Just Like That! (How I went from being bored with my MC to can’t stop writing)

At nearly fifteen thousand words in, and at the cusp of the first big turning point for my story, I lost my will to move forward.

Often when I am writing I struggle not to rush right into the first big revelation or turning point, where things start to unfold, make sense, and get juicy. I can feel myself breathing into the turns, gripping the wheel (er, pen…ok, keyboard) to maintain a smooth transition from introduction of key characters to revealing the belly of the story.

I could not wait to get from “this is Sue” to “see Sue run”. I even gave myself permission to cut some of the background stuff out, figuring I could add it later in dialogue, etc. But dammit if I didn’t start bringing in the good stuff and find myself hating the content!

I’ve experienced writer’s block before, but this was more along the lines of a lack of interest in my main character. I was writing too many words without feeling and it was crippling my normal urges to keep going. This bummed me out because I had been waiting for several months to even begin this story…

So here is what I’ve done, and it has been like a new fire in my spirit: I changed the p.o.v. of my story. From conception, I was determined the story needed to be told in 3rd person. I hadn’t been able to imagine it in any other way. But this morning I saved a copy of my original story then did a “find & replace” of all the times I used the MC’s name and replaced it with “I”. And so, first person it is!

I now have the task of changing all the pronouns to match my new first person modification, but while doing so I am hearing the story in a completely new light. And since I like to do revisions every ten pages or so, it gives me the chance to make them with a fresh pair of eyes.

I now feel more in tune with my MC. I’m also not worrying about head hopping, as I am tempted to do when I write in 3rd person.

I hope this provides a tip for you to try the next time you find yourself suddenly without interest in your main character. Since this particular story entails yucky things, I will enjoy the challenge of working through them as I write from “I” and not “she”. I don’t know about you but it’s played tricks on me in the past when I find it difficult to make my characters do things I wouldn’t personally do.

What do you do to fall in love with your characters again?

**Featured image photo credit to Bongkarn Thanyakij**

Writer's Empty Nest

I was wondering – and maybe this is a common topic, but I have only recently begun to get more involved with my fellow writers – do you feel a little blue when you finish your book and it’s out there, and there is nothing left but to…I don’t know… read it for yourself? Do you miss your characters? The intimacy you had with them, creating or solving their problems? Breaking their hearts, or introducing them to the love of their life?

I remember one evening I had hurt one of my characters – ripped her heart out – just as I was going to bed. I even cried as I wrote it. I woke up very early the next morning and the first thing I did was make it better for her. And for the whole day I felt a little wrecked about the incident that was undoubtedly “my fault.” I just laughed at myself for even admitting this. The thing is, her heart was supposed to remain broken but I couldn’t. I literally had to go back and fix it for her.

A week ago I self-published my first novel length book, The First Love. While I was writing it I was so consumed by my characters that I missed them whenever I was away. There was a constant longing to be back with them as soon as possible, and I remember even feeling grumpy when forced to stay away too long.

But now that it’s out and even as I prepare my next story, I can’t stop thinking about Calli, Justine, and Fenne. I miss them 🙂

I wonder where they are now.