At the start?

 I'm in a scary place at the moment - hovering on the edge of starting a new manuscript!!! 

The idea that has been bugging me since Xmas is still bugging me, and now I've signed on for a workshop in March that requires a new piece of work for a critique session - so it looks as if I am doing this. I have notes. I have research - lots of stuff on Dark Academia, which is where the thing seems to be taking itself.  More of that in future posts. I've back burnered the projects I was struggling with for the moment and I'm gathering myself for the cliff. 

If you are writing fiction there is always a series of simple questions to be answered at the start of the project – even if the author is not consciously following a framework.

Who? What? When? Where? How? 

Who – the protagonist, the villain, the key supporting characters,

What – overall premise – murder mystery, jewel heist, treasure hunt.

When – historical, contemporary, futuristic

Where – the setting – cosy village, desert island, outer space.

How – that’s your plot - and the point where it all starts to get way more complicated ...

I'm assembling those elements. I don't have all my cast yet. I have hero and heroine, but not the supporting players - or not all of them. I know roughly where the thing is going. It's contemporary, but over an extended time line. It will be set primarily in Wales - yes, I am coming home. 

And the plot? Like I said, it's complicated. 

I'll keep you posted. 

(Apologies for the absence of a post last week. My computer, a venerable old lady, who is showing her age a bit, had a hissy fit and would not let me near half the display and controls. I've sorted it out now for the moment, but something will probably have to be done long term.) 

Because of the hissy fit I did not get to wish you a happy St Dwynwen's Day on Sunday. So I am saying it now. 

Diwrnod Santes Dwynwen Happus.