Authors Electric

 I've reached that tricky point in the middle of my current book where all the setup is done but it's too early to start writing the conclusion. I want to keep the pacing and further develop the characters whilst pushing the story towards the conclusion, but this is probably my most ambitious book yet in terms of characters and the different strands of storyline I'm trying to weave together. To try and avoid too much overwriting (and keep the various threads straight) I've been experimenting with plotting over the past few weeks.   I've always been a pantser when writing - previous attempts at plotting have resulted in wooden plots and stilted dialogue which I've only been able to resolve by abandoning the detailed plot (which always seemed fine until written) and letting the characters do their thing. I figure, if I don't know exactly how things are going to turn out, then neither will the reader, and they'll (hopefully) remain engaged with the book...

  I'd have had a different headline--one loved by my friend Stupid--if I'd placed a comma after the word 'friend'. But Savvy, my other friend, came to the rescue. The two are seldom far apart. Savvy has his moments and has served me well through the years.  A few of Savvy's strengths and achievements: --A small rainbow of belts in martial arts, Hapkido and Aikido, before my back retired me, gave me physical confidence and serve as a motherlode for fight scenes in my books. --Street smarts acquired through life in a half-dozen big cities and retail acquaintance with scoundrels and thieves of all sorts. --Copywriting and journalistic experience --Stoker Award for best first novel. --Moving experience gained from a half-dozen cross-country moves. --Writing, proofreading, and editing experience gained from a dozen published novels and an advertising background --From my classical studies, a passion for complex structure, brevity, and word play. --From my close study of ...