True to my word in last week’s POST, I turned off the computer yesterday and moved to my writing chair. I opened the current WIP folder and spread the contents out on the desk. There were six chapters and quite a lot of notes and research material.

If I thought I could simply start writing a new chapter, I soon realised how foolish that was. I had to climb back into the story to get my bearings first.

This story, with the working title of The Mystery of Folly’s End, is about two sisters, Charlotte and Angela. They have been estranged for years and living very different lives, but when tragedy strikes, Angela seeks her older sister’s help.

I had opened the story with Charlotte, Charly to her friends, and those chapters seemed fine. The trouble arrived when I realised that I didn’t know her sister very well, if at all. Most stories have just one protagonist, but I envisioned Folly’s End as having two. I wanted both sisters to rule over this one, so both characters must cut the mustard if you know what I mean.

Despite countless distractions from visitors and some unwanted help from Milo, I spent most of the afternoon reading those six chapters and making more notes along the way before coming to the conclusion that I must complete far more detailed profiles for both sisters.

Despite the shaky start this year, I love this story already. I am so glad to be back in the saddle again…