I started writing a new novel. It was a retelling of the Princess and the Pea story, where the pea was so tainted with dark magic it burned a hole through a dozen mattresses and the princess had to figure out who was trying to start a war. It was a fun idea, and I was excited to start.
The beginning was going well – I started with a lot of energy, but then this happened:
HALT!
The story quickly got away from me. It started out light and airy, full of fun humor. And then in the second chapter I was having the main character gouge someone’s eye out with a knitting needle.
Not. Pretty.
I feel like the story still has a lot going for it. I like the premise. I just didn’t know how to write it and I constantly felt like I was fighting it.
I’m not sure if I have the talent level right now to pull it off. I wanted to write it in past tense, but it kept demanding that I write it in present. I wanted it to be fun and middle grade, and it kept showing me it’s darker underbelly of YA-ness. It’s like it’s this pretty idea out there, but I can’t seem to grasp it and put it into words the way I typically would.
She really liked the story and wanted me to keep writing it. So I tried. I really did, but I kept getting stuck. It was awkward.
Life is good folks — cuz I’m writing. What’ve you been up to in my absence?
Yay! That was awesome! Wow. That dog was amazing.
I had one WIP like that–the kind that makes you want to slam your head against the desk. Every. Time. You work. On it. It was actually in fourth draft form, but still was like pulling teeth. I set it aside for another day and am very happy about that. I don't have to think about it again for another two years, at which time I'll be high on the successes of my other works. I hear once stories like this are published, readers can't tell you pulled out every single hair to finish this book. –Which is great for us, eh? 😉
Crystal – I hope that's true! Some of the books I love the most are books that the author said took forever. Hopefully I'll have a fresh perspective when I eventually get back to it 🙂
LOL. These GIFs just made my day! Good luck on the new novel love! 😉
As for me, still struggling to find the balance of my day job and my writing. Making slow progress — better than no progress I guess!
I wrote this long and supportive comment and then jacked up the computer. So now I'm writing a shorter one that just says: Good job on the writing! You'll come back to the other project some day and make it rock!
Laura – Ah! Sorry bout that! Thank you for the short note, regardless.
I actually love it when my stories get carried away from me, there is a thrill of discovery that keeps me going. But I understand things derailing so much where you thought your unicorn was really just a dirty horse and you just want to slap it on the rump and say 'get out of here!'. *sigh* Teeth-pulling stories. I find them so hard to walk away from, so I applaud you for that. Breaks are nice from time to time. And it's awesome that you've found something new to work on. You seem to be enjoying this new project of yours.
Gwen – I usually like it when my stories get away from me – but you're right, there's a difference between characters taking on a life of their own, and the book completely dissolving into something new and different.
I had wondered where you'd been! Hadn't seen you around the blog in weeks! These gifs absolutely made my morning. I think we all hit these metaphorical brick walls in our writing. But I truly believe that sometimes stepping back for a brief time is the best way to beak them down 🙂
You made the right decision! The story will call you back if it's meant to be. And you'll know what kind of story it's meant to be by which element draws you back … is it the light middle grade humor of it? Or is it the eye-gouging thing? When you hear the siren call of this project, listen carefully to the melody, and then follow that path.
In the meantime, working on something different is the way to go!
Grrrrr… isn't it interesting when this happens? I wish I knew the reason why some projects click and flow and others don't. It's like we don't have control or something. I'm kind of suffering with the same thing–lack of passion anyway. I love what I've written so far with my WIP, but I've come to a halt that's never happened to me before. And I've never been one to walk away from a project and start something else, but I might. Not sure.
What I *do* know is that you're doing the right thing by continuing to write. I think that's what matters. And funny how this new project is flowing so much easier! And I have to say this whole post was sooooooo clever and entertaining. The pictures are perfect! Can't wait to see how this new project goes!!!!
A break from your blog is always okay if you are spending more time on writing. Or at least that's what I tell myself when I go months and months without a post.
Two and a half years ago I was working on the first of three books in a YA epic. When I got twenty chapters in, I couldn't finish it. I don't know why, maybe because I was switching from a single narrator to multiple narrators. Maybe it was because I was pregnant. But my brain would not continue the story the way it had begun, and I thought it a lost cause.
Since then, I have completed a women's fiction, which is far far far removed from my YA epic, and now that I'm done writing that, I am happily going back to my YA epic because I know it is still there waiting for me. And I didn't turn it into something I didn't like.
Good luck on your latest project! And the Princess and the Pea will be there when you get back 🙂
Anna – I routinely take long breaks from my blog … I'm just not good at those regular updates like you're "supposed" to do! 🙂 And good for you for getting back to your YA epic! Good luck with it.
I love the sound of your story! And this post is totally the story of my life, sister. I have so many random chapters and scenes scattered here and there across my computer desktop. But I figure that it's okay… if we love these stories (and we do), we'll come back to them eventually. Maybe it's just not the right time to work on them. Good luck on your new project!
Julie – Thanks 🙂 I know you like to work on multiple projects at once, so you feel me!
Loved this post, Tiana! Sometimes we have to step away from an idea if it's not working and come back to it with new excitement. Happy to hear things are going well and you've found a new project that's going in the direction you want. Enjoy! 🙂
This is such a foreign concept to me. I meticulously outline my story before I put pen to paper, and although a character or two may end up evolving and earning more "screen time", I always know where I'm headed. Just goes to show you…the creative process knows no boundaries. 🙂
Hi Tania,
For longer works, I'm a plotter, but for short stories, I go with the flow. Hope you salvage your story, and thanks for making me smile.
Tracy
Ha, this was a fun post, and very relatable. I'm a fan of taking breaks from manuscripts that are giving us trouble, and moving on to something else for a while. I'm actually in the process of going back to an old MS after a year and totally rewriting it, and the wait definitely helped!
Forgot to add… good luck with that project! I'm sure it will work out in the end! 🙂