I just spent a decidedly non-impulsive amount of time (ironic considering the impulsive nature of my choice to make this post)…sifting through my Downloads folder, looking for that pic. Came across it on Pexels and recalled I had used it, I think on Wattpad, in one of the chapters of Wishful Sinful-– if I’m not mistaken. Anyway, I knew I had stashed it somewhere. Sure, I COULD have just downloaded it again and found it immediately, but where’s the fun in that?!
SO… why am I posting RIDICULOUSLY late/early?
ENTHUSIASM!
I don’t know that I’ll go into TOO many specifics, even if I did, somewhat, in an earlier post, because I would hate to spoil more plot developments from my current work in progress… just in case anyone wants to check it out for themselves, once it’s done.
Fun things are HAPPENING in Mystery Train!
I had a mad, stray thought about something I wanted to do for one of the characters, to bring a little joy back into her life, in the midst of all the crap they’re all presently wading through (figuratively… gross image, I realize).
So that was in the back of my mind.
Meanwhile, I hadn’t added to the story in 5 whole days, not even to look it over or make small edits, because I wasn’t prepared to write the next scene. Not that I always know in advance what’s going to happen. Like the specifics of how tonight’s roughed-out section fell into place; however, one of the details I was stuck on how to explain, suddenly dovetailed with the positive change I wanted to make, and everything just kind of clicked.
Not that it won’t still need some polishing. Not that there isn’t still A LOT more story to sort out.
BUT… progress!!!
And OMG I can’t wait to bring everyone back together again.
This one is giving definite Happily-Ever-After vibes right now.
ALSO HOLY HELL… again, not that I won’t potentially make any cuts… but it’s already over 50,000 words! And I still have a murder mystery and a blackmailing conspiracy to unravel.
I suppose I could tie off the murder aspect, and continue the conspiracy stuff into the next piece… since I have decided to stagger the longer works with short story continuations. There is a potential magical/higher-power-influenced element to the group behind the conspiracy. Assuming the assessment that it is, indeed, a group, was correct. That’s still debatable.
Maybe the perpetrator(s) of the conspiracy were somehow behind Jared getting the ad about the train service to New Orleans, as a subtle lure to bring him there, along with the rest of them. Maybe I could go so far as to eventually reveal that the ad was a mix of cyber and actual magic, threaded with a compulsion spell to hook his attention and persuade him to follow it up.
(And yes, I realize this may be giving some things away? But I am also still actively plotting… none of this is definite).
So, the scenes actually SET in New Orleans could occur in the shorter piece, which I think would be “Build Me a Woman,” using the cover art I already put together. There would be the storyline of continuing to explore the conspiracy and who’s behind it, and the more immediate plot about the group somehow either buying or being offered a female android who’s programmed to play guitar. To introduce a hint of sci-fi.
Maybe she could work off voice commands, once having been taught the band’s full musical catalog? Even with knowing a setlist in advance, for a live performance, say, she’d have to get the timing right. When to start each song.
I did definitely dally in the beginning of the story. There’s a lot of relationship drama, and front-loaded character development. But it feels mostly necessary? Grounding the story in terms of who everyone is to one another and what the dynamic is like, before adventures get up and running?
I can see an argument for going in action-first, but I also wanted to provide more backstory in this one, for anyone who picks up the series here, rather than with Wishful Sinful. So, that took up some narrative space.
And, I just had some fun, taking my time with the characters, as they try to put back the pieces.
There are smaller details even in the beginning that foreshadow plot developments which become very important and lead into more action-y storytelling. So there is that.
I guess I’m just doubting if I was too wordy, if I’ve gotten this far, without having reached the climax. But then, books can go over 50,000 words. I know that’s the count for NaNoWriMo, or was, back when it was still a thing. Even they said that’s more the beginning of a piece, that would need editing, etc. And if you search expected word count for various genres, I believe most average more than that.
Well, anyway. Ramble, ramble.
The important thing… I wrote tonight! And it felt magical!
Write first, edit later. I sometimes try to do both simultaneously, which I think can block inspiration. So… onward!!!
Wish me luck in reaching the end, then diving back in, to pretty things up.
More magic, please! More writing. More passion-projects. More creativity. HUZZAH!
All the Bright and Sparkly Things 
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