REKINDLE Changes

Well August has arrived, and I'm sorry to say I haven't had much time to work on REKINDLE.  There have been too many other things fighting for my attention.  However, I am excited about a recent development in the storyline.  From the beginning, I planned on sharing the story through two POVs ~ Kallie's and Joey's.  I thought (ha ha, that's what I get for thinking) that Kallie would get more time than Joey.  But I don't think that will be the case.

Here's a very brief description of the story:

Kallie returns to town because she has finally sold her old house and needs to pack up all her stuff so she can move on with her future.  When Kallie had left town several years before, she left Joey behind to cope with a broken heart.  They run into each other early on and the story goes from there.

The development I'm excited about is this: Joey's life has been turned upside down.  The love of his life skipped town, and then he was forced to deal with another loss and his family is still trying to pick up the pieces.  I'm sensing a lot of conflict and tension yet to be written.  And that's more interesting than Kallie and her packing abilities.  Actually, she does more than pack boxes, but Joey's going to be the popular one.  So it's a shift, a big one in my opinion.  Kallie and her dilemmas are not going to be the focus of the story after all. 

Ahhh...writing.  Got to love the journey it takes us on!

Accepting Constructive Criticism

My writing philosophy is this: anyone can write.  However, not everyone can write well and tell a good story while doing it.  Writing takes a lot of work.  And one of the things a writer must be is objective.  Let's be honest.  We love our stories and our characters.  However, we can't let our feelings overpower our objectivity.  This is especially true when it comes to critiques.

I recently blogged about the novel I am working on titled REKINDLE.  As I began writing, I felt the need to get the story set up properly.  Thinking I was off to a great start, I continued with the story.  But something felt off.  I couldn't put my finger on it, but I was not connecting with Kallie at all.  Joey's scenes were going great, though.  So each time I sat down to write, I would edit and add some more.  I'd do the same thing the next night.  And the next night.  With just over 8,000 words (four chapters), I stopped.  I couldn't go on.  I am not one of those writers who can "get the story down and edit later."  Yes, I edit when I've got my first draft done, but I can't keep writing when I know something is so terribly wrong.

So what did I do? I posted my first chapter at Absolute Write.  After receiving some awesome advice, I deleted the first couple pages.  I didn't even try to edit; I just took them out completely.  I did revise the new opening scene, and guess what? The story reads better.  It's not burdened by an unnecessary opening.  I can connect with Kallie much better.  And now I can continue.  With a few minor revisions to the remaining pages, I'll be on my way.

I could have reacted differently.  I could have insisted that the opening was necessary (I loved the first paragraph!) and tried to edit.  I could have pleaded my case and tried to figure out something else.  But I didn't.  Instead, I looked at the story objectively and acted accordingly.  And that is necessary for all writers to do.

New Novel Beginning

Last night I finally had the opportunity to sit down and start my next novel.  I only got 859 words down, but it's a start.  And I'm so excited about it! This story has been an idea for more than eight years.  To finally see words on paper (okay, words on the computer screen) makes me giddy.  When this story idea first came to me, I never imagined so many years would go by before I had the chance to start it.  But other projects and ideas fought for my attention, and it was just a small idea.  One simple scene actually.  And it went like this:

"Joey."
"Joe.  It's just Joe now."
"Yeah, nobody calls me Kallie anymore either."

Eight years ago, that was all I had.  Yet it says so much about the two characters.  Anyway, I left that idea on the back burner (i.e. I jotted it down with my other story ideas) and let it sit.  Knowing I would get to it some day, I never thought much about it.  But now the time is right.  This is the story that's ready to be written.  And from that one little scene, a story is growing.  I've been jotting down notes for a few weeks as details and scenes have come to me.  I have a good idea of the ending, but I don't know the how or why.  And I think for me, one of the most exciting parts of writing is watching everything develop as I write.  I love it! It's a lot like reading.  When I'm reading a good book and have to put it down, I can't wait to get back to it to see what happens next.  It's the same with writing.  I can't write 24/7, so when I have to take a break, I can't wait to get back to it to see what happens next.

For the first time, I've chosen a title beforehand.  Usually I wait, but I wanted to be able to refer to it easily.  And what title did I come up with? REKINDLE.  It's really just a working title.  It sort of fits, and I'm sure I'll change it by the end.

Okay, that's enough for now.  Time to slip into Kallie and Joey's world... :)