Okay.

So yesterday I decided to throw out (read: set aside) what I have been writing this month in favor of another idea I like far better. I have been “stuck” so I figured this was a good thing. Cool new premise.

In order to speed up the laying out of the whole thing, I downloaded a template for Scrivener … a standard four-part “here is how a novel should be laid out” template.

Big mistake.

At this moment I feel like there are 99 gazillion things to make writing legit / proper / correct / good / whatever.  

Setup, response, attack, resolution, stakes, foreshadowing, inciting incident, conflict, plot point, surprise, mid-point, pinch point, lull  before second plot point, surprise #3, antagonistic force … or if you prefer … for a 37,500 word YA novel …

1. Introduction,wherein characters and current situation are introduced: 10% of the total word count (or in this example, 3,750 words);

2. Rising Action, wherein protagonist faces a change of plans: 15% (5,550 words);

3. Progress, wherein protagonist works toward his/her goal and things go well: 25% (9,375 words);

4. Raising the Stakes, wherein things go awry, conflict sets in and all seems lost: 25% (9,375 words);

5. Final Push, wherein protagonist puts it all on the line, faces the climax, and reaches the goal: 20% (7,500 words); and

6. Denouement, wherein you wrap up loose ends and convince the reader that the exercise has been worthwhile: 5% (1,875 words).

… and that doesn’t count an outline for each character … complete with sketch, dossier, weakness, arc … and any other miscellaneous notes that might be need.

Dear. Lord. In. Heaven.

I … who have been writing 2-5K words daily in various places since 11/1/11 … feel like I haven’t got a clue how to write.

It’s gonna be a long weekend.

Author Memes Courtesy of Molly Huran.