Using problems to solve problems

So, I was worrying myself into a state, with a couple of plot issues I have with The Singers of the Eternal Night.

I was sort of obsessing on this until it hit me--I can use one problem to solve another one.

I can't really get into details, but it involves what happened to one character--he disappears early in the story and everyone seems to forget about him. I finally figured out that finding the guy will be the solution to the second problem I was having.

This is the secret to plot twists, I think, and something I need to keep reminding myself. Any time I see a plot hole, I need to look at other plot holes, and see if one can be used to solve another. It makes for a stronger and more economical story, one that will keep a reader guessing and also helps to keep the story from becoming formulaic--another example of what I'm talking about, I might add.

So, that's my new motto, when I'm working on a story or something--use one problem to solve another one.

The story, by the way, is coming along quite nicely. I'm just over a quarter of the way through the first draft now, and the road to where I'm going is gradually getting clearer. This is always a good sign, when I'm working on a novel--it at least means I'll finish the thing.

Funny thing is, I'm also getting some pretty damned good ideas about the next project, too--The Harvester of Faces. This one will be a lot different from what I'm working on now--it'll be quite a bit more complicated, with a multi-layered story, subplots, and a pretty complicated milleau. It'll have to wait but when I finally am able to get started on it I've got a very good foundation to build on.

Either way, progress is being made!