I’m still reading the third and final resource Sam recommended: Screenwriting 101 by Crit Hulk, and I am about half way through, but the novel re-plot is finished (pending cool ideas I might get from Crit Hulk) and I’ve begun the rewrite. One of the parts I have been particularly enjoying is trying to bump up the atmosphere of occult mystery in the first few scenes. Loving the revision!
Shawn Coyne’s Story Grid–another great resource
A second resource Sam Morgan suggested was Shawn Coyne’s Story Grid. Just finished it and found it excellent in my novel re-plot. It helped me to see so many little tweaks that I know are going to make the novel awesome!!
Dan Harmon’s story wheel is excellent
Sam Morgan alerted me to 3 resources, and Dan Harmon’s story wheel is excellent. It is the 3-act structure described with highly illuminating metaphors and examples. I used it as the basis for a class on plotting as part of my “First Three Chapters” course for the Alexandra centre, and the students got a lot out of it–so did I, in re-plotting my novel.
Revised a short story
Got great crit from fellow IFWITs at the Poor Man’s Workshop and was able to digest it and revise my story. Still needs another pass, but tons of great ideas!
Agent
Interesting conversation with Sam Morgan of Jabberwocky agency on Monday. He hasn’t picked up my manuscript, but he hasn’t rejected it, either. In fact, he likes the writing and concept, and is okay with the gender-swap! But he found a gigantic plot hole, which had escaped me and all my beta readers–but he had a solution. It would involve a fairly major rewrite, but he is willing to take a look at a revision. Super-cool!