Normally, I wouldn’t come in to let you know I’m not updating today, lol, but since this is the only day I could realistically promise, I do feel it’s necessary to come in and let you know why exactly I’m not updating tonight.

My schedule is a little tight, but it’s not impossible. And I actually have the energy. The challenge is story-related.

Before I started writing, I had the Cates murder mystery completely plotted. I know all the big movements, the peaks and valleys. And I wrapped my head around some of the subplots as I envisioned them at the time of writing.  It’s part of the reason I was able to update as much as I have since starting the story on July 8.

I’ve written 39 updates and around 106k words in the last 11 weeks. That’s…insane, lol. It’s literally like updating every other day for 77 straight days.

But as I started writing, the characters started doing their own thing. I got interested in the dynamics of the teen groups and what relationships could/should exist based on the way the show has aged the characters (they put Rocco/Danny in the same age group and aged them both, so in my head it makes sense to put them with Aiden). And then how their relatinships complicated their parents, and so on.

I also got really interested in Jason playing the supportive role — he’s usually going out to do the action, but that’s not where he’s needed in this story, and how does he handle that? Plus the Liason relationship impacting the Jason/Sam/Danny dynamic, etc. And as I started to play up jurisdictional things to bring Molly in (and add more layers of complication as signs begin to point inside the house for the killer), I realized that Anna and Pikeman was a useful beat to play. And honestly, there’s a ton of things I could be doing that I’m not (I don’t have the room for Michael/Willow/Drew though I’ve hinted at them and Carly/Sonny are sort of in the background where I like them currently but they can and should play roles when it’s necessary).

There’s just a few story elements I’ve pulled in that really work (including Gia), and I actually need to sit down and plot how all these new pieces fit into my larger whole in interesting and complex ways without feeling like I’m pantsing it. This week feels like a good time to take a moment, take a deep breath, and refit the puzzle pieces together. I still plan to update at some point based on the schedule (bathroom remodel starts tomorrow!) but I don’t know what day.

I promise, as soon as I can, to be updating 3-4 times a week. I’m in a good place at work — I just need the homefront to cooperate.

If you’re looking for something to read while I’m plotting, I’ve got a couple of recommendations –

• Karma – a murder mystery set in alternate 1997 with an aged Elizabeth working at GH.
• Counting Stars – 1999 rewrite after Jason leaves, but Lucky doesn’t come back.
• A Few Words Too Many – rewrite of Liz’s pregnancy in April 2003. The first novel I wrote when I came back, and there’s still a sequel on the backburner.

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