magics and plots

[marycatelli]

Had two half ideas -- a magical system and a plot incident -- actually a fair chunk of plot, since that event had a lot of backstory.  How convenient -- plot and setting in one.  Was mucking about and putting them together this way and that.

The outline was not jelling.

Finally concluded they don't work.  The magical system requires too much patience and advanced planning.  It is a nice limit for a magical system, to prevent its doing everything, but not in this case.  I think they need a quicker sort of magic.  Because while a magical system should be defined enough so that the readers know it's not a deus ex machina, it also needs to be powerful enough to do stuff.  Even if it just works on the sensawunda stuff, it needs to work.

Which means -- sigh -- I'm back to knowing that there's a theft, a false accusation, and a labyrinth.  An exoneration, occuring in two stages and involving at least two boys.  And little more. . . .

grouse.

One hopes that clearing the stage of clutter will help fix the issue.

Comments

[marycatelli]

I think using it as dip may work.