PLOT PROBLEMS

Here's what I have so far:
-- a great big nifty world that I love
-- a great big nifty map of this nifty, loveable world
-- five main land masses with detailed cultures and countries there-in
-- a lovely, very detailed archipelago where the story is supposed to take place
-- names, weather patterns, geological and geographical constructions of all the major islands in the archipelago along with major flora and fauna lists
-- major cities in the archipelago
-- detailed colony map of the main town where the story really starts
-- lots and lots of misc. notes and details
-- my three main characters roughly charted out, including an analysis of their lives from birth to story start
-- a short list of supporting characters with some pretty cool ideas
-- a general idea of what's supposed to happen, when, and why
-- detailed magic system with attenuated physics (ie operating rules and limits)

So, you see, I haven't been idle. I've got a TON of stuff and I love it. BUT...

I ain't got game.

It's all missing a soul.

Speaking of soul, what's really at the heart of a good book? Simplicity and emotion.

Oh, I don't mean simple as, say, something sitcoms have recycled for decades and you know from the previews exactly how the story will work out. No. Simple as in universally resonant. Simple as something we can all identify with and plug into. Simple as, say, the opposite of Robert Jordan books where the cast numbers in the tens of thousands, just slightly higher a number than the subplots that are weaving the author a fortune with an unending series of books that will still be stringing the reader along til there's peace in the Middle East.

And emotion. A struggle that's worthwhile. Nothing overly noble. Simple. Like love. Saving the world is all well and good (and so overdone) but we humans are generally selfish creatures. Our needs are basic and powerful and personal.

And this plot of mine? It feels constructed. Deliberately pasted. It lacks the dense skeleton of simplicity and basic emotion. Without the bones, what's the point of muscles, tendons, veins, and skin? It's got possibility, but right now it's just a puddle of flab.

I am thinking of Harry Potter's second year when Prof. Gilderoy Lockhart tried to heal his broken arm and removed all the bones instead. Poor Harry--it was painful and took quite some time to grow those bones back.

That's my current stage--painfully trying to grow up some bones for my baby. Ugh. Where's Madame Pomfrey and her magic wand when I need her?