Plotting

After all the time I have written prose and taught story structure and analysis, I would have thought that composing an outline for my first original novel would be pretty straightforward. Instead, I find myself working in fits and starts, trying to find the throughline for the story.

I had the inciting incident as the impetus and then began to build out my main cast. From there, I began worldbuilding, sketching out the geography, environment, period, and related details. Rather than set the story in the familiar European Middle Ages, which seems to power so much popular fantasy, I opted for a different environment to see what could be done.

I had all the pieces and now needed to build the puzzle. I wrote a few chapters’ worth and then stalled out. And it has been that way since the summer break began. I write a few chapters, then am uncertain where to take things next.

While in Kansas City last weekend, I managed to discuss this with Dayton Ward and Kevin Dilmore, who were encouraging and offered me some valuable advice. In retrospect, it may be that I have too large a cast to juggle all at once and may need to break down each character arc to see how they weave together.

This past week saw progress, so I am currently working on Chapter Twelve as you read this. Of course, there have been other matters preoccupying me (hopefully letting the mind process and create in the background). DC reached out to ask me for the foreword to one volume of the forthcoming Absolute Crisis on Infinite Earths 40^th Anniversary edition. I had completed a draft by the time I was shown what else had been written, so on July 4, I waded through the essays, both new and reprinted, allowing me to go back and adjust the foreword. For those who enjoy this cosmic tale, this will be a definitive edition featuring commentary from not only Marv Wolfman, Jerry Ordway, and me, but also from others who contributed to the sprawling narrative.

I was also interviewed about Superman for a newspaper, handled some HOA business, prepared for Shore Leave, and did other things that help fill the days.

What We’re Watching

We freshened the rotation by adding in the current seasons of Grantchester, The Bear, and The Gilded Age while also beginning season two of Silo. We continue to work through the second and final season of the underappreciated Unprisoned. I had limited time on my own, but I made sure to finish Ironheart. It was surprisingly character-driven, which was good, especially with the decision Riri made at the show’s end, begging for the repercussions of that choice to be shown somewhere. It started shakily, underplaying the mother/daughter dynamic which needed more to make what comes in later episodes work better. The Hood’s crew took time away from the cadre of good guys, but everyone had their moment to shine. All in all, not bad but could have been stronger.

What I’m Reading

I made my way through Bruce Springsteen: All the Songs, which felt like quite the accomplishment, working my way through all his albums, song by song. It enhanced my already strong appreciation of his songwriting skills. Here, I got to watch a songwriter’s evolution, which I found fascinating. All the production info was interesting, but not to my taste.

I completed Sherlock Holmes and the Telegram from Hell and found this Nicholas Meyer offering somewhat padded and far from his strongest work. He seems to be coasting with the current run of Holmes novels.

I continue to read assorted magazines, comics, and graphic novels although none from this pile stood out.

What’s on your Mind?

I am writing this weekly in hopes of building audience for me and the website. I remind you all that I have quite a few books available for sale directly from me, so they can be autographed.

While I find it somewhat cathartic to chart all this, I get little to no feedback, yet the metrics show some of you actually read this. So, what shall we talk about? What questions might you have? Talk to me.

#Tags: Absolute Crisis on Infinite Earths, Bruce Springsteen, Crisis on Infinite Earths: Absolute Edition, Dayton Ward, DC Comics, Grantchester, Jerry Ordway, Kevin Dilmore, Marv Wolfman, Nicholas Meyer, Sherlock Holmes and the Telegram from Hell, The Bear, The Gilded Age, Unprisoned