Becoming adept

I see that my recent posts have all been about how hard it is to learn new stuff. What a whiner I am!

Fortunately, I seem to be getting over the worst of the curve.

I am now using some new tools, especially for plotting. This has always been my weakest skill in storytelling. I'm applying them to stories I read. For example, stories usually follow a 3-act structure, similar to plays. Each act ends with some sort of climax or problem. For the last 6+ novels I read, I plotted out their 3-act structure. I identified the conflicts and climaxes.

At the same time, I'm revisiting several of my stories and plotting them according to 3 acts. Some have fallen into place easily. Most are like bad kids who don't want to line up.

At least right now I don't feel so awkward. I just feel like a learner. I started a new Scaffold Cat story and I'm practicing my new skills on it. At this moment, I feel very good about the tale.

But then, this is a deceptive feeling for me. I ALWAYS feel very good about my storytelling. This is why I stumbled along for so many years without learning new techniques -- I was already very good, thank you very much. In fact, I avoided learning because I thought I'd lose that thrill of creation.

What I'm learning is that the method of creating may change, but the thrill is still there for me. I love creating stories. I'll be so thrilled when I can share with others via publishing.

What thrills you? What do you absolutely love to do (that can be shared publicly!) and what have you learned about it?