I’ve been staring at my manuscript for a week, freaking out over the changes my agent asked for. Now these weren’t outrageous changes, but one of the specific changes he wanted messed with the entire book. I understood the reason he asked for the changes, but I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how to make them. Hence my state of total panic.
Productive, I know.
I realized during this little expedition into the realm of fear that I’m the type of writer who really needs to have a good idea where my book is going. This is especially the case when the book is already written and I have to rewrite chunks of it.
So while I was doing laps in my pity pool a friend came over for lunch. This particular friend is not a writer. I know her from my flying days. I was lamenting about how freaked out I’ve been. She was familiar with the story (I can’t imagine how she’d heard about it. LOL! Blush.) and without missing a beat suggested a change. Not just any change, but a change that would take care of ALL the problems I’ve been having. Honest to goodness, I could have kissed her. And would have, if it wouldn’t have freaked her out. LOL!
I’ve been giddy ever since. I’m going to finish my new character charts. I’m rewriting them to familiarize myself with the characters, since it’s been years since I wrote this book. And I’m actually looking forward to digging into the story now.
Have you ever received help from an unexpected source?
February 16th, 2005
er, nope. gg. Only because I’m like a dog with a bone and I’ll worry a problem to death till I discover the answer myself. ‘Input’ sometimes = ‘interference’ . Not in the sense of not minding their own buisness, just in the sense of maybe messing up my thought processes, when the elusive answer is just right there just out of reach… Not not much of a ‘lets get together and brainstorm’ type.
by Jaq February 16th, 2005 at 11:33 amOoops! Meant to say, WTG!! on feeling rejuvenated with the new direction!!
by Jaq February 16th, 2005 at 11:34 amOh, can I ever relate to this. I got my edits back on my first book with SMP, and first let me say I have a brilliant editor. Her suggestions and questions were incredible. TG she loved it. I’d have died if she didn’t. Anyway, I started seriously freaking yesterday about how I was going to make this all work because it requires some major changes. My crit partner called me from TN about ten last night. We talked about what I wanted to do–just didn’t know how to do it–and a single idea that she gave me, just blew open the doors. (I can see clearly now, the rain is gone…;-) We talked it all through, and I’m not sitting here like a marble statue, going OMG what am I going to do???? I’m actually doing something! Although I still have butterflies in my stomach…
by Cheyenne McCray February 16th, 2005 at 4:56 pmActually, Chey helped me with one. When I read her novella that was going in the same anthology with mine, I realized my H/h met in a similar way to hers. LOL!! Argh!! Since I didn’t want the stories to start off the same, I called her and she suggested another way for them to meet. WHY it hadn’t occurred to me, I haven’t a clue. I guess the old saying…”Sometimes you can’t see the forest for the trees” comes to mind. So thanks, Chey! :o) Congrats on getting an idea that worked for you Jordan and good luck with the rewrites.
by Patrice February 16th, 2005 at 5:36 pmEr, it wasn’t my H/h but a secondary character and my heroine. Sheesh…long day.
by Patrice February 16th, 2005 at 5:40 pmJaq,
I needed the assistance…BAD. I do understand that help can be interference at times, but this wasn’t one of them. (wg)
Chey,
I hear you on the butterflies. I’ll accept them willingly, if it means cracking the marble. LOL!
Patrice, Sometimes all it takes is to have an outside perspective. I definitely needed it, since I’ve been playing with this book since 2000/2001.
by Jordan February 16th, 2005 at 6:16 pmSo is your friend available to come over to my house and fix MY manuscript??
by Jill February 16th, 2005 at 6:44 pmI have a friend at work that is a good sounding board. She’s an artist, and she’s great at just letting me babble and come otmy own conclusions, or throwing things in here and there.
by Sasha February 17th, 2005 at 12:08 pm