Logic and emotion.

These two elements are vital to a good narrative. But when do they show up? How do you get them to work for you rather than against you? Wading through this first draft of a fictional story, I’ve had to wrestle with each hemisphere of my brain in turn. The process can feel like hitting the gas and brakes at the same time. I’m learning when to accelerate, when to slow down, and when to coast.

In previous posts, I’ve disclosed my discovery that I’m more of a “pantser” than “plotter.” This realization catalyzed early progress on my novel’s first draft. But what about now that I’m deep into the plot, approximately the midpoint to completion?