Doldrums

Having re-read for the umpteenth time and then put aside Longest Shadows Reach, my most recent work in progress, I returned to its predecessor Step So Grave, with the intention of applying what I learnt on the Self Edit course.

All fine and dandy for a few days.  One conversation that I felt lacked veracity was dealt with by seeing the need to bring in more jeopardy, thinking about what might have sparked animosity and writing its back story (which will be used in a forth-coming challenge).  Conversation re-written, all ramifications attended to.  Good.

There were other areas that needed more tension - those I'd found myself skipping over when it came to re-re-reading.  They weren't exactly boring but didn't necessarily earn their keep.  I thought a bit more conflict between Baz and Madigan would help. Thought I'd excise one of the not-boring-but bits and use the plot line from that to set  up a potential betrayal.

I wrote a conversation which gave good reasons for suspicion.

And then I came to a stop.   Because logistically it didn't work.  So I moved it.  And tried to shoe-horn it in elsewhere.   But found myself sitting at my laptop moving words about without them having already sounded in my head.  And digging myself deeper in the mire. So I stopped.

It will pass I tell myself.  It has done before.  Write a story instead - plenty prompts to write to.
But so far they've all been non-starters too.