Category: Sharpening the Edge

Sharpening the Edge—Mid-Book Crisis: Wrestling with Chapter 15’s Plot Snarl

SHARPENING THE EDGE - MONDAYS
Welcome to Sharpening the Edge, my Monday focus on real-time novel writing. Here you'll find insights from my current work-in-progress, sharing challenges, breakthroughs, and solutions as they happen. Whether you're in the midst of your novel or planning to start, these posts offer practical experience from the writing desk.

In The Boaz Student, Chapter 15 finds Bret Johnson at a crucial turning point. After challenging the mandatory prayer at a school assembly, he faces escalating isolation. The plot threads have tangled: his former youth group friends’ increasing hostility, a surprising ally in his skeptic philosophy club, and mounting pressure from both faculty and family.

## The Current Snarl

– Bret’s private doubts becoming public stands

– The philosophy club’s growing influence vs. administrative resistance

– Former best friend Marcus’s betrayal of confidence

– Family dinner scene that threatens to expose everything

## Working Through It

1. Mapped core conflict: Authentic self vs. Community acceptance

2. Listed consequences: Social isolation, family tension, academic impact

3. Identified subplot connections: Other questioning students

4. Connected to theme: Cost of intellectual honesty

## Today’s Breakthrough

While outlining possible paths, I realized Bret’s crisis parallels his younger sister’s growing curiosity about his changes. Both must navigate between comfortable acceptance and uncomfortable questions. This parallel strengthens the theme and clarifies the plot direction.

## Next Steps

1. Revise confrontation with Marcus

2. Strengthen sister’s subplot

3. Layer in consequences of assembly protest

4. Build tension toward family Christmas dinner

Sometimes plot snarls reveal deeper story truths. What looked like a structural problem was actually a character development opportunity.

Progress today: 847 words

Cumulative draft: 42,316 words

Use the Contact form to schedule a Zoom meeting to discuss any aspect of your first novel. The first thirty-minute appointment is FREE.

Sharpening the Edge—Writing Through Holiday Distractions: Real Solutions from My Writing Desk

SHARPENING THE EDGE - MONDAYS
Welcome to Sharpening the Edge, my Monday focus on real-time novel writing. Here you'll find insights from my current work-in-progress, sharing challenges, breakthroughs, and solutions as they happen. Whether you're in the midst of your novel or planning to start, these posts offer practical experience from the writing desk.

It’s 6 AM, and I’m stealing time before the holiday chaos begins. My protagonist, Sarah, is about to discover a crucial piece of evidence, but the mental list of gifts to wrap and cookies to bake keeps intruding. Welcome to December writing, fellow novelists. Here’s how I’m keeping my WIP alive during the holiday season.

What’s Working (And What Isn’t)

This morning, I managed 750 words despite three false starts. The trick? I’m writing in shorter bursts with more intense focus. Here’s my current chapter challenge and how I’m handling it:

The Scene: Sarah breaks into her father’s study to find proof of corporate fraud
The Holiday Distraction: Mental shopping lists kept replacing my description of the study
The Solution: I wrote the scene backwards. Started with what she finds, then filled in how she got there.

My Current Writing Schedule

I’ve adjusted my usual writing routine to work with, not against, holiday demands:

  • Early morning: First draft writing (like this morning’s study scene)
  • Lunch break: Quick scene outlining for tomorrow
  • Evening: Light editing while watching holiday movies
  • Weekend: One two-hour block instead of my usual full morning

Real Talk About Progress

Last week’s word count:

  • Monday: 750 words
  • Tuesday: 0 (holiday party)
  • Wednesday: 1,200 words (made up for Tuesday)
  • Thursday: 600 words
  • Friday: 900 words
  • Weekend: 1,500 words total

Not my usual output, but steady progress wins the race.

What’s Actually Working

  1. Scene Cards: I’ve started keeping index cards by my bed. When holiday planning invades my writing time, I jot down the intrusive thoughts and keep writing.
  2. Time Blocking: Instead of my usual three-hour morning session, I’m doing three one-hour blocks throughout the day. More manageable, less guilty when interrupted.
  3. Location Switching: The coffee shop is too festive right now. I’ve moved to the library’s back corner. No holiday music, no peppermint mochas, just focus.

Today’s Breakthrough

This morning’s realization: holiday distractions can actually serve the story. My scattered focus helped me write about Sarah’s anxiety better. Her scattered thoughts mirror my own, making the scene more authentic.

Moving Forward

My plan for this week:

  • Finish the study scene (target: Wednesday)
  • Layer in emotional beats during gift-wrapping
  • Use holiday party small talk to inspire dialogue
  • Draft next week’s scenes during long shopping lines

Remember, fellow writers: imperfect progress is still progress. Your story will be there, growing slowly but surely, through the season.

So excuse me while I get back to Sarah in that study. I’ve got thirty minutes before the real world needs me, and she’s about to find something that will change everything.

Use the Contact form to schedule a Zoom meeting to discuss any aspect of your first novel. The first thirty-minute appointment is FREE.

Sharpening the Edge—Writing Chapter 18: When Characters Take Control

SHARPENING THE EDGE - MONDAYS
Welcome to Sharpening the Edge, my Monday focus on real-time novel writing. Here you'll find insights from my current work-in-progress, sharing challenges, breakthroughs, and solutions as they happen. Whether you're in the midst of your novel or planning to start, these posts offer practical experience from the writing desk.

This morning, working on Chapter 18, my protagonist proved yet again that characters often know their story better than we do.

I had the scene perfectly planned. Sarah would follow protocol, file her report, and wait for official channels. That’s what an experienced detective would do, right?

Wrong.

Instead, my character stopped typing mid-report, grabbed her keys, and headed for her informant’s apartment. No backup. No protocol. Just pure character truth.

## What I Learned Today:

1. Character Authenticity

When a character resists your plot, listen. Sarah wasn’t being difficult—she was being true to herself. Her need for justice has always outweighed her respect for rules.

2. Scene Momentum

The moment Sarah veered from my plan, the scene crackled with energy. Her decision created immediate tension, raised stakes, and opened new story possibilities.

3. Story Truth

Sometimes our carefully plotted scenes don’t serve the deeper story. Today’s “detour” revealed more about Sarah’s character than my original plan ever could.

## Writing Insight:

Trust your characters. They live in the story world you’ve created. They understand its rules, its pressures, its consequences. Sometimes they’ll see paths you haven’t considered.

Today’s Writing Tip:

Next time your character balks at your scene plan:

– Pause your plotting

– Write the scene they want

– Follow their lead

– See what emerges

Remember: The best stories often come from characters who refuse to behave.

“The moment comes when a character does or says something you hadn’t thought about. At that moment he’s alive and you leave it to him.”

– Graham Greene

Let your characters surprise you today.

Tags: SharpeningEdge, NovelWriting, CharacterDevelopment, WritingCraft, AmWriting

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Sharpening the Edge—Layering Character Backstory: Scene 13A Revelations

Current progress:

Deep in phase one edits of Novel 12, today I tackled Scene 13A: Doubts in Action. My goal? Adding crucial layers to Alexis’s backstory that drive her current decisions.

Craft Challenge:

Adding backstory without disrupting the scene momentum presents a common writer’s dilemma. Too much explanation kills pacing; too little leaves readers disconnected. The key lies in weaving past details through present action.

Writing Insight:

This morning’s breakthrough came through action-reaction sequencing. Instead of explaining Alexis’s history, I let her reactions to current events reveal her past. Each choice she makes hints at previous experiences, layering her character while maintaining scene tension.

Try this technique:

1. Identify a character decision

2. Link it to past experience

3. Show the connection through reaction, not explanation

4. Keep the story moving forward

For example, when Alexis questioned Pastor Josh and he gave her the standard “God works in mysterious ways” response, her hesitation revealed more about her history than a full paragraph of explanation could.

Remember: Strong characters aren’t built through exposition—they’re revealed through action.

You’re invited to schedule a consultation to discuss your character development challenges.

Book a 30-minute appointment
Pay for your appointment

Note: If this is your first appointment, you do not have to pay. I offer a FREE—initial consultation.