It’s amazing how accomplishing just a little bit more than you originally anticipated can make you feel pretty darned good. That sums me up quite nicely today.
I’m working on the third section of Act Two, between the midpoint and the page 75 twist. I have a target amount of about 18 scenes, with 13 or so being the current tally. What’s great about this is not only do I remember some of what happened in the previous draft, but without those actual pages in front of me, it’s a lot easier to pick and choose from that and keep what I think still works.
And I can’t explain why, but it’s also getting easier for me to figure out how to raise the stakes in each scene. Almost as if I remember what I had before, but now I’m able to take the underlying question – how can this be harder for my hero? – and really run with it. In all honesty, I’m having a blast. Color me giddy.
It would be great to finish Act Two by the end of the week, but I think I’ll be happy with what I have no matter what the result.
-Still working middays, so still too pooped to watch anything. Expecting to resume the usual routine next week.