So, this scene is taking a whole lot longer than I had thought it would. I’m pondering how to make it a case of the protags working smart to overcome the impossible odds, rather than just working hard. I am putting the onus on the heroine to be the brains, and the hero to be the knowledge (experienced pirate) and ruthlessness. Thinking the big bad in this scene needs to throw a spanner in the works by turning them against one another: his big strength being people skills.
I just thought I haven’t even considered what their
big fears are in this situation. Have to go over that for each of them. Do you find you spend a lot more time on writing certain scenes than others? Any techniques for planning a great escape or heist?
Also, I still need a name for Roger’s parrot (though some of the ideas so far have been awesome: there’s a P011-Y and a Potato)
Best regards, D.R.Sylvester
D.R.SYLVESTER FICTION 
Planning a Great Escape/Heist 101:
1. Conceive Cunning Plan
2. Draw map in the dirt with stick (everyone understands the map and intuitively knows where North is)
3. Carve a key out of soap
4. Kill that one guy who is going to panic & make noise early on (tragic but essential)
5. It would be nice if moustaches are involved in some capacity
6. Build replica of DaVinci’s flying machine (this comes in handy later)
7. Tunneling with spoons
8. More Tunneling
9. Execute Cunning Plan in remarkable 3-hour window
10. Revel in newfound freedom/riches (you can keep the moustaches)
p.s. My hypothetical parrot is called Coronis, but I think he’s actually a Stymphalian
Hahah that’s what I’ve written, in a nutshell. Just with more pirates. There are mustaches.
Coronis sounds cool, and who wouldn’t rather have a spiky, metal, greek monster bird with poison poo instead of a parrot? (thank you, google, I had no idea what the hell a Stymphalian was)