getting back on track

weavergirl!

I would suggest you put your outline aside and just start writing, because it's the actual writing that will help you determine what a character's next step is. You can use any situation you want to move your story forward as long as it's something that belongs there.

Okay, put the outline aside and just start writing.

weavergirl said:

So, while I'm perfectly willing to suspend my reality beliefs for the sake of an entertaining story, is the average reader willing to do the same?

Can I use a possible, but not plausible situation to get back on track?

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Gonna echo Susan here. You have the bones planned out in your outline. Now, let it sit in the back of your mind and write. When you're knee deep in it, the correct path will suggest itself. You write it. Don't worry about plausible or entertaining.

Let your betas help you suss that out. For the moment, write.

If I were to suggest what to do, I would change or create a character and make them not sane, or someone who would get put into those types of situations. Instead of making a normal character ... go out of character.

weavergirl said:

As I'm pulling together the elements of my story, I find I've reached a point where I'm having trouble getting my MCs from point A to Point B. I have several possible paths in my outline, none of which I think any sane person would actually take.
So, while I'm perfectly willing to suspend my reality beliefs for the sake of an entertaining story, is the average reader willing to do the same?
Can I use a possible, but not plausible situation to get back on track?

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Look at what's motivating your characters. If you give them strong enough motivations, even the insane will look reasonable, considering the alternative. So what's the alternative?

I'm starting to see something within these threads that has taught me something big. Nike's motto is 'Just Do It'. My new writing motto is 'Just Write'. It can all be fixed and changed in rewrites, but until I have something on the page, it's just thoughts and ideas.

The words I've written are my clay. Without any clay I have nothing to form into a masterpiece.

So, even if what I write is crap...I still need those words on paper so I can fix them and make them shine.

As for getting from point A to point B...sometimes characters have to do insane things. Makes them larger than life. It's not a bad thing. And besides...whats the worst that can happen if you start writing something and it doesn't work? Just write it again with the character making a different choice.

As a storyteller, you take us on a journey that can be predictable, routine, boring ... or unexpected, uncommon, intriguing. And as they travel, for whatever reason, on the different path, the characters encounter opportunities, interactions and insights that cause them to grow, evolve, change. Those of us invited along are thereby enchanted and, ultimately, entertained.

weavergirl said:

Yes, but I wanted to be perfect the first time through. LOL!

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Well, you have two options:

1 - Write an imperfect first draft, which will give you the raw material from which to craft a better second draft, which might lead to a nearly-perfect final draft, which may then be shared with the world.

2 - Sit there with your unblemished page, considering every word a potential mistake which would forever tarnish the perfection of the unrealized story in your head.

Your choice...

(In other words, take a stab at that possible-not-plausible action and just see where it leads you... If all else fails, well, that's why they make Delete keys.)