The Longest Yard

Well, here I am, test driving software. 

http://www.themarshallplan.net/software.htm

"But wait," I hear you say, "isn't this... for, like, novel writing?"

Yes.

"But... you don't write novels..."

Yes.

"Novellas? Novelettes?"

Nope. Not them either.

In fact, 6 of my pro-rate published stories add up to 5000 words total. Which is not quite a novelette.

So... why Marshall Plan?

Well, you see, I wrote this discombobulated mess that is now up to 11000 words. I entered it in a contest in which many of my writer friends participated. I won't name them, but you know who they are - because they are fine, brilliant writers, all of them.

The discombobulated mess came  in second, of I think 16 or 20 or so.

Now, the fine, brilliant writers who competed are also the fine, brilliant judges who thought it deserved second place; but there was no way I was going to send the story out as-was. And recombobulation does not seem to be a writing skill I have so far developed.

Enter the Marshall Plan.

You know the mess of laundry on top of the dryer in your laundry room? The one that's been washed but not put away? The Marshall Plan is exactly like a wall unit wardrobe with drawers, hangers, presses and organizers, each labelled for the exact type of laundry that goes in it. It's a very nice wardrobe, with capacity to spare and clear, unambiguous labels. I've put away some of the laundry, and there is far less discombobulation. In fact, the empty drawers have already suggested what contents I need to create to fill them.

Preliminary grade: two thumbs up. It has already produced scenes I would not have written without it.

More to follow.