Or, unfinished writings that I've got more than just a scene or two on, newest to oldest.
Drowned City (not a title): Novel, scientific-revolution-fantasy long-con. Stalled out at the end of the first act. Pretty sure this is because my protagonist needs to have some actual motivation instead of just being the still hub around which cool things happen.
"Blood on Her Hands and a Stone at Her Throat": Story, urban fantasy noir. Stalled out because the brilliant climactic scene is Just Not Working, in part because of the passive protagonist problem but also because it Just Doesn't Work. Fixable, I think, but I got tired of beating my head against it.
"Bloodmagery" (not a title): Longish story, sword-and-sorcery. Stalled out at the end of the first act because I hit the point of Then Some Plot Happens and didn't want to figure out how to get from there to the Great Big Fight. On the bright side, it does not have Passive Protagonist Problems.
"One Only" (not a title I'm thrilled about): Story, dark SF inspired by a passing complaint about how all evil aliens are slimy these days. Technically complete... except that this is the one that four years ago Patrick said "If you, say, double the length I would take a very close look at it." The advice I got that week on lengthening it consisted of "Get into trouble sooner" (Teresa), "That doesn't sound like it's really a story" (Steve), and "Add another character" (Jim). Then I went home and froze up and burned out.
No actual words tonight, but I did plot out most of the bloodmagery story. Except for the specific bit that was causing me grief, of course, but I think that'll come.
Drowned City (not a title): Novel, scientific-revolution-fantasy long-con. Stalled out at the end of the first act. Pretty sure this is because my protagonist needs to have some actual motivation instead of just being the still hub around which cool things happen.
"Blood on Her Hands and a Stone at Her Throat": Story, urban fantasy noir. Stalled out because the brilliant climactic scene is Just Not Working, in part because of the passive protagonist problem but also because it Just Doesn't Work. Fixable, I think, but I got tired of beating my head against it.
"Bloodmagery" (not a title): Longish story, sword-and-sorcery. Stalled out at the end of the first act because I hit the point of Then Some Plot Happens and didn't want to figure out how to get from there to the Great Big Fight. On the bright side, it does not have Passive Protagonist Problems.
"One Only" (not a title I'm thrilled about): Story, dark SF inspired by a passing complaint about how all evil aliens are slimy these days. Technically complete... except that this is the one that four years ago Patrick said "If you, say, double the length I would take a very close look at it." The advice I got that week on lengthening it consisted of "Get into trouble sooner" (Teresa), "That doesn't sound like it's really a story" (Steve), and "Add another character" (Jim). Then I went home and froze up and burned out.
No actual words tonight, but I did plot out most of the bloodmagery story. Except for the specific bit that was causing me grief, of course, but I think that'll come.