No, I haven’t been doing construction.  Or at least, not in metal and wood.

I have been working on the plot for my Keela novel, the rules for my magic system and the construction of my world.  Though on a global scale, that last bit was the easiest ’cause I’ve been writing stories in this world for two years now.  The world is a land where the ocean-dwelling Mer and land-loving Humans live in close association, either at war or in trade, and neither knows just what to make of their half-breed offspring, the Meru.  My gladiator story, among others, takes place on the human side, and one of my early wotf honorable mentions outlines the moment in Keela’s life when her secret as a Meru is uncovered.

The real challenge was the plot.  I know I’ll change it a thousand times between now and ‘The End’, but I’m too OC to begin writing the first draft with something I know is broken.  Plus, while I’m writing the first book as a potential standalone, there will be two others in the series if I can sell it as such.

So I’ve done a lot of reading–both analyzing a pile of novels and burying my nose in writing books–and done a lot of hammering.  Ask anyone about my ability to hit something nail-sized without bruising my fingers and they’ll respond with a laugh.  It’s not that I’m especially uncoordinated, or that I let my attention wander, it’s more that I have to over-think everything to the point that I’m soon double-guessing myself.

Yesterday the breakthrough came.  I’m getting close–or at least, I’m now hearing that satisfying ching! as the hammer whacks down on the head of the nail.  A bit more work on the magic system, a couple sub-threads to bang at.  I’ve entered the blurred realm where plotting and writing began to blend as scenes get scribbled on the backside of the pages and plot points run away with themselves.