Hectic week means a finished novel?

Strangely, the same week that I finish the first semester of teaching Pre-K and my dad is hospitalized for heart issues and my husband leaves the country for a much anticipated mission trip I finally finish writing the storyline of my novel. Of course, I have much editing and research ahead of me, but the storyline is finished. *sigh* If things weren't so hectic in my personal life, I might take a victory nap. Maybe later.

The question of elopement

The do's and don'ts of Southern Victorian society leave me baffled. I find myself confused as to how certain characters would react when the question of elopement is posed. Of course, elopement is only allowable in the most extreme of circumstances, and even then, the participants are looked at sideways.
I hate when the plot is as complicated as real life, answers confusing and bewildering me to such a degree that I am not sure there is a right answer because social conventions have manipulated each individual into a box they cannot be set free from. Ah! Why are all my wonderful characters so Southern and Victorian???

Referrence

I have begun researching lately almanacs (specifically The Farmers' Almanac and The Old Farmer's Almanac. ) It seems they formulate their predictions based on astronomy, tides, weather, and folklore (though they may not credit that source especially). In Victorian times, the almanac of your choice, and it was debatable as to which one was the most accurate, was consulted on everything. It determined when to plant your crops, when to potty train children, even wedding dates. According to your average American citizen of the era, it was the most practical adviser on which they could rely.

I am interested to discover how much affect it had on a seaman's life, as most of Morehead City was run off either the proceeds of the fishing industry or the hotel. I look forward to discovering this and so many more things when I get to the historical library in Morehead City.

Writing and Waiting

Wondering what will happen next. Having made a great deal of progress, I am about to start writing all new scenes and feel as though I'm at long last getting much closer to the climax of the story. As the summer is in full swing I am busy running from conferences to VBS and fun day trips with the kids and all the while writing scenes in my head. I have found one week that I can get away for a research trip, but I am waiting for God to provide. Now to pray, but it is all in His hands.

Out of order

As I was re-writing lost scenes, I found some things going in different places, no longer following the time-line I had originally imagined. Somehow, this fresh spark spurred me on and suddenly I was writing a scene much later in the novel than the one I had just written. I have been avoiding this as I am not sure that everything will flow if I start writing scenes out of sequence, but I felt revived as I wrote the scene. Hopefully, I will no longer let myself feel so restricted by the outline I made of lost scenes and write with more spontaneity.

perfection?

I should not have such a hard time with this, but I confess that I do. I keep writing the main male character in my novel with too much kindness, too much consideration, nearly no human flaws or frustrations.

The poor man was nearly killed at the beginning of the novel, suffered broken ribs and a nasty case of pneumonia, and then is stuck inside a wealthy man's house completely dependent on others. Even a good man would get restless, tired and testy. But I am not letting him show his humanity, his vulnerabilities ... I need to make sure that when I show that he accepts his bad fortune, he is not a weakling, but a stronger man for it. Also, he needs to be allowed (by his biographer) to show that his restlessness does not mean he is ungrateful, but that he may (like anyone) appear ungrateful while struggling with his dependency.

I hope I can do him justice.

Opportunities

I am finally planning a trip to visit Morehead City in person! Through my mother and aunt, I have come in contact with another writer who is interested in the area and insists I must visit. After having prayed for the last 18 months, some money has recently become available and with the connections of my new friend, I might get a great deal on a flight. Now I need to decide exactly what to research during my stay. My trip will probably not be until this summer and I am determined to finish rewriting the lost portions of the novel before I go. This will take considerable discipline while not neglecting my family or teaching, but I know that I must master this to become a successful writer in the 21st century. After all, a successful writer, and by that I mean published, must get back to agents and editors on time with rewrites and be available for book signings, etc. This "deadline" will only help me focus ... I am grateful (beyond grateful!) for the opportunity to finish collecting all the information I need to do this story justice.