Chapter 4 - Boot Camp

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So, I've reached that point in my preparation. I have developed the fluff clouds of wispy ideas into solid constructs of plot and characters and this novel has turned from a feathery idea into something more real. Now is when it gets hard. Broad strokes are easy. As they say, the devil is in the details. I'm actually not 100% sure that I'm using that expression correctly, but you get my point. It is easy to say that I have an idea for a grand adventure with a ragtag cast of characters. But sitting down to hammer out the details of those people, places and events can get sticky.

It is rather like falling in love. Infatuation is largely you falling in love with your idea of who this other person is. Rarely are they exactly as you imagine. It is easy to fall in love. What takes work is getting to know this other person that is inherently different than you and still loving them.

What am I working on that is giving me fits? Well, it's so nice of you to ask!

I have indeed decided, as I discussed in my last post, to use my time leading up to Camp Nanowrimo to be uber-prepared and delve into outlining/charting/fully plotting out my novel. I had read a forum post by a Nano-er who discussed how she uses Excel sheets to plot out her story. Let's take a moment here to generally bemoan how dead inside I feel when I look at a spreadsheet. My brain just slithers backward in my skull hissing at the sight of them. My biology rejects order and structure.

But, I've prodded my brain-snake with a stick and made it come back and play nice with the spreadsheet. Mostly. I will admit, I do feel that it is the responsible thing to do and, if done well, will help my writing just fly along... ugh, I can't lie. I still totally hate it.

Which brings me to today's topic:  Boot Camp.

I love what I have done for this novel so far and I'm so excited to get it out and introduce these characters to the world. So, for the sake of my characters and their story, I am digging in hard today and putting my brain to work in a new way. I am going to embrace the efficiency of a spreadsheet, benefit from the organization of lists, and get my ass in order. It won't be easy, but the brain-snake and I have a duty to our characters and our readers to be better, be stronger. To be all we can be.

Hooah!

....I apologize for that. Who am I kidding, I can't pull off an intimidating sound. I'll just make sparkle fingers instead.

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