There’s a reason why I like partially outlining and then leaving things to chance because when I do, I inevitably strike creative gold.
This week is proving to be no exception. After digging up bones all last week (and adding some rather grotesque imagery courtesy of all those CSI episodes) I happily assumed this week would continue on the same route.
That’s right. I thought my main character was simply going to head into the local diner for some pie and coffee before leaping once more into the fray of researching just why it is bones are showing up on her property.
Not so. Didn’t happen.
Instead, one of my minor characters pitched a fit right in the middle of the diner and got kicked out. My main character slinks off shortly after because the pitched fit involved the bones found on the property. Better to make a quiet exit, she thinks. Better to employ the old ‘discretion is the better part of valor’ tactic before anything else explodes.
So now the main character is walking home when out of nowhere, the minor character sneaks out of the shadows to warn her that maybe the bones have something to do with it, maybe not, but there’s more than what meets the eye with that old house.
Sounds like a typical segue, right?
Ok, I’ll give you that but only up to a point because what this character is talking about is the perfect red herring to throw my readers off the trail. Something I could’ve never planned if I’d rigidly outlined my whole story.
But I’ll know for sure by the end of the week.
