When we do this...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dXPA0YvBgeVdB3bBN3ysNcz9JBrjuFgYss8N4k10YZ-rJZbQYdTUJxER0cEGXljxlprGwojyk-GQ9phSbxI0aRlYX0uv-MmcDP2I0P2PEe_77mTqp5Y8ronQ63_sj9vGssN83Sadq7o/s400/images-2.jpeg)
We know it's not always going to be this...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-FroavoRhh-aBxeWIpBixmaU-hpoYPWw-_C_WTFpjxFz8YkS6gikKPJ4dnbzXvbSPXmXQFdQ32serJCOP7U6GOMRO43ky6PkW8v_8cjhuSMqxO0T-cHTAZt5A0W1dfsoU88XwOIM7GxI/s400/images-4.jpeg)
We know we should expect it to be more like this...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NxCPkfvR6PYGWNyTo6ebGTY0hcFtOZmiFvLoN-E88StKk3sWkrgk3RgUZWfTTd7Zfg0J1qBphOEOEQzIncfh854IglhKVlM6L6Sg5S7sDg2BG-KcSHpm1buD8D6Y-PQAw7ok8MBTtoI/s400/images-5.jpeg)
BUT...
What do you do when you encounter this?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGOu5xrIH_K3eby0YLkiyfs-PomHHzlvtOgN8M58VkGLYQxbM1muTbWmmehoHwUB-h-65n_oLjZrVSQAGvf0hrp492RSJE9oFkrLYYPumGJbORuo8L0r0ChhWLb9Dl4Tfz98K8OnSMV4g/s400/images-6.jpeg)
Take a this...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPYdk4WMrP-e-OmTkkEMRthwaSVprknoXXWDWQ6G1BAS1zT7DfVzrgCFOsmyJs33CYlMJdAXV2wn9nEQp6O9Cb-Gp_lsXiDLyz0j0fBe_8B0eNygOTKcFxAUS2SmrB2g6qXFCyNHfIj0/s400/images-9.jpeg)
and do this...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRotNq4yr0eN77vmhqJ-p0aFMxBUcv6Tj6fF1fBq_BsGgusJ27QXW_snFWohavstRTwLGG1b7pwlitzqan8QEn-hSgJIZ4br43Rb6BEcLSPS2F9aqJHWODtZ56jDgB49v6IB6SRS7FIUs/s400/DownloadedFile.jpeg)
That this...
might not be telling you you've hit this...
Maybe it's telling you your plot is doing this...
So remember do do this...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfXmO2SCMrRiqVBGr_T5jHPtpF1QPcx8OaX-mcS8w9GXZamaQy-UpL5BkvTaRx-Zyk3W7FUUT4wd3O9ohb0PcQd3PwM495dPo7SGBx2eDmvuuCsL8EbfkMmqFlrOD1lXindUtDFvuh5c/s400/images-11.jpeg)
the next time you run into this...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGOu5xrIH_K3eby0YLkiyfs-PomHHzlvtOgN8M58VkGLYQxbM1muTbWmmehoHwUB-h-65n_oLjZrVSQAGvf0hrp492RSJE9oFkrLYYPumGJbORuo8L0r0ChhWLb9Dl4Tfz98K8OnSMV4g/s400/images-6.jpeg)
You might find it's hiding this...
But of course, it could be hiding this.
Elspeth - No doubt about it! Sometimes when you hit a snag like that, it really is the universe telling you to make a change in plot, characters or something! You just have to take a little time to step back and re-think things. That's why I think the best authors have open minds about the way their stories will go.
ReplyDeleteSometimes these hiccups mean I take different directions that make the book better or stronger!~ I think the worst thing we can do as writers is to ignore the signs that something's wrong..because if it seems off to us, it definitely will to our readers!
ReplyDeleteMargot; You're absolutely right, the best authors have to keep an open mind. I try to think of my outline as more of a guideline than a hard and fast rule.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth; You've made such a good point - we all need pay attention to our instincts, even if they're telling us something we'd rather not hear.
You create such hope and humor in these little delights. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteElisa; Your comment made my day. Thank YOU.
ReplyDeleteElspeth, Elisa may have brightened up your day, but your post did the same for me. Thank you :-)
ReplyDelete