Or Boy Am I Tired

It seems to be a never-ending work in progress. I've been writing the same novel for over a year now and just when I imagine I have a handle on it--like they say in NY--forgeddaboutit.

After writing 1/2 of this novel, I realized I had two strong plots running parallel to one another. Did I spell parallel right? Oh who cares? That's the least of my problems.

In this novel, there were so many crimes being committed they confused me. It was like the old Bud Abbott/Lou Costello skit: Who's on First? Who's on Second? It was driving me nuts. So I stopped writing and divided it into two separate layouts for two novels, leaving chunks of empty space in my manuscript.

No big deal. Now it'll be easier to write. Right? Wrong! Now those empty holes left holes in the plot because the rest of the novel was being saved for another novel. Are you following so far? So the paragraphs corresponding to what's been cut had to be cut and rewritten.

Therefore, I hunkered down and began writing it again. But those empty holes were so frustrating I dropped the project for a month or so. Then I started again--going full speed. Was I there? Was it going to be finished this time? Not on your life.

On a recent trip to NY, I discovered facts that caused another huge rewrite. See. I had one person on Death Row and another possibly executed--this takes place in NY. However, in 2004, the NY Court of Appeals ruled against executions--they were out. Period. Politicians proved that this type of punishment was no deterent to crime, so now there are no more executions in NY. How did I miss that? OK, time for another rewrite.

I must've done something terrible somewhere back in my life to deserve this. If it ever gets finished I'm throwing a block party and go on a cruise to wherever. Drat.

This is a good argument for outlining, which I do but somehow the story changes in mid-point of the outline. I find a better way to end my novel. So outlines are mostly out. What to do. What to do. The teacher needs a teacher.