Musings

I've planned out my novel several times in lots of new and exciting ways. Things always change every time I do it - minor characters, Red Herrings, important plot points - nothing is safe when Jessie decides it's time to rethink her strategy!!!

And I often do. Most often because I think of something way way better; generally out of necessity because I don't want all my friends to laugh at me when I offer them my story to read. I bought a book the other day - How to Write Crime Fiction - v. interesting and made me rethink my plot dramatically. It got to the point where I was so overwhelmed by the numerous changes I felt I had to make, that I went nuts and made a chart!!! With crayons!!!

The main plot is the same - and yet it is so much more entertaining when written in purple crayon and hung on my wall!

Many new and exciting Red Herrings have been introduced, motivations are tighter, and it gives me a chance to eyeball the plot in one shot and see the blatantly obvious plot holes I would otherwise have missed. For example; I forgot while I was writing the first few chapters that police procedure should be an issue in this book, and yet I had no mention of subpoenas, autopsies or even some form of official interrogation (it's just been Robin showing up randomly at people's houses for 7 chapters!!)

So the story has been tweaked. Ever so slightly.