Build a better mouse trap

Isn't it amazing what we learn from our kids? I left my oldest own his own and took a quick nap- one I think I'll get back to hopefully before the little ones wake up. So anyway with all those do not open the door instructions and reasons to come immediately wake me up he heard a noise and woke me. No problem :) the local raccoon wildlife decided to come for supper and the sounds coming from the front porch scared him.

So that meant I was awake tooth aching and hungry. I fixed a quick bite to eat and sat down in the chair fasinated with the game he was playing online. Some Tom and Jerry game. So cute. Remember all the blueprints they would draw up for all their sceames? (something is wrong with that spelling and I can't quite put my ha-ha finger on it) oh well back to my story ;)

So on this game you use a blueprint to make a mouse trap for Jerry and then you test it and it plays a cartoon version of the blueprint-- cute huh? If you make mistakes Jerry gets away and Tom gets mad, but if you build the right trap you catch Jerry and Tom has him for lunch.

So this got me thinking-- how in writing can we writers 'build a better mouse trap'?

Think about this. Who is our mouse? Readers are our first desire... to have tons of fans who read and admire our work, but first we have to get our manuscripts out there. So we have to catch a publisher or agent, someone willing to take a risk on us. That's our first mouse. They're smart and ellusive too. So we need a blueprint or a guide to help us in our quest for catching that meal ticket.
Here's the thing-- maybe you have part of the writing that works, then something doesn't fit and it's a no go. On the Tom and Jerry game the trap blows up or something and you have to use the what? Guess. That's right - edit button. To go back and try again. Maybe this time you'll get closer to catching that mouse. My son didn't know that at first. He kept using the "Start over" button. That's all well and good, but startiing from stratch can sometimes be so frustrating.

My advise is this. Take a look at where your going and what worked. Then Change what doesn't work before you clear the slate and start over. It may just be the thing to improve your writing. It's the learning what doesn't work to push you forward more than the beginning again. It's quite simple to begin again, but it takes courage to work on an existing project. :)

Here's a great way to 'see' what I'm talking about. Go play the game. You'll either A.) Get a story idea B.) Understand what I mean in this post or C.) have fun procrastinating on your next story ;)
Tom and Jerry Trap-o-matic