I have a pretty good idea of what I want the next chapter of Tuskers IV to do, but no clue how to go about it. Thematically, I'm very clear on what I want to accomplish.

Basically, the core POV characters are a group of Tuskers and humans who band together to survive the zombie apocalypse (Porkcalypse: zombies being both Tuskers and human). This group treats each other as equals, with respect, and develop their own little culture.

Meanwhile, in the south I have a band of humans who absolutely hate Tuskers, and in the north a group of Tuskers (and their zombie minions) who absolutely hate humans.

Obviously, the climax is when they all end up confronting each other.

Anyway, this chapter is where I'm trying to show the beginning of the "good guy" culture. After which I'm going to jump ahead a couple of years. (Or several generations of Tuskers).

OK. A little thought and the question: what bonds people together?

Shared danger.

So pretty clearly I need the Carver compound under attack, and the pigs and humans saving each other's, ahem, bacon.

Nice. Action and it fills the need.


LATER: Okay, I didn't do an action chapter. It was too close on the heels of the last action chapter. Instead I go into the POV of Sasha, the Russian bride, the survivalist and all around bad ass.

For some reason, I like writing bad ass female characters. Barbara in Tuskers is a good example. I don't know where they come from, except I've known some strong women in my life.

Anyway, even though Sasha is going to end up being the leader of the "good guys" she is kind of a benevolent dictator. This comes from the personality I constructed. She's still a good guy, she just doesn't suffer fools.

So I wrote the chapter from that basis, and I think it works, and it's a bit of a change of tone, which is always a good idea.