Seshat be with me. What the hell am I thinking?
With only about three months before my deadline for book three of the trilogy, I have decided I hate the story I've got, have completely thrown out the original plot, and am reworking the entire story, almost from scratch.
The characters, especially Carter Anne herself, just weren't working. The story depended on her behaving in ways that she wouldn't have behaved and reacting in ways that she wouldn't have reacted. Part of me finds this totally reasonable and logical. Another part of me thinks that these are characters I have created and therefore they can do anything I want them to do...but that doesn't feel right. If anything, it feels like a bit of a cheat.
The characters, especially Carter Anne herself, just weren't working. The story depended on her behaving in ways that she wouldn't have behaved and reacting in ways that she wouldn't have reacted. Part of me finds this totally reasonable and logical. Another part of me thinks that these are characters I have created and therefore they can do anything I want them to do...but that doesn't feel right. If anything, it feels like a bit of a cheat.
I wrote to my wonderful teacher, who wrote back some incredibly helpful words of wisdom (including: if you hate what you're writing, others will hate it as well which makes So Much Sense ~ but I had managed to lose sight of it anyway) and gave me the courage to do this thing, even three months out. Wish me luck. Because what the hell am I thinking?
4 comments:
Thinking right, I believe. Too many authors have written and spoken about how the characters they have created take over the writing in progress and tell the author what they will and will not do. Maybe that's what Carter Anne did. Let her take the lead, then follow. And we know you will meet the deadline...
I think you just like working under a tight deadline. Not happy unless you feel that the final product was a mix of an epic military/mystical/spiritual act of supernatural will.
But that's what'll make it good.
Luck.
Wow! Reworking it all over.... wow!
Go with your gut, it's always the right choice.
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