Faustus; Lost in the Electronic Woods

This morning's writing time was spent creating an outline for the remainder of part two of the book, "Faustus; Lost in the Electronic Woods". Allow me to explain this a bit further.

As a novelist, I never outline the work before starting. I always know how a book will begin, and I always know (for the most part anyway) how a book will end. And while I have a strong inclination as to how the middle will play out, it's always those little steps that tend to elude me. Once I'm amid these middle steps, unsure of my daily direction, I create an outline to help "flesh out" the sections (or sometimes the entire novel). As an example, for those of you who read "Juggler", I created an outline around chapter four. That's how the Magician was born! Yes, he was NOT actually in the original concept of the novel. So as you can see, the outline was a powerful force in the book.

If I sound a bit defensive about the outline process, it's only because I don't want to give the impression that this book is in trouble. I'm just connecting the dots. I now know what's going to take place in every chapter and sub-chapter to the end of part two. The conclusion of part two is extremely climactic and leads us into the darker half of the novel. A very powerful seque.

Tomorrow begins Chapter Five, "Initiation".

I have some personal thoughts to add today as well. The last few months of my life have been a powerful cartharsis for me. I've taken a long, hard look at my life in the hopes of better understanding myself. It has become exceptionally important to me that I become the best man I can. My whole life is based around this, it would seem. Yesterday I came to full realization that I had been less than that in my past, and it caught up with me. It was a trial, torn between the guilt of letting someone down and the fear of doing what was necessary to make it right. A very painful experience. I now know the difference between being a selfish boy and a good man. The man realizes that he has done wrong, admits to his mistakes and takes the steps to both remedy the situation (if possible) and to learn how to avoid the same situation in the future. It sounds simple but it's not. And it's through that pain in which wisdom is gained. While it sucked, I wouldn't trade yesterday for anything in the world.

Also, I've been reading one of the first Matthew Scudder novels, a detective series by Lawrence Block (who I credit with giving me the understanding and motivation to write my first novel, with his inspirational how-to books on the craft of fiction). I've read plenty of his later Scudder books and have always enjoyed them. This older one though, had a much more severe edge to it. Harsh language and rough characters cover nearly every page. His later Scudder books are somehow less intense and yet much more enjoyable. I've been thinking about that a lot lately, when I compare the book I'm writing now to "Juggler". That book was angry and visciously-paced. The new book is almost leisurely in its approach. And while it still has my sense of vision, violence and sex, it also has a little something else. Kind of like the later Scudder books, not quite as crude but MUCH more enjoyable, both to write, and I hope, read.

Well, until tomorrow Precious Reader.