I converted my 8 page synopsis for Threads and Ties into a rudimentary outline. For the first time, I’ve delineated chapters in a book before writing it. I was pleasantly surprised how well that seemed to fall into place.

For starters, the book has 14 chapters and 50 scenes. I have three viewpoint characters. The book will be in third person for each. The two main characters are reasonably balanced between them–Jeff has a couple scenes too many, but that may shift during writing. Nicole, the daughter whose birth caused the rift, has five scenes.

I didn’t do much character work, and I don’t have well-defined written conflict mapped out, so, once again, my life could become miserable during revisions. Hey. I figured out chapters on this book. Maybe conflict will come next time.

I also have to consider my naming. I have too many similar names, and that’s a problem. I have a reason for doing it, but if it detracts from the book, as I suspect it may, I will have to reconsider. Nikki’s last name is the most likely casualty. The Nikki/Nicole complaint of readers makes sense, but I’m tied to keeping that for now. (Nikki is the female lead, dare I say villian?, and Nicole is the newborn daughter she walked away from.)

Oh yeah. Does anyone have any problem with me making up a small town in Texas called Hat Trick? Speak now or forever hold your peace.

I’m really pleased with how easy the synopsis makes this whole process seem. Brainstorm the idea; capture it in a synopsis. I’ll have to duplicate that process.