Monday, October 19, 2009

Presents Contest


I plotted out my book for the Presents Contest following the three-act structure. Prepared a log line for the opening of the synopsis. Wrote the first couple of scenes in the first chapter.

I don't like it. It doesn't excite me or interest me.

What happened?

I've spent an hour this morning reading it and pondering it. I finally figured out that the story is about everything else but the couple. I've got sisters, fathers, uncles, cousins and stepbrothers roaming around. I've got great GMC for each of them that involves their family, instead of each other. I have stolen pictures and a letter, an eating disorder, theft, deceit, a missing mother and a long lost sister that no one knew about.

What I don't have is a great romance.

Now, I have to decide whether I want to revamp the idea or scratch it and go with something else. Seriously, if I didn't over-think and over-analyze I might get something done.

6 comments:

Unknown said...

It's funny that you say how you got everything all plotted out and gave up on it. I had something similar happen. I realized that the story wasn't actually a Presents/Modern Heat story so I bailed and went back to something I started the last time they announced a contest.

Now, I have the first chapter more or less written, but haven't gotten very far with my synopsis. And I realized this morning that time's a tickin'

Got my fingers crossed for you!

Kelly Boyce said...

I can't believe 'killing someone' or 'blowing something up' didn't make the list!

Unknown said...

Cat, good luck with your entry. I'm looking over some things from my idea file. Maybe something else will catch my attention.

Unknown said...

Kelly, I know I should be writing RS - I always have to stifle the urge to have my heroine stumble over a body. And I always suggest to my CP's that they should kill at least one of their characters.

Annette Gallant said...

It definitely sounds like a ST story, not category. Maybe you should run with that or stick it in your idea file for later.

Sometimes a story just is what it is and we can't mold it into something else. LOL Not that I know anything about that, right?

Unknown said...

Annette, so far I've gotten rid of the father and the stupid step-brother. I think I'm going to keep the sister, though.

I'm considering just starting with a simpler premise. One central external conflict to build the story around. Because the internal conflict is really the heart of the story.