Kristin Wolden Nitz

Mowing the Lawn II

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by

Kristin Wolden Nitz
in

Today as I was mowing the lawn, I thought of a way to bring all of plot lines together for the darkest moment.  And I figured out when to have my character come to a truly horrible realization.  There’s a reason I don’t have my kids mow and why I shovel by hand instead of investing in a snowblower.   There’s something about mindless , intense physical labor. 

So what, you might ask, is “the darkest moment.”  This is something from what my Peachtree editor calls the step outline. I’m not sure how much she adapted and how much she created. 

Step Outline. 

Act I:

Set-up
Turning point/story takes new direction/challenge revealed. 

Act II:

Problem Intensifies
Temporary Triumph
Reversal
Darkest Moment
Decision Time

 Act III

Final Obstacle
Climax
Resolution

Comments

4 responses to “Mowing the Lawn II”

  1. Chapter 19…Done! « Nitz Bits

    […] If past experience is any guide, these could go more quickly.  This might seem a bit odd, but I’m never 100% sure how a draft is going to end until I get there.  So the eager reader in me starts pressuring the writer once things start to go bad at the character’s darkest moment. […]

    Reply
  2. Chapter 21. Not done, but I’m moving forward. « Nitz Bits

    […] that I’m using for the world-building.  The “temporary triumph” is over.  The “darkest moment” has begun and will stretch all the way through Chapter 22.  I actually have quite a bit of it […]

    Reply
  3. Chapter 23…Done! « Nitz Bits

    […] in and Calyn will have to make a decision.  Handily enough, that’s the next section of the step outline.  I’m currently on page 210 out of 237, but I know that it will take at least twenty pages […]

    Reply
  4. That Which Does Not Kill Us… « Nitz Bits

    […] now I’m in the process of editing Calyn’s darkest moment.  As I work through it, I’m keeping in mind a couple of experiences that I had.  The first […]

    Reply

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