Meetings with Alida #’s 4&5 were both again at a coffee shop. Our focus was the outline. It was great talking through the story with her, her challenging me and coming at the story from somebody who doesn’t know it, but has heard enough to have some ideas.

The biggest thing we talked about was ending each scene in conflict. Just like a TV show ends on a conflict at the commercial break or the end of the weekly episode, each scene/chapter should end in conflict.

Thinking back through how I’ve planned other stories, I’ve planned the scenes out sequentially, but didn’t plan the conflicts. I would write in the conflict as I wrote the scene. Planning in the conflict will allow me to have more of the story planned/plotted as I start out.

Planning out the conflict is the biggest AHA. The other thing we’ve talked about is set ups and payoffs, dragging them out longer than I normally would.

What’s next? The end of November I put the novel planning on hold as I work through some things in the day job and finish up a novella. December I’ll be finishing up the outline and start to draft a couple of chapters.

Stay tuned for more on my journey with a coach / editor.