In case you missed it (here, here, and here), I’ve been trying to reinspire my novelist heart by working my way through James Scott Bell’s “Plot and Structure”. As I write this post I have some very exciting news!
1. I FINALLY finished the book – woo hoo!! I don’t want to admit how many months it took, but I did it. And now that I’ve done it, I need to go back and re-do some of exercises that I’ve already completed. Why? Well, because of #2…
2. Thanks to the lovely ladies at Seekerville (here) I identified the mystery plot problem that’s kept the K off my LOCK (if you don’t understand that, go here). Now that I can end my novel, it’s time to plot it out and start writing.
And the third bit of news (three is my favorite number, so you know this is gonna be good)…the Early Bird Session speaker at the ACFW conference was none other than…

3. JAMES SCOTT BELL!! With his book still fresh in my mind, I had the pleasure of receiving four hours of masterful instruction (which works well for this visual learner). Later that evening I stalk…er, tracked down Mr. Bell and asked for a picture. Here he is!

I can hardly wait to sit down and start plotting. I want to draw my own three-act suspension bridge (visual!). The thought of dozens of colorful index cards on my wall simply tickles my toes!! Plotting, outlining, structuring – that’s the language this left-brainer likes to read.

I guess I can officially call myself “recovered” now – I finished reading the book, the mental block is down, and I’m excited to write fiction again. I achieved my goal. Now to start setting new goals…

QUESTION: After you’ve achieved your goals, how do you set the next ones?