Revamping the Nano Novel

As I had earlier said in this recent post I had only completed half of my Nano project when I quit shortly after passing the 50,000 mark. I've barely touched it all December.

The reason I couldn't get back to it was because I had so many plot holes. I couldn't figure out what the villain really wanted, or what his main flaw was, or what my main character's driving force was, she just kind of meandered throughout the story line reacting to whatever happened in the storyline. Chapter after chapter went by only creating more plot problems like this, rather then solving them. Then of course, I had to figure out how exactly things worked in the world of my story, because there are some pretty fantastical elements in the story that need some kind of logic.

So today was devoted to looking at what I have and don't have in my Nano. I started to jot down background information, flesh out details of a motive, and I figured out what my novel was leading up to in the climax.

What I have left:

• Villain's use for the object of his ultimate desire- What does he plan on doing with his power once he attains it?
• What was Villain's hopes and dreams before he was set down the path of "evil?" Were they thwarted and how?
  
• What convinces Villain of the necessity to endanger the world?
  
• How does Emerald's energy work? Is she tied to the life of her own world?

It is mostly research on the part of my villain. I've been looking up the seven deadly sins as a start, as many of my favorite villains have had such flaws that drove their intentions. The first that comes to my mind is Iago, and the envy that drives his actions to bring down Othello.

The main synopsis of my novel has changed so many times, its hard to keep up. I'm trying to actually outline it now, and maybe come up with the summary in a single sentence. When I do that, I'll be back.