Next

Okay I'm pretty much done with my character sketches, there will be tweaking as I go along, I'm sure. 

I've worked on my setting sketches: figuring out where this place is, the time period, the season, and specifics about the exterior and interiors of different places my characters will be.  I've been looking at pictures on the web to see if I can find a suitable coastal mansion, that's both mysterious and beautiful.  But I've got a good enough picture in my head that I'm good to go on that front as well.

Now for the part that has been stumping me. 

My story goal or theme. 

The story goal is the central idea of a novel.  It's the catalyst of the book, the reason why the characters are there, the reason why the story evolves.  It's important that you identify the major conflict or main theme of your book before going any further. 

I did not have this.  That's why when I was trying to start the writing process of my new book I only made it about 750 words in before the writer's block hit.  I was stumped.  I had the picture of my two characters meeting and I had a general idea where I wanted to go.  I had enough to net me a short story at best.
I worked  through a good part of the puzzle last night.  I did some brainstorming.  I put some Yanni on my ipod and just started writing things down, before I knew it some of the kinks had been worked out. 
Then while I was on the treadmill running this morning ideas started running again.  So some issues I ran into last night have been worked out by my subconscious. 

Yay. 

So now I'm waiting for the peace and quiet that bedtime brings to work on it some more.  I'm actually quite excited now. 

Once I find my pics that will resemble my characters and my setting I will try to post them here as a nice visual for my WIP.