PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING MARCH 30, 2019

Okay...
It took me a couple of days thinking, but I believe I have a NEW plot to base a SHERLOCK HOLMES tale on!

Now usually, I like to keep my plots fairly open so that if a new idea occurs to me while I'm writing, that there is the possibility of using it in the current project.
However, I have found from past experience working on HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE that when it comes to mystery stories, you need to have an even more detailed plot than you would on any other type of adventure because you need to have all your clues, suspects, motives, alibis, etc; organized for the reader to solve the case with the detective(s).

A plot's plotting

This seems to be especially true with Sherlock Holmes.
Maybe it's from working with such a prestigious character.
Maybe it's just because, since I'm writing such a well known character, that I feel that every word of every sentence has to be as perfect as humanly possible.
After all, regardless of the job and the task, who wants to willingly commit a mistake and make an @$$ out of themselves?

Readers, writers, other creative people. We're all human.
Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle himself "killed off" Sherlock Holmes once because he found the challenge of writing the Victorian era consulting detective difficult.

In any event, I do have a new plot now, so back to writing!
See you around the Internet.
Lee Houston, Junior
31 March, 2019

PROGRESS REPORT: WEEK ENDING JUNE 21, 2014

Well folks. I have finished Chapter 10 and moved on to Chapter 11 of ALPHA, BOOK 2: WAYWARD SON.

Overall manuscript is at about 32,000 words, and while I'm about half way through my plot, I cannot tell you for sure how many chapters there will be when the novel is finished.
This is because when I plot, what I do is write down the main events within a project I want to cover. Like "Event A" begets "Event B", which leads to "Event C", causing "Event D" to occur, resulting in "Event F", etc.

Although I prefer to be more detailed in some instances, like when working out HUGH MONN, PRIVATE DETECTIVE mysteries; as I've said before, I like my plots to be flexible so I can be open to other ideas if they occur while I'm writing.

We've all had instances in life where something didn't go how we wanted and alternate solutions were needed.

Same with writing.
After all, they don't call it "Plan B" for nothing.

Meanwhile, my friendly beta/proofreader Nancy Hansen's busy schedule has cleared to the point where she can finally go over Book 2/Chapters 7, 8, and 9.

I plan to reread Chapter 10 before letting her look at it.
Of course it just dawned on me that I've never discussed the merits of having a beta/proofreader, but that's something that will have to wait for a future post.

Have a great week and I'll see you around the Internet.
Lee Houston, Junior
22 June, 2014