tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4174226224096540850.post5913995493130601408..comments2023-10-05T05:20:59.743-04:00Comments on Piedmont Writer: And Then It All Fell ApartAnne Gallagherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05816355522284492131noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4174226224096540850.post-6894165750511004552015-10-07T18:59:18.291-04:002015-10-07T18:59:18.291-04:00I'm so glad you haven't thrown in the towe...I'm so glad you haven't thrown in the towel! :)J.B. Chicoinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06894797553204276281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4174226224096540850.post-42359510688995628572015-10-06T20:01:53.040-04:002015-10-06T20:01:53.040-04:00Thanks all. I really appreciate your comments.
I&...Thanks all. I really appreciate your comments.<br /><br />I've given this a lot of thought over the last couple of days because I read a blog post recently that in a nutshell said, "Write the story you want to read." I know we've all heard this countless times before, but somehow I lost sight of that. I've been trying to write to the market (as this is kind of a high concept story) but that's when I started having trouble with it. <br /><br />Today I sat down and reread everything I'd written thus far, and you know what, it's a damn good story just the way it is. Yes, people do fall in love at first sight. And Yes, they do wonder if they're crazy. I've done it myself, though not to the extent my MC has.<br /><br />So, I'm keeping it the way it is. I can't agonize over every decision wondering if I'm wrong. If I did, the story would never get finished. I have to be true to myself and the characters. If they don't like the way it's going, I'm sure they'll tell me. Besides, they already know it's going to have a happy ending. <br /><br />Thanks. You guys rock!Anne Gallagherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05816355522284492131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4174226224096540850.post-4180449320999016022015-10-06T16:06:18.776-04:002015-10-06T16:06:18.776-04:00Been there. If I don't know what I'm going...Been there. If I don't know what I'm going to do at the beginning, I keep on and write the ending as planned because depending on what I do at the beginning, I may be able to salvage at least part of the ending, even if it's a slightly different form. If I do know what I'm going to do at the beginning, then I don't write it unless the new beginning means the ending will absolutely work. Then of course, I write it. I've found when you tinker with something at the beginning - even something that seems relatively minor - it has a way of impacting character and attitudes throughout the entire book. It touches every page, and especially impacts the ending. At least that's been my experience.Carol Kilgorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03745686632918324803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4174226224096540850.post-26259537154679704062015-10-05T20:54:13.538-04:002015-10-05T20:54:13.538-04:00This happened to me with the first book I wrote (n...This happened to me with the first book I wrote (not the first published).<br /><br />I knew the heart of the story was in there, but it wasn't working the way I wanted it to. After agonizing over it, I knew what I had to do. I restarted the novel, kept the same characters, but changed the inciting moment, which in turn changed everything else. The only thing that stayed the same was the first love scene.<br /><br />In hindsight it was the best decision. Deep down I knew what had to be done. Probably, deep down you do too.Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4174226224096540850.post-66657837675342820142015-10-05T20:14:48.408-04:002015-10-05T20:14:48.408-04:00I sat down to write a 6000 word short story. And, ...I sat down to write a 6000 word short story. And, nothing worked out. I'm on draft 4 and still filling in plot holes. Thinking, maybe I should just bow out and start something else.<br /><br />Sometimes, writing life is like that.dolorahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4174226224096540850.post-60577337674780649652015-10-05T16:34:00.717-04:002015-10-05T16:34:00.717-04:00Well, really, I go for Ben and Jerry's Chocola...Well, really, I go for Ben and Jerry's Chocolate Fudge Brownie, and then a give myself thinking time. With any luck in the middle of the night or the middle of a shower, a fix occurs to me...Lizahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16170701034715108039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4174226224096540850.post-47329838698105904622015-10-05T16:30:15.561-04:002015-10-05T16:30:15.561-04:00I can relate. I've written an entire manuscrip...I can relate. I've written an entire manuscript where the whole plot fell apart at one point. My solution was to do a complete rewrite, not just revise it, but start over and have more of a solid plan for the plot. It turned out much better. Good luck with your MS!Shelley Slyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07981620646634240160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4174226224096540850.post-28964799432383191872015-10-05T14:56:24.935-04:002015-10-05T14:56:24.935-04:00I kind of had that problem with my last novel. Cou...I kind of had that problem with my last novel. Couldn't figure out how to end that sucker because I screwed up somewhere. I found re-drafting it worked wonders. I printed out the book and then I just started re-writing it, copying from that first draft (not copy and paste, but actually re-typing it on a new word document). I picked up instantly what went wrong and fixed it. I did try to keep most of what I had written (because I had written A LOT that was good), but it sure was easier to fix that way. Managed to finish the book shortly thereafter. Whew! Stacy McKitrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07898731847653710759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4174226224096540850.post-34815728289414642582015-10-05T11:19:05.778-04:002015-10-05T11:19:05.778-04:00Mac -- Yeah, I could make it work, but I don't...Mac -- Yeah, I could make it work, but I don't want to force the story. Then it sounds stupid and forced. I'd rather just let it sit until I'm ready to get back at it.<br /><br />Bish -- I've been trying to work on the new and different, but that only leads to guilt to finish this latest one up. I'm giving it more time to sit than I usually do because I actually don't have the time. Hopefully, once I do get back to it, the problems will be staring me in the face and I'll only have to tweak instead of completely rewrite.<br /><br />Susan -- I edit and revise as I go, so full chapter rewrites are a curse for me. Also not having the time to get back to it the way I want to is actually more frustrating than having to do the actual work. It'll get done eventually.Anne Gallagherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05816355522284492131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4174226224096540850.post-66708408657694891112015-10-05T11:08:56.810-04:002015-10-05T11:08:56.810-04:00I finish the book and then I fix it. It might mean...I finish the book and then I fix it. It might mean entire chapter rewrites, major scene additions, but I finish it. First drafts usually needs tons of work for me.Susan Gourley/Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02669793865290876168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4174226224096540850.post-35520183095630893282015-10-05T09:58:40.754-04:002015-10-05T09:58:40.754-04:00I would probably make myself sick on chocolate and...I would probably make myself sick on chocolate and pistachio ice cream, be in the hospital for a few days and while there have an epiphany, come back home and write something else completely new and different! <br /><br />Try not to beat yourself up too much or get too freak out. If you figure out what to do great. If not, move on to something else.Bish Denhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13359927719391990534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4174226224096540850.post-75061736848533629712015-10-05T07:22:41.367-04:002015-10-05T07:22:41.367-04:00You can ALWAYS make it work...may just take more e...You can ALWAYS make it work...may just take more editing than you expected. But that's what the creative process is.<br /><br />(Oh my, I'm so wise)Author R. Mac Wheelerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15679108828353499313noreply@blogger.com