My Journey as an Author - 21

I am taking some brief time to write a few more pieces for Medium. They are autobiographical in nature, covering some of my experiences and anecdotes while traveling. I think I can be accused of a bit of cynicism, but that is only in comparison to the polished presentation of travel influencers and the digital nomad lifestyle. Travel is very rewarding, and expands the mind, but is not how they depict. It is a learning process, where you see and do things which give insight into the world. Your brain comes away with more concepts and ideas it can work with when it perceives its surroundings.

I think a lot of others use it to feel good about themselves. They invoke feelings of envy in others, and make it about attainment. They want you to try and be like them because they live so well. And that is not the truth of the matter.

Working on Hat Trick, I have again come into a delay. I am unhappy with a few sections that just seem slow. It is a slump that needs some overhaul. I don't know if it is just a pacing issue that can be fixed with some cuts, or if the logic of the story needs a fix. I handed it over to a few trusted readers, and they are of mixed opinions. They recognize the area of the text has issues, but can't put their finger on what the problem actually is.

In writing, this is not too uncommon. We can perceive faults long before we discover solutions. Most of the time, I advise simply moving past the issue and working to the completion of the book. You can come back later. But in this case, now is later, as we have entered the editing phase.

What I don't want, which will likely be the solution, is additions. Sometimes, instead of editing down, you have to edit up. It is slow, but only because it lacks what it is meant to achieve. I am already facing a ballooned word count, but I am trying to hit a target of quality that fits that range.

Now, for some more outlining. This was a first pass at one of my ideas for NaNoWriMo. It won't spoil much, so feel free to look at what one of my basic outlines is like. From here, I expand into beats.

I. Introduction:

- Introduce the setting: the bustling city of Borden, where the story takes place.

- Introduce the protagonist, Bren, a resourceful 17-year-old boy.

- Introduce the ghost, Oliver, who notices the disappearance of his ghost friends.

II. Oliver seeks help:

- Oliver approaches Bren, explaining the situation and asking for assistance.

- Bren is initially hesitant but agrees to help Oliver due to a favor owed.

III. Exploring the crypt:

- Bren and Oliver venture into an ancient crypt to release Oliver's skeleton.

- They encounter traps, decipher cryptic clues, and navigate the labyrinthine passages.

IV. Reunion with the skeleton:

- Bren and Oliver successfully open the sarcophagus, reuniting Oliver's ghostly form with his skeleton. Although the same person, their personalities are different.

- Oliver gains the ability to interact with the physical world once more when possessing the skeleton, but the skeleton doesn't like it, which leads to an echo of the theme of consent.

V. Mysterious captor:

- Bren and Oliver witness a man capturing ghosts on the streets.

- Before they can react, Oliver is also ensnared, leaving Bren and the skeleton alone.

VI. Seeking the skeleton's reincarnation:

- The skeleton reveals that his reincarnation possesses the ability to communicate with spirits.

- Bren and the skeleton embark on a quest to find the reincarnation and seek her help.

VII. Recruiting the reincarnation:

- Bren and the skeleton locate the reincarnation, a young woman named Lily.

- With Bren's assistance, the skeleton convinces Lily to join their cause.

VIII. Uncovering the corporation's plot:

- Bren, the skeleton, and Lily delve deeper into the mystery.

- They uncover a plot by a powerful corporation to capture and harness the energy of ghosts to power the city.

IX. Forming a spectral alliance:

- Along their journey, Bren, the skeleton, and Lily encounter other captured ghosts who join their cause.

- They form an alliance with these spectral allies to combat the corporation.

X. Confronting the corporation:

- Bren, the skeleton, Lily, and the spectral allies plan a daring rescue mission to save Oliver.

- They infiltrate the corporation's facility, facing challenges and overcoming obstacles.

XI. Exposing the truth and saving Borden:

- Bren and his allies uncover the corporation's true intentions, endangering the balance between the living and the spirit world.

- They work together to free Oliver and put an end to the corporation's evil scheme.

XII. Conclusion:

- Bren, Oliver, Lily, and their spectral allies emerge victorious, having saved Borden from the corporation's grasp.

- The characters reflect on their journey, the lessons they've learned, and the bonds they've formed.