I’m sure you’ve already read Save The Cat Writes a Novel, by Jessica Brody–however, if you haven’t?

This:

As I continue revising my Nanowrimo2021 novel, thanks to Cat the chant in my head is: What does my protagonist want?

Simple, pertinent little chant about something I always know, when writing, yet forget, when writing–kind of like how I scramble for my son’s birthdate when filling out forms in the Dr.’s office, even though I know my son’s birthdate like I know my own.

When I focus on what I consider murky patches within my novel, I realize the murk is me straying into non-magical woods obscuring my protagonist’s main goal.

Despite my knowing the goal.

Hence the chant.

Yours in pertinent chants illuminating your writing highway,

PB