Today was unique in the sense, I gave the book due time. But I sat with it. From the first page of my notes, I went over everything I had and stopped at what didn't sit right.
For 45 minutes, I just played and prodded with elements, writing, adding what felt right and this felt a lot deeper and honest than writing for the sake of writing.
I also had a plot list I have been noting points on for the past many months. I referred to it for ideas. I don't know if I would have done that had they been on paper, but everything is just so collected on the excel sheet, it's really helpful. It was painstaking to open the excel and typing instead of scribbling on paper when something struck me, but it paid off.
In hindsight, I don't know what I would have done without the excel. This sheet is primarily plot points. Whenever I read or come across some element on TV that I would like to incorporate in this book, I add it. It may be names I like, character descriptions, ways I can use turning points or what the climax can be.
I'm not sure I would have even had something to record if I did not have a novel idea in mind, but what works, works. Let's not question it.
Sometimes chaos on the page has an energy. At times it is too much to process. Sometimes a clean blank page is inviting. Other times a blank page is daunting and I wish for a sheet of pre-written ideas.
Maybe the challenge is in recognising what the writing needs that day?