A far window

Having written the eighth chapter in brief, and while preparing for its imminent expansion, I began to look at my notes and the future steps I must take as the story began to move upon its own propulsion. I say 'own', as it is the personality portraits I have created that have thus far carried the narrative to this point i.e. I've tried to write the story while matching the personality traits and past life histories that brought everyone there.
But that was dealing with the initial premise of the story, which, at some indeterminate point, I knew would fan out into a tale of conflicting destinies. Roughly translated, I had always known I'd better get these moments right, or the cab would jump from the rollercoaster track and I'd be lost in double-quick time.
In about two or three chapters, I feel I will have to stop writing in order to plan the steps toward the mid-point of the story. Although the mid-point is there in my notes, I get the feeling that there is a lack of knowledge and information dealing with the happenings around this time. Although I do know what happens, it seems pretty certain that I'd better plan with more thoroughness the movement to it, through it, and beyond it. Otherwise, I'll ruin everything and make a mess.
It won't take long; a fair amount of it is there already.
I did discuss this at length with Noel the Ultimate Proofreader, although 'discuss' is too light a word: Noel's ears are probably ringing after listening to my lengthy monologue concerning control and application. That I must write what I see, and not allow any deflections of any kind as to the direction of the story.
I did also reveal to Noel that , without overly thinking of it, I had stumbled upon the notion that two future books in this story can be seen right away. The ending of this first book contains the premise for the second book, though perhaps (not yet) its title; and the title for the third book has been discovered, though not the actual storyline - it's there, in my head, and the title inspires my thoughts, but I can't go there just yet.
I've also rediscovered the name for the hero's lover, which I've googled and also found, but her nature and presence I've not fully crystallised. I'm getting there with her. Just got to be careful that I represent her truthfully.
Lots of doors; lots of trapdoors.

This road...

... seems to stretch on and on.
I did say that I'd like to spend more time with friends and family. Nothing ever seems to pan out the way you want, though. A social life and a writer's life are often contradictions in terms: you can't have one with the other. Some people can do both, and I hope they do. I'm one who can't; something has to give, and I have to write. I changed my life in 2006, leaving Local Govt for good. Life, and illness, and everything that came with it, stopped everything for quite a while. I know that now. Everything changes for a reason, and who I was is not who I am now. I can't afford to waste this opportunity. It won't come again.
I've got five days off from the 14th, during which time I'll be piecing together the movement into what I've always termed 'the river', or the main storyline. Up to now I've been introducing the hero and his friends, and an elusive enemy. Most of the scene has been set, hopefully without any static, and lots of intrigue - my 'take' on how this story should begin. Of course, my marvellous readers have virtually dictated the opening chapter's style. It was the only place in the whole story for it, and it works. So I can listen when I have to!
Noel the Ultimate Proofreader has made a very good point: that I've given myself a massive task. Noel's natural concern that I do it justice after I'd explained some things in the tale that nobody knows yet. It's a big ask, I know, and quite a few times I have wondered if I was up to it. Solvey's poem challenge indicated to me that I can pick up anything and make something of it. It was a relatively small thing, but big enough to mean quite a lot. The same attitude will be needed to complete this story. Every writer should be lke this, inside their head. Only time will tell if I'm actually like this for real.
I'm having fun, though, in that I am, at last, doing what I set out to do in 2006. Things have taken shape, and very much in the way I wanted them to. This story can only look one way, so I must ensure that it does. One day this child will grow into adulthood.
Not sure if I meant the story or me... :-)