The Plot Thickens

And thickens, and thickens....til suddenly it carmelizes and becomes very hard to stir.

Actually the thick gooey plot I'm talking about here is the plot for my novel (bet you thought I was going to come up with some other fabulous and astounding health problem. Well, no.) I know I've said this before, but I still find myself astounded by it from time to time so I'll say it again: I have really wound up with something far, far more complicated and complex than I started with, and it keeps very nearly kicking my ass (at least as far as keeping it all straight).The crazy thing is that just when I think I've got one part of the story worked out/settled/pinned down, I realize that the other parts have gotten away from me and are merrily running around my mental house leaving nothing but havoc in their wake. I spent probably an hour earlier this evening discussing various plot threads (and power players, and motivations for various groups and characters, which led to more tangly plot threads) with my incredibly patient and supportive writer group gals, God bless (or should that be Goddess? Don't answer that.) their magnanimous souls. Given that I think best while talking (shameless extrovert that I am), this was immensely helpful to me, to be able to not only try to explain some of the stuff that's been only in my head (and thereby solidifying it for myself), but to also have some really good feedback as to whether or not certain things were workable (let alone interesting). As complicated as the plot stuff has gotten, I'm actually feeling sorta confident that it just might all work out somehow. I'm definitely getting closer.

I swear, next time I won't try to write something as complicated as "Dune" for my first novel. Sheesh. There have got to be easier ways to start out. But I have only myself (and my wacky writer's prediliction for reversals, drama and misdirection mixed with a healthy desire to be original in my worldbuilding) to blame, I suppose.