Don't you hate it when you're right?

So last week I was sitting outside the van, in glorious sunshine, saying before you know it I'll be back in the study watching the rain run down the window, and guess what...... I was right.

Now I like to be right and wherever possible check my facts before running my mouth (most of the time). But yea, less rain would be good.

Both office assistants don't seem concerned and are snoring away happily while I work.

So talking of work, I'm a pantser, always have been, always will be. I've tried outlining, but what I get is boring writing as I'm trying to get my characters to stick to the preordained story-lines. What I have learnt over the course of this latest little story, is that I need to keep notes. Well a spreadsheet, broken down into drafts and chapters and scribbles. They are not pretty but they are helping to keep a rather complicated plot on track (most of the time).

Of course having decided that book two starts a little slow, I've moved a few bits around and am currently trying my hardest to pull it all together to build up the tension. At one point yesterday I nearly gave up, it wasn't making sense, it was too hard. I thought about going back to the original set-up, but I couldn't, it wouldn't be fair to my future readers to sell them short just because the job I was doing was hard.

So I took the junior assistant for a walk across the field, and the senior one just round the block and left my characters to it. When I got back they'd come up with a few ideas and this morning it's all falling into place. We all celebrated with a cup of tea.

So I suppose what I'm getting around to saying is, it's hard, lots of things are. But learning to take a break, take time to think about things is the way to go (oh trust me it's taken me a long time to learn that particular lesson, and not just with the writing). 

It's time to wake the senior office assistant to go to his monthly hydro session (a spanner who hates water - I swear he's broken) and then to have his monthly injection for his arthritis (he loves the vet, even though she sticks needles in him). I shall be taking the time to run a few possible scenarios through my head and hopefully it will all make sense when I sit back down.