Distractions

Late last night, I had an idea for a plot.

I scribbled it down, hoping that would be enough to quiet my brain so I could move on and sleep.

My brain had other ideas.

I lay awake half the night thinking about how it would play out. How it would fit into my existing series plan. Whether it made more sense as Book Three or Book Four. And if I moved it to Book Three, which I’m increasingly inclined to do, it means revisiting the outline for the current Book Three. Because Ellanore, my sleuth, would be in a very different place emotionally and professionally at the start of that book. And that changes things.

Quite a few things. Argh.

So this morning, before dawn, I gave up on sleep and started outlining the new Book Three.

I really like this plot. I like the characters it centers. I especially like the arc it gives one of my less-used supporting characters.

It also allows one relationship to stay on a gentle slow burn, which feels right.

And it gives me delicious room to deepen the “can’t happen right now” relationship for Ellanore.

I’m hoping that now that the idea is properly on paper, my brain will let me return to drafting Book Two without trying to drag me into the future.

At the moment, however, the sun is up, I’ve made exactly zero progress on today’s manuscript word count, and the cat is demanding breakfast with increasing authority.

So I will attend to the Commander in Cat, pour another cup of coffee, and see where the day leads.

If I’m lucky, it leads back to Chapter Twelve.