TPGTFW — creating an outline

This is another part in my “programmer’s guide to fiction writing” series of posts on AI-supported fiction writing. For the full series so far, see this table of contents.

In the last post, we set up a project in sudowrite and started creating basic characters in the story engine. In this post, we are going to finish our prep work by creating an outline for the “Stormbound” book.

First try

As I mentioned in the last post, I like the synopsis that sudowrite generated, so I am going to keep it for now. To avoid having two similar bits of information in the system, I delete the other synopsis from our braindump. This leaves us with another 1,000 words with extra space that we might use in the near future to feed into the engine, as the braindump is also used as an input for creating the “beats” of a chapter.

That being done, let’s hit the “generate” button next to our outline and see what we get. I choose the “Hollywood Beats” option, which is sudowrite’s version of “Save the Cat”. Here is what the AI came up with:

Act 1 — Introduction:

Chapter 1: Main Character Sketch — Ashley Hayate, a passionate young meteorologist who is haunted by her mother’s tragic death in a tornado and her father’s emotional distance, struggles to navigate the challenges of adolescence in the small town of Breezewood, Oklahoma. Her brown hair and green eyes reflect her affinity for storms. With a history of minor felony charges, shoplifting, and reckless behavior, Ashley longs to escape her troubled past and find acceptance among her peers.

Chapter 2: Universal Theme — The theme of self-discovery, forgiveness, and the power of second chances is introduced through Ashley’s journey to overcome her past and embrace her true potential. Readers will resonate with Ashley’s struggles and aspirations, as well as her desire to break free from societal expectations and forge her own path in life.

Chapter 3: Story Problem — Ashley’s daily life revolves around her strained relationship with her father, Mr. Hayate, who is consumed by his work and grief over his wife’s death. Meanwhile, Ashley is tormented by Felicity Chambers and the popular girls clique at school, who bully her mercilessly. Mrs. Evelyn Martin, the guidance counselor, fails to recognize Ashley’s struggles and offers little support. Amidst these challenges, Ashley secretly discovers her unique ability to manipulate the weather.

Act 2 — Conflict:

Chapter 4: Story Spark — A chance encounter with Dr. Theodore “Ted” Bentley, a reclusive meteorologist and former storm chaser, forces Ashley to confront her newfound abilities and their potential consequences. Recognizing her talent, Dr. Bentley offers to help Ashley learn to control her powers and use them for good.

Chapter 5: Too Many Options — Ashley is torn between embracing her abilities and hiding them from the world. She fears the repercussions of using her powers, but also yearns for the sense of belonging they could bring. Through her interactions with Hannah Walker, a kind-hearted classmate, and Mrs. Lillian Carter, a compassionate teacher, Ashley weighs the pros and cons of each choice.

Chapter 6: First Choice — Ashley decides to use her powers to save the town from an impending deadly storm, earning her newfound respect from her peers, including Bryan Mitchell, the high school quarterback. Their budding relationship gives Ashley a taste of the popularity and acceptance she has longed for. However, this comes at a cost, as the consequences of her actions become apparent and her relationship with Bryan is revealed to be superficial.

Act 3 — Rising Action:

Chapter 7: Additional Characters — As Ashley grapples with the weight of responsibility and the ethical dilemmas that arise from her abilities, she forms an unlikely alliance with Dr. Bentley, who harbors his own secrets. Together, they work to understand and control Ashley’s powers, while navigating the complex dynamics of their mentor-mentee relationship.

Chapter 8: New Life — Ashley experiences both successes and failures in her attempts to control her weather manipulation abilities. Alongside Dr. Bentley, she begins to unravel the mysteries surrounding her powers and their connection to her mother’s death. Meanwhile, Ashley’s relationships with Hannah and Mrs. Carter deepen, as they offer support and encouragement in her self-discovery journey.

Chapter 9: False Ending — Ashley successfully uses her abilities to save the town from another devastating storm, earning her the admiration of her peers and solidifying her relationship with Bryan. However, this victory is short-lived as Ashley realizes that the superficial popularity she has gained is not what she truly desires.

Chapter 10: Change of Circumstances — Ashley’s newfound confidence catches the eye of Bryan Mitchell at the climactic high school ball. As their relationship deepens, Ashley realizes that the life she thought she wanted with Bryan is not what she truly needs. She must confront her own insecurities and learn to measure her worth beyond the validation of others.

Chapter 11: Reset of Progress — As Ashley’s powers continue to grow, she inadvertently causes a massive storm that endangers the town. With her progress seemingly erased, Ashley is forced to face the consequences of her actions and her own flaws in order to find a lasting solution to the tornado problem.

Act 4 — Climax and Conclusion:

Chapter 12: Rock Bottom — Ashley reaches her lowest point emotionally, feeling isolated from her friends and family, and overwhelmed by her powers. Her relationship with Bryan crumbles, leaving her feeling more alone than ever. As she faces the consequences of her actions, Ashley must confront her flaws and find the strength to move forward.

Chapter 13: Better Choice — With the help of Dr. Bentley, Hannah, and Mrs. Carter, Ashley reevaluates her choices and devises a new plan to tackle the tornado problem, vowing to use her abilities selflessly and responsibly. She commits to the story’s theme of self-discovery and forgiveness, embracing her true potential as a meteorologist and weather manipulator.

Chapter 14: Attacking the Story Problem — Armed with newfound resolve, Ashley works alongside Dr. Bentley, Hannah, Mrs. Carter, and other allies to confront the tornado problem once and for all. Sacrifices are made as they face unexpected challenges, but through their combined efforts and Ashley’s growth as a character, they ultimately prevail.

Chapter 15: New Main Character Sketch — In the aftermath of their victory, Ashley has grown into a confident young woman who has embraced her past and found her true potential as a meteorologist. With the support of her friends and mentors, Ashley graduates from high school and continues on her path of self-discovery and forgiveness. The story concludes with a hopeful message of resilience and redemption, as Ashley looks forward to a bright future in the world of meteorology.

To be honest, I’m not a fan of this. Since when is Ashley a meteorologist? Not only is the outline very vague, it also puts too much emphasis on the weather control aspect, which was rather meant to be a quirk than the major focus. This is not meant to be a superhero story, after all. So, what went wrong?

Garbage in, garbage out?

I think I made several mistakes when creating the first draft.

• First of all, I left too many words on the table. As of now, my brain dump is 949/2000 words, my synopsis is 667/800 words, and my characters use 549/700 words. The generated outline is only 915/1700 words — maybe the AI did not have enough details to come up with more?
• Second, the AI is not a mind reader. If I don’t like the emphasis on weather control, then maybe I should have told that to sudowrite?

The good news is that both of these issues should be fixable by adding more context. As this is an area where I want to tune the generated output, I will not fully delegate to Bard or ChatGPT. Rather, I will handle more of this myself.

Fool triumphant

I love the “Save the Cat! Writes a Novel” book! In this book, the author outlines various story genres and provides beat sheets for concrete bestselling novels that match the respective pattern. One of these patterns is the “Fool Triumphant”, which I believe could fit very well for the story I would like to see the AI tell. For this reason, I add some information about it to the braindump (Ai-assisted by Bard):

The story follows the “Fool Triumphant” pattern from the Save the Cat! screenwriting methodology. Ashley, the protagonist, is naive, innocent, and often foolish. However, the Fool’s ignorance is often their strength, and they are able to triumph over the establishment (small town life) through their childlike wonder and innocence.

Besides the naive protagonist, the “Fool Triumphant” pattern includes the following elements:

• An establishment that the fool must stand up against, in this case small town life in general and high school in particular.
• A transmutation in which the fool becomes someone new, in this case a full makeover that Ashley receives by her friends before going to the high school dance.
• The jealous insider is a character who is well-acquainted with the establishment and its inner workings, in this case Mrs. Evelyn Martin, the guidance counselor. They are often envious of the fool’s innocence and naivete, and they may try to sabotage the fool’s efforts to succeed. However, the insider’s knowledge of the establishment can also be a valuable asset to the fool, and they may eventually come to see the fool as a valuable ally.

Some additional notes for writing a Fool Triumphant story:

• Make sure your protagonist is truly foolish. For example, Ashley is shoplifting in a town that literally only has two supermarkets (to get her father’s attention). She also dresses differently than other kids, which makes her stick out at school and turns her into a target for the bullying from the popular kids.
• Show how the fool’s foolishness is actually a strength. When Ashley has to deliver meals on wheels as community service, she gets to know Dr. Bentley who ends up becoming a mentor figure. When she “transforms”for the dance, the stark contrast in looks is what gets Bryan Mitchell’s attention.
• Ashley’s transformation into the popular girl is a false victory. She gains popularity and Bryan’s attention but loses her friendship with the less popular Hannah in turn. She also learns that Bryan is superficial and not interested in who she really is.

No superheroes

How do we avoid superhero stories? I asked ChatGPT and came up with the following addition for my braindump (words in bold were added or modified by me):

When generating an outline for the novel, focus on personal growth and overcoming challenges. Avoid superpowers or any superhero elements. Instead, explore themes of resilience, friendship, and self-discovery. The story should emphasize character development and the journey of the protagonist as they navigate their difficulties and find inner strength. Please provide a diverse cast of characters and consider incorporating timely social issues.

What’s next?

Our braindump is now at about 1400 words. Also, since we are mentioning “Save the Cat!” in our braindump, we can use the “Novel Outline” option instead. Let’s regenerate the outline and see what changed:

Act 1 — Introduction:

Chapter 1: Introduce Ashley Hayate and her mundane life in a small town in Oklahoma. Ashley is struggling with feelings of self-worth and neglect, as her father, Mr. Hayate, is preoccupied with work and unable to provide the guidance she desperately needs. Ashley’s rebellious behavior leads her down a path of minor felony charges, shoplifting, and reckless behavior.

Chapter 2: Inciting Incident — Ashley discovers her passion for meteorology, initially sparked by her desire to understand the tornado that took her mother’s life. As she delves deeper into learning about weather phenomena, she begins to suspect there might be more to the storms that plague her hometown.

Chapter 3: Call to Action — Ashley decides to investigate the mysterious storms, driven by a desire to find answers and protect her town. This decision is further fueled by a chance encounter with a mysterious figure, Dr. Theodore “Ted” Bentley, a reclusive meteorologist and former storm chaser.

Chapter 4: Meeting the Mentor — Ashley meets Dr. Bentley, who becomes her mentor and unexpectedly helps her realize her own untapped potential. As their relationship develops, Dr. Bentley teaches Ashley about the extraordinary power she possesses: the ability to manipulate the weather.

Act 2 — Exploration:

Chapter 5: Training — Under Dr. Bentley’s tutelage, Ashley undergoes intensive training to control her newfound weather manipulation abilities. As she grows more proficient, she starts to believe in herself and her potential to make a difference for her town.

Chapter 6: First Challenge — Ashley faces her first significant challenge when she must use her powers to divert a tornado that threatens the town. Through determination and resilience, she successfully saves her community, but with this newfound power comes responsibility and ethical dilemmas.

Chapter 7: Gathering Allies — Ashley befriends Hannah Walker, a kind-hearted classmate who encourages her to stand up against the bullies led by Felicity Chambers. Through Hannah’s friendship, Ashley learns to trust others and find her own voice. Additionally, Mrs. Lillian Carter, a compassionate teacher, takes an interest in Ashley’s well-being and helps her navigate her self-discovery.

Chapter 8: Romance — A romantic subplot develops between Ashley and Bryan Mitchell, the high school quarterback. Ashley admires him from afar, seeing him as her “Prince Charming” and a symbol of the life she yearns for.

Act 3 — Rising Tension:

Chapter 9: Quest or Mission — The main goal of Ashley becomes clear: she must find a solution to the tornado problem that plagues her town and face the popular girls clique led by Felicity Chambers, who continue to torment her at school.

Chapter 10: Betrayal — Ashley experiences a setback when Mrs. Evelyn Martin, the well-meaning guidance counselor, fails to recognize her struggles and offers little support. This exacerbates Ashley’s feelings of alienation and frustration.

Chapter 11: Midpoint Reveal — A major revelation occurs when Ashley learns that the tornadoes might not be random. Driven by this discovery, she suspects that her mother’s death might be connected to the ongoing storms.

Chapter 12: Backstory — Explore the history of Dr. Bentley and his connection to Ashley’s mother. Dr. Bentley harbors his own secrets, which he gradually reveals as he helps Ashley learn to control her abilities.

Act 4 — All Is Lost:

Chapter 13: Crisis Point — The situation reaches its breaking point when a series of deadly storms threaten the town, causing widespread chaos and devastation.

Chapter 14: All Is Lost — Ashley experiences a devastating defeat when she fails to stop one of the tornadoes, resulting in destruction and loss. She doubts her abilities and fears she may not be able to save her town.

Chapter 15: Dark Night of the Soul — Ashley grapples with her feelings of self-worth, her relationship with her father, and her growing disillusionment with her romanticized idea of Bryan.

Act 5 — Climax and Resolution:

Chapter 16: Resurrection — Ashley renews her resolve and finds inner strength. With the help of Dr. Bentley, Hannah, and Mrs. Carter, she formulates a plan to stop the tornadoes once and for all.

Chapter 17: Battle or Showdown — The final confrontation between Ashley and the tornadoes occurs, leading to a high-stakes battle where she uses her powers to protect the town and those she cares about.

Chapter 18: Climax — The highest point of tension and action in the story; Ashley successfully stops the tornadoes, saving her town and finding a solution to the ongoing problem.

Chapter 19: Resolution — Loose ends are tied up. Ashley learns to measure her own worth by her actions rather than the perception of others. She confronts her past, channels her pain into strength, and embraces her true potential.

Chapter 20: Epilogue — Offers a glimpse into the characters’ future after the main events. Ashley graduates from high school and leaves town to study meteorology, thanks to an unexpected stipend from her “fairy godmother,” Dr. Bentley. She has learned to use her powers judiciously and selflessly, and has found purpose and redemption in her life.

Not much of an improvement yet. Interestingly, the outline has actually become shorter — 812 words only! Clearly adding more to the braindump did not solve the problem. Let’s help our friendly AI out a bit by improving the synopsis.

Improving the synopsis

At this point, it’s time to switch into “classic mode”, which is essentially a text editor on steroids. We create a new document and paste our synopsis into it. Then, we add more details to it until we’re happy.

Sudowrite offers various tools to assist, such as “expand” and “rewrite”. Here is the expanded version of our synopsis (changes and edits highlighted in bold):

Ashley lives in a small town in Oklahoma in a region known as Tornado Alley. Her turbulent upbringing began with the loss of her mother in a devastating tornado, leaving her father preoccupied with work and unable to provide the guidance she desperately needed.

Reckless and angry, Ashley throws herself into the business of rebelling against authority. Tired of being punished for breaking rules she doesn’t see as important, she starts breaking other rules, just to spite her father. Petty misdemeanors lead to more serious ones, until she is caught and sentenced to community service: delivering meals on wheels to senior citizens. One of the first people she ever delivers food to is Dr. Bentley.

Ashley is also assigned Mrs. Martin, a seemingly well-meaning guidance counselor, who fails to recognize Ashley’s struggles and offers little support. The counselor essentially tells Ashley that everyone has their problems and that the difference between a child and a grownup is that grownups “suck it up and move on.”

Ashley gets a reputation of not fitting in. The “popular girls clique” at school becomes her tormentors, replacing the traditional stepsisters. They embody the cruelty and judgment often found in teenage social dynamics, further isolating Ashley from her peers. Only her childhood friend Hannah is on Ashley’s side. While enduring the hardships imposed by her environment, she dreams of a better future, yearning to be popular, accepted, and beloved.

Amidst this tumultuous backdrop, Ashley finds solace and hope in her secret passion for meteorology. She started learning about the weather when she saw pictures of tornadoes in Dr. Bentley’s house. Her hope was that it would help her understand better why her mother died. Her growing fascination with weather phenomena hints at the extraordinary power she will later discover.

Ashley’s life is overshadowed by a series of deadly storms that threaten her hometown, causing widespread chaos and devastation. Are these storms random, or is there more to them? And if there is more to them, did the same thing happen to her mom? Through Dr. Bentley’s mentorship, Ashley gradually realizes her own untapped potential. As the storms intensify, she discovers her unique gift for manipulating the weather, when she redirects a tornado headed towards the football field, where Bryan and the other players are exercising. Unfortunately, Mrs. Martin witnesses this and now thinks of Ashley as a freak. She vows to minimize the perceived harm that Ashley could cause and forbids her to attend any school functions, such as football games or school dances.

With this newfound ability, Ashley finds herself at the center of a crucial turning point for her town’s survival. However, Ashley’s new powers don’t come without consequences. As Ashley keeps the storms at bay, she realizes that leaving town would mean leaving thousands of people vulnerable. She grapples with the weight of responsibility and the ethical dilemmas that arise. She experiences personal growth, learning that true strength lies not just in the control of her abilities, but also in the wisdom to use them judiciously and selflessly.

Enter the high school quarterback, her Prince Charming, who becomes a symbol of the life she yearns for but feels is out of reach. From afar, Ashley admires him, never daring to reveal her feelings until the third act unfolds. The pivotal event, a high school halloween ball, sets the stage for her remarkable transformation. Having been forbidden to attend by the counselor, Ashley dresses in a beautiful gown, wears a mask, and goes the ball regardless. Here, she catches the eye of her “prince”. Ashley does not reveal her true identity though; all that Bryan gets from her is a kiss on the cheek and an email address.

Ashley could have all that a girl supposedly could “want”: as Bryan’s girlfriend, she could be popular and put the mean girls in their place. Unfortunately, when Bryan’s first emails arrive, she realizes that the boy might be good looking but is pretty boring otherwise. She ends up never revealing her secret identity, keeping “Prince Charming” guessing.

As the story progresses, Ashley undergoes a personal metamorphosis. With the help of Hannah, Dr. Bentley, and a compassionate teacher who advocates on her behalf with the guidance counselor, she learns to confront her past, channel her pain into strength, and embrace her true potential. As Ashley finds her own ways to make peace with the popular girls, she also learns to not measure her own worth by other people’s perception, be it the popular girls or boy of her dreams.

The story ends with Ashley graduating school and having found a solution to the tornado problem that plagues the town. In the final image, Ashley leaves town to study meteorology thanks to an unexpected stipend of her “fairy godmother”, the reclusive meteorologist.

Besides maximizing the word allotment in story engine, here are the major changes I made:

• Replace the “chance encounter” with Dr. Bentley with something more concrete (Ashley delivers meals on wheels).
• Tie Ashley’s interest for meteorology to that encounter (it happened the other way around in the original synopsis).
• Have the outline resemble our “Cinderella storyline” more closely by having the evil stepmom (I mean, Mrs. Martin) forbid Ashley to go to the ball. Also, have Ashley hide her identity from Prince Charming (hmm… maybe the email address could be something like “glass@shoe.edu” 😄)
• Ashley never actually gets involved with Prince Charming. The goal is to reinforce the message that worth comes from within and not from someone else. Also, this might allow me to do something else with Bryan in the future, like having Ashley play matchmaker and connecting Bryan with Hannah.
• De-emphasize the “compassionate teacher.” I think Hannah and Dr. Bentley might be enough friends for now

The last act is still weak, but I hope it will become better defined as we approach writing the final chapters. Fingers crossed 🤞

Final outline

Now that we added more details to our synopsis, let’s take a final shot at generating the outline:

Act 1 — Introduction:

Chapter 1: Introduction — Ashley Hayate, a high school girl in a small town in Oklahoma, struggles with her turbulent upbringing and the loss of her mother in a devastating tornado. Her father, Mr. Hayate, is preoccupied with work and unable to provide the guidance she desperately needs. Ashley rebels against authority and dreams of a better future, all while nurturing a secret passion for meteorology.

Chapter 2: Inciting Incident — After getting in trouble at school again, Ashley is sentenced to community service: delivering meals on wheels to senior citizens. One of the first people she delivers food to is Dr. Theodore Bentley, a reclusive meteorologist with a passion for storm chasing. Through Dr. Bentley, Ashley starts learning about weather phenomena and begins to understand the power of tornadoes.

Chapter 3: Call to Action — When another deadly storm hits her hometown, Ashley accidentally discovers her unique gift for manipulating the weather. She redirects a tornado headed towards the football field, where Bryan Mitchell and other players are practicing, inadvertently revealing her powers to Mrs. Evelyn Martin, the guidance counselor.

Act 2 — Training and Exploration:

Chapter 4: Meeting the Mentor — As Ashley struggles with her newfound abilities, Dr. Bentley becomes her mentor and helps her learn to control her powers. He recognizes her talent and passion for meteorology and provides valuable guidance and support.

Chapter 5: Training — Under Dr. Bentley’s mentorship, Ashley undergoes intensive training to hone her weather manipulation abilities. She learns about the science behind tornadoes and how to use her powers responsibly.

Chapter 6: First Challenge — Ashley faces her first significant obstacle when she tries to prevent a tornado from destroying a local business. She struggles with the ethical implications of using her powers and realizes that she must find a balance between protecting her town and respecting nature.

Chapter 7: Gathering Allies — Ashley befriends Hannah Walker, a kind-hearted classmate who supports her through her struggles. With Hannah’s encouragement, Ashley starts to believe in herself and gain confidence in her abilities.

Chapter 8: Exploration — Dr. Bentley takes Ashley on a storm-chasing expedition to observe tornadoes up close and further understand the destructive power she possesses. The experience deepens Ashley’s connection to the weather and the responsibility she feels towards her hometown.

Act 3 — Rising Tension and Betrayal:

Chapter 9: Betrayal — After discovering Ashley’s powers, Mrs. Martin labels her a freak and forbids her from attending any school functions, including football games and school dances. Feeling betrayed by the guidance counselor, Ashley becomes more isolated and angry.

Chapter 10: Quest or Mission — Determined to prove her worth and protect her town, Ashley makes it her mission to find a way to control the tornadoes that plague Tornado Alley. She focuses her energy on mastering her powers and understanding the forces behind the deadly storms.

Chapter 11: Rising Tension — As Ashley becomes more skilled with her powers, she clashes with the popular girls’ clique led by Felicity Chambers, who torment her and make her feel unworthy. The conflict escalates as Ashley stands up to their bullying and refuses to let them define her worth.

Chapter 12: Midpoint Reveal — Ashley learns that Dr. Bentley was present during the tornado that killed her mother, and he has been carrying his own guilt and grief ever since. This revelation strengthens their bond as they both seek to find meaning and redemption in their shared passion for meteorology.

Chapter 13: Backstory — Ashley discovers more about her mother’s life and the circumstances surrounding her death. Through exploring her family history, she begins to understand the deep-rooted connection she has to the weather and her unique abilities.

Act 4 — All is Lost and Resurrection:

Chapter 14: Crisis Point — A massive tornado threatens to destroy the entire town, and Ashley feels overwhelmed by the responsibility of using her powers to save everyone. She struggles with the fear of failure and the weight of her newfound purpose.

Chapter 15: All is Lost — Despite her best efforts, Ashley’s powers aren’t enough to prevent the destruction of several homes and businesses. Devastated and feeling defeated, she questions her worth and her ability to protect her town.

Chapter 16: Dark Night of the Soul — In a moment of despair, Ashley confides in Hannah about her fears and doubts. Hannah provides comfort and reassurance, reminding Ashley of her inner strength and resilience.

Chapter 17: Plot Twist — Ashley discovers that her mother also had weather manipulation abilities, which she used to protect the town before her death. This revelation ignites a renewed sense of purpose and determination in Ashley.

Chapter 18: Resurrection — With renewed resolve, Ashley decides to embrace her powers and use them to honor her mother’s legacy. She learns to accept the responsibility that comes with her abilities and finds the strength to face her challenges head-on.

Act 5 — Battle and Resolution:

Chapter 19: Battle or Showdown — As another deadly tornado approaches, Ashley uses her powers to protect the town, facing off against the destructive force of nature in a dramatic showdown.

Chapter 20: Climax — In a thrilling display of her abilities, Ashley successfully diverts the tornado away from her town, saving countless lives and proving her worth as a protector.

Chapter 21: Resolution — With the town saved and her powers now accepted by the community, Ashley begins to find peace with her past and embraces her role as the town’s guardian against tornadoes.

Chapter 22: Returning Home — As she graduates high school, Ashley is awarded a stipend from Dr. Bentley to study meteorology in college. She prepares to leave her small town to pursue her passion and continue her mission to protect others from the devastating power of tornadoes.

Chapter 23: Epilogue — Ashley begins her studies in meteorology, building a promising future for herself while remaining dedicated to her hometown’s safety. She has learned to embrace her unique abilities, find strength in her struggles, and define her own worth beyond the expectations of others.

It’s still a little short and far from perfect, but I like it much better than what we had before. The story flows better, raising the stakes through several storms and other incidents. Ashley is still into meteorology from the start, but that should be a simple fix as we write the first chapter. I also don’t know yet how Ashley could ever go to college if she is needed to keep the storms at bay. I guess I’m just going to start writing and see where the story takes me.