As a plotter, I love creating outlines that start as faint ideas and gradually grow into detailed scenes. However, the real challenge comes when it's time to fill in the gaps—those transitions between scenes that feel so natural in my head but are trickier to write. Often, it’s the little moments, the way a character moves from one scene to the next, that leave me staring at the screen. It can feel so frustrating, especially when transitioning from a high-energy action scene to slower exposition.
See, in action scenes, I write in short bursts—quick sentences, almost like a script. It comes easily. But then, when it's time to shift to paragraphs of narrative and I have to slow down the pace, it can take days to write one page that finally sounds right I feel like I’m plodding along, inch by inch.
That’s why I’m so excited to announce that Chapter 1 of Aliki Martin and the Chocolate Cartel is done! It’s not perfect—far from it. I already have notes on things I want to change, but for now, I’m calling it post-worthy. It’s a huge milestone, and I’m putting it out there.
I’d love to hear your thoughts. You can find Chapter 1 here and provide comments at the end of the post. If something didn’t work for you, please let me know why. Statements like “I didn’t like it” or “It sucks” won’t help me improve. Instead, tell me things like “I couldn’t relate to the character” or “This part didn’t make sense.” or “Seriously, Aliki needed a jet pack to go down the block? Why couldn’t she have walked?” Just kidding, there aren’t any jet packs in this story (yet). But I think you know what I mean.
I don’t know if this book will ever get published, but the process is a learning journey, and I’m grateful for any helpful advice you can give me along the way.
Thanks for following along!
