I’ve been working on a novel on and off for about a year now. I started it last summer, used NaNoWriMo in November to push me to the quarter mark, and have barely touched the thing since. Okay, so we moved in January, encountered a serious marriage crisis at the same time, and in May I left my husband to return to him in June. Since then, I’ve jump-started my writing in lots of ways, including getting involved here on Blogit. I’ve been feeling really productive. I’ve even written poetry, for god’s sake, which is a first.
Except for my novel. In the past, I’d written tons of short stories, some of which I’ve decided to showcase on Rainy Day Reader (the good, the bad, and the ugly!), but this is my first novel. It’s the first one I’ve begun where I see the beginning and the end very clearly, the first one that I promised myself I would finish before going on to something new. I don’t expect to publish it. I probably won’t even try. It’s an exercise to simply get through it and get down the mechanics.
My major stumbling block is plotting out the middle. I never thought I’d do this, but I ended up buying some software that helps with the plotting. In fact, I bought two programs, which help in different ways, and I’m finally breaking through the barrier. The plot is becoming more refined, and I’m finally coming up with enough varied conflict to propel me through that sagging middle.
I’m wondering, how many of you out there have “stooped” to using writer’s software to push yourself through your works in progress? As a first-time novelist, I’m finding my programs to be invaluable tools for me, and I’m glad I spent the money. Whatever works, right? What’s your opinion?
