tennis ball at the front door. The themes are developing well, but I still see one of my minor characters as taking more of a leading role. Not sure if this will change things too much. But still like the development of Carla and Simon. Does anyone else obsess over character roles?

Missed another 3 days, then put a hyper-focussed effort in and leant on Craig's 15 minute sprints throughout the day - family wondering where I was disappearing to. The hardest part was picking up, in my head, where I had left off from and moving it forward. I keep waiting for the gods to endow me with vast windows of writing time. Am realising, that's never going to happen. And thanks Craig for reassuring us that it can happen. The plot line is developing nicely. Biggest problem now - looks like it might be better as a series rather than one cramped psych thriller - but if so, does that mean I'm padding too much; working in too many intricacies? And yes, agree that 'if my book sucks, doesn't mean I do'. Hope you're all faring more progressively.

I saw a post on SIA about 18 months or so ago where one of the authors finished her book while having 9 children, an aged father, a job and probably a medal for endurance. I wish I had her focus. Snatching time where I can feels like a criminal act rather than the celebration of the creative process. Today was not as fast paced as some of the other days, but slowly and surely getting there, minus 9 children (will 2 do?).

Lost another 2 days - tried to make it up today. I've heard some author gurus say that writing with an outline makes it easier. Not sure. Sometimes the characters take over and then I think I'm giving them too much leeway - but what about the creative process? And then does it slip into stream of consciousness? Am discovering in a very serious way, what it is when successful authors talk about discipline in their work. Ever onwards I suppose.

lost 2 days bc of family hospitalisations etc but set aside just on 3hrs today and belted out enough words to catch me up. Love how the story is developing. But as I introduce characters I wonder if my main characters are strong enough. Then I fall in love with some of the minor characters and wonder if they should be more major than minor and how much of the show should the minors steal? Plot lines are opening up too... keep wrenching my way back to Austen's style of concentrating on 3-4 major characters and their pivotal groups. Eeeek. One word at a time.

Continued drafting beyond Chapter 2—developing the Carla/Simon dynamic and pushing the early consequences further into play. The structure is holding as the story deepens. How much do you give away in the first few chapters? Too much and there's nothing left to reveal. Too little and I'm scared it will be too bland. Well here goes anyway. I once told Ann Cleeves that I like fast paced action and not so much of the slow intro. I joked that that's why she's 'mega' (for want of a better word) and I'm....... still trying.

Continued drafting beyond Chapter 2—developing the Carla/Simon dynamic and pushing the early consequences further into play. The structure is holding as the story deepens. Tone remains dark and controlled. Still behaving badly.

Mapped out the core structure and character arcs. Wrote Chapter 1 and about half of Chapter 2—establishing Rochelle’s opening impact and setting up Simon and Ashanti’s storyline. Tone is settling into something darker and more controlled. Strong start—characters already behaving badly.

Refining of Character Outlines and more work on Ch2

Edit Ch 1. Halfway through Ch 2

Complete plot outline; character summaries; chapter outlines; mythological outline and the interweaving of thematics and motifs. Chapter One done.