Hello all – I have been having weirdly vivid dreams as of late (taking silver out of someone’s veins while they’re still conscious… anyone have the number to Dr. Freud?) and headaches in the morning. The headaches I can understand as being caffeine withdrawal and that can be easily fixed. The dreams? Nope, not going to try to venture into that beyond the work stresses bleeding over into my subconscious. I’m hoping to be able to remember more of them over the coming nights – you’ll never know when you’re going to get a good idea? Speaking of headaches… time for my caffeine fix of the hour.

The outline for Tyro is coming along and I am going to try something new in how I am approaching the tale. This blog has a very good article about the 5 act structure. Anyone interested in story telling (novelist, playwright, screenwriter, the time you were *this* close to sleeping with that famous person, and other types of fiction) should take a look at it. For those of you whose Internet time is at a premium, let me sum up (courtesy of filmcritichulk.wordpress.com [note: all caps is his idea, not mine])

• ACT ONE – INTRO + STATE OF PRE-EXISTING CONFLICT
  
• ACT TWO – THE CONCEIT AND PUTTING AT ODDS WITH PRE-EXISTING CONFLICT
  
• ACT THREE – THE TURNING POINT
  
• ACT FOUR – THE SPIRAL/ESCALATION OF CONFLICT
  
• ACT FIVE- = CLIMAX/CONCLUSION/RESOLUTION
  

You may be asking yourself what’s the big difference between the five act and the traditional three act structure? Simple: The five act structure allows for more detail in the story telling. Again – I also want to say this: act structures are not to be slavishly adhered to like the directions on a medicine bottle. In the end, it is what works best for you in telling your story. I like the 5 act because it gives me a clear idea as to the path the story takes. Now, notice that I didn’t say that each act had to be a certain number of chapters. If your first act is a sentence, then so be it. The ultimate idea here is that the 3-act, two-plot-point structure is somewhat limiting. In writing the outline for Tyro’s first novel, I am using the five act structure and it’s helping me get everything lined up. Whatever works, baby.

I am happy that today is Wednesday – the last couple of days at work have been treacherous to say the least. I think this weekend, I am going to do a little house-straightening (no – not arson. Arson is for house cleaning, straightening is much different in that it involves work) and throw myself into the outline and try to have it done by Sunday evening. No Xbox, no movies – might even forgo the Saturday Spam lunch for something in a bag that can be carried home and dinner will be thoughtfully provided by Papa Johns. I am certain that if I put my back into it, I can finish the outline in a couple of days and the novel in maybe two months if I write every day. Try to get back to the idea of treating this like the career I want it to be and not a side-gig.

Speaking of which…

Sincerely,

Seething Apathy