I started a story in March. Typical me, rushing in with only the bare bones of an idea and a couple of sentences of plot. It lasted two chapters and a half before my enthusiasm and attention tapered off.
I didn’t pick up the threads of the story until July when I came home from America. ‘Right,’ I thought, ‘I’ll make this into a short Novela and have it finished by August. 30,000 words will do the trick.’
Using three sheets of paper from an A5 notebook, I plotted Acts One, Two and Three, using mind map bubbles. Act One was written with ease, Act Two is now officially done.
And then I was unfortunate enough to take a good look at Act Three and think, ‘Well, this isn’t going to work.’
It was too skeletal, too bare. And also only enough for a handful of chapters, certainly not for a conclusive and satisfactory third act.
Which leaves me with the task of plotting a coherent and interesting Act Three that ties the story together and finishes the tale in a manner that leaves me with a satisfied sigh.
So now I’ve got a fresh sheet of paper, a pen (a beautiful, brand new, amazing pen that is a dream to write with) and the question ‘What If-?’ to throw at every scenario.
Act Three? Meet my pen.
of words & books 
You can do it, Ness! I have faith and hope and trust for you! 😉 I hate taperings-off.
Thank you. *sniff* thank you so very much 😀 Yes, me too. [In more bracing tones] but it is nothing a good sit-down and brainstorm won’t fix … I hope …
Such is being an Author. All those lovely plot holes that spring up and demand mending but offer no suggestions as to how. You and your lovely pen show it it can’t daunt you!
Thank you 🙂 My pen and I are now viciously attacking Act Three. I can barely contain my gleeful chuckles …