(no subject)

So, I found a couple of seven-point plot outlines (not the one I was looking for, but that's all right), to try to clarify where I am in this damn story and see where it needs to go.

I found this: a Protagonist (1) has a Problem (2) and endeavors to Solve It (3) but meets with Difficulties (4) whereupon he Learns Something (5) which enables him to make Another Attempt (6) leading to a Resolution (7)

And that led me to figure out what my guy actually wants, which is to (a) Cure His Lycanthropy, (b) Get the Girl, and (c) oh, Not Hang for killing the bad guys with his bare fangs.

And that means that I need to go back to the beginning and introduce another person. Not necessarily a Villain, but a Contagonist working at cross-purposes to my Protagonist. I'm thinking a Hunter type, but a Good Guy, because that adds a layer of complication to my protag's life--he can't just kill the guy, because, well, not a bad guy.

I think I just doubled the length of this thing. Awesome.

(no subject)

And now I've thought about the thing some more and realize that I may need yet another character in here, a preacher type or maybe a shaman. Because if my protag's lycanthropy is a curse, then the way to lift it is with some kind of ritual. And that means that I'll need to go into more detail on how he actually got turned into a werewolf. I need backstory--who'd he piss off that they'd drop a curse on his head like that? Not only that, but it's a very specific curse. Why lycanthropy?

Also, needs moar steampunk. And some way for the professor's invention to Save the Day (or at least Save a Day) as well.

I think I just tripled my wordcount. Because none of the characters I've already introduced can do double duty. And all of them need their Crowning Moment of Awesome.

This is really going to require an outline, possibly of the same sort I did for
Won His Soul. I may scan that thing and post it, if any of you think it will help your own process.

*cries*