It’s NaNoWriMo prep time. This year I’m using Randy Ingermanson’s Snowflake Method to (try to) put together a cohesive plot before I start. This is the hard part of the process, and ironically, it looks like I’m not working. It looks like daydreaming and doodling in my notebook, and maybe I’ll turn a page and take some notes, but it sure doesn’t look like work.
Currently, I have a decent list of scenes. Progress was going pretty well until I hit the middle of the story. Of course, that’s where I’m stalled. I know the beginning and the basic end, but getting there from here is the hard part. Part of me wants to run with it that way it is. Another part says, “Yeah? How’s that been working for you?”
It hasn’t. That’s why I’m Snowflaking. (That’s only a verb to writers.)
I keep thinking that I should have this figured out by now. I have three finished novels and probably close to a dozen in various stages of finished. Figuring out how to crack the middle could net me close to a dozen more finished novels. Here’s the rub: Nobody likes a cranky Wendy, so I have to write. The only way to crack the middle is to keep hitting it. I just need to find the right tools.
As Grandpa used to say, don’t force it. Get a bigger hammer.
wendyblanton.wordpress.com 
This is my first year entering NaNoWriMo…bit nervous, but excited! Just the kick in the butt I need to get my novel moving. Best of luck to you!
Kat
I’m trying to get enough viable scenes listed to get me through the month (but more importantly, the story), too.
Kat, my user name on the NaNo site is lostmymind. Look me up and best of luck with your maiden voyage!
Jean, I’m shooting for 80 scenes (finished draft as opposed to 50k words), so I’m plugging what I know into the Snowflake scene index and hoping I can fill in all the blanks in the next week. It could be interesting…