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This week we discuss two new tools I found. Natalie Sea proposes use of The Story Circle and a 4 Act Structure using a modified list of story beats based on Save the Cat. See how these come together nicely in helping us plot out compelling stories.

This week we discuss going in a whole new direction. Stepping away from the Trilogy in order to focus on a Standalone - though one with strong ties back to the Big Idea.

This week we discuss my continued work on Act I of my WIP. But then things take a strange turn as I wrestle with my progress, and the idea of writing a separate book first.

This week we discuss a live master class I attended and the existential crisis it created for me regarding my Big Idea.

This week we discuss Story Grid Resources, the Harry Potter Masterwork Analysis Guide, and recent progress on my WIP.

This week we discuss editing existing content vs. creating new content. I identify some problems along the way. And we discuss some new resources I found since our last time together.

This week I talk about my writing style, where it came from, and how I use the HemingwayApp in order to keep myself in check. We also talk through the first Sequence, and discuss a World Building snag I ran into.

This week I make it official. I start writing again. Not planning, not plotting, not outlining - just straight up writing. Yes, there will be ongoing research, and outlining in order to ensure the story heads in the right direction. But this week I wrote my first scene - and I can't tell you how good it feels to be back at it.

This week we stop short - to explore a new concept that is challenging my original plotting style. The idea that it is better to develop an Internal Storyline first - then add the External Storyline ONLY to ensure that the internal change happens correctly in your Protagonist. It's a different way of looking at things - but it also sounds right to me.

This week we move into world building - something I completely forgot about until I realized my story takes place 100 years in the future. So yes - world building is going to be a prerequisite...

This week we continue to plan - or plot - whatever works for you. We discuss how planning can make a mess and that you can get lost in the process. But with every mess comes new possibilities - new opportunities for growth and progress toward your goal.

This week we look at the Big Idea itself. We start high level with Genre and Story Structure - then discuss a few categories the story falls into - and eventually we talk turkey - on what the story looks like.

This week we look a bit closer at some of the novel plotting methodologies. Then I discuss the strategy I've chosen - and round things out by talking through the spreadsheet I'm going to use to plan out the entire trilogy.

This week we look at two high level writing styles. I bet you can't tell which camp I'm in. Yes - I'm a plotter - and in this episode I discuss the rationale behind my plan for book outlining.

This week we look at the writing process. How many people successfully write a novel? And how much harder would it be to write a trilogy? We wrap things up by talking about math - and the Math of Storytelling.