In need of a structured plan

Today I've been looking over that albatross of a novel that I wrote about half of, ten years ago, and I got that old familiar rush of adrenalin and firing neurons. It felt so good that I am seriously considering working on this piece again. It's been ten years, but there are still some things about it that I really like, and I haven't been able to just delete the file and be done with it. So I think I'll give it another go. Who knows, it might be good for me to have a long term project, something that's always there for me to think about and build on, rather than always coming up with something new.

I've forgotten where I was going with the story, but there nothing that says I have follow that old plan. I can make a new one. I'm the writer, and it's my prerogative to make it into whatever I wish. One thing I've learned by reading other writers blog posts is that they are constantly rewriting their work, ripping out parts, rearranging paragraphs, changing the perspective, often coming up with something entirely different that what they started with.

First, I need to come up with an outline, a structured plan that I can follow. I was just winging it when I started writing the novel, and I see now that it's no wonder I got stuck in the middle of writing it. I didn't know what I was getting into. I got swamped by the complexities of trying to bring all the different threads together and move them towards a conclusion that at the time, I wasn't even sure of. I developing characters without knowing if their presence would continue through out the story, and I barely touched on others that ended up playing more important roles.

The more I learn about writing, the more I realize just what sort of effort must go into writing a novel, and I am totally in awe of those who take on the task and complete it. For me it's both exciting and daunting, and so to give myself an extra little push, I've posted the stories prologue on my 'Out of My Head' blog. ... My thinking is that if I make such a public announcement about what I intend, I've no other choice but to follow through on my words. (Grin)

Right now the story's working title is 'The Bonding' and you can find the link to it's prologue on the right under the heading, 'My Stories'.