I'm over 200 pages and still blocked... Right now the antagonist is about to kill the hero (he won't succeed), but before the assassination attempt I want 2 more chapters. No plot idea, only fragments. - The hero must do something for his beloved. Some action. He's a dreamy classicals-reading type, and although a leader and good in battles, he still seems too passive when not in action. - The antagonist msut talk to a secondary characters who worships the hero. - Another secondary character, an evil one, needs some spotlight. No real idea what or how, he's the Big Bad's henchman. - The hero's lover needs more POV scenes, and something to seem less boring and all-good. So far the only ark thing about this character is a berserk button. All of these are hard to fit together and I hate writing "fillers". But I can't jump to the assassination right now, I want more suspense. The reader knows but the hero doesn't... I can't have a battle as the assassination itself would happen during one.
Does the hero know who the big bad guy is? If not, you could maybe have the hero and the bad guy 'bump' into each other and have a chat? Mean while the love intrest is getting stalked by henchman guy? I donno if that helps, prehaps more info? XD
Info. Time is Age of Sail. Hero is a captain. Love interest and antagonist are his lieutenants. Big Bad (Sir Not Appearing In This Chapter) is another ship's captain. Henchman is a petty officer on Big Bad's ship, and helps his libertine activities. The hero knows the Big Bad too well, they served together when they were young.
Hmmm. Let me get this streight. The hero is sailing somewhere. The big bad is closing in. The hero's crew are about to stage a coo?..? .....XD
No, they're both participating in a blockade and are on the same side. (The big bad actually is a traitor but no one knows yet.)
Oh, ok-I got it now XD So what you could do is, think if you have left out some detail about the blockade and add that. How long does it take to get to the position of the blockade? Exxplain how grueling and intense of a journey it was?.. Have the captain (hero) give a speech to his men. The hero and his love interest could dine together, for a night. Some one on the big bads ship doesnt like the fact that he is gonna betray everyone, so that guy does somthing and gets snapped by the henchmen?... Again, hope that helps XD
Do you have any story arcs started on the other side of the blockade? If so, you could expand on that some. How about a mini-disaster aboard one of the ships. One of the minor characters falls to his death. A fire is quickly extinguished, but leaves a character (the cap'n maybe) a bit injured. Maybe an enemy dingy slips by everyone's notice and begins using an auger on the ship. Just a few thoughts. -Frank
I had fire ships before. The French have no part other than showing up in battles and constantly talked about.
who says you 'need two more chapters'? there's no rule about when you can do this or that in a novel... just write it as it comes to you and don't count chapters!
