Like the challenges we face that make us who we are, sometimes the hardest revisions bring a story to life.
Writing is basically thinking. It requires harnessing imagination, sure, but more than that, it's a matter of getting your thought process out clearly, into the right words. Sometimes, characters emerge fully grown from the womb of the mind, but more often, they take time to develop.
I'm currently in the midst of rewriting a novel, and though it can be tedious at times, I'm loving what's coming from the effort. This particular fantasy story is one I'll publish under my pen name, @LeiaTalon. I originally wrote it in 1st person, present tense, from the Point of View (POV) of the protagonist.
Right now, I'm taking that story and reworking it into 3rd person, past tense, dual POV. And you know what? It's giving me SO much more insight into the characters.
Instead of seeing only from the female main character's (FMC) perspective, we get the male main character's (MMC) thoughts and experiences, which allows access to a bunch of the supporting characters that the FMC doesn't know at the start of the story.
I queried this manuscript for a while, hoping a literary agent or three would fall in love with it and offer to represent me. That's kinda like winning the lottery in the life of a writer—the odds aren't in your favor as there are a TON of writers doing the exact same thing, competing for a select few agents who are themselves competing for the rare unicorn of a publishing deal. As the big publishers merge, there are less pub deals offered, and they tend to favor already-established authors. Long story short, becoming a traditionally-published author is freaking hard.
It does happen, though, and a dream is worth pursuing even if it's unlikely to roll out the way you think it might. I might not get a trad deal, but it helps motivate me to make my stories as good as they can be, which is really the end goal.
I'm a long way from publishing this one. And yes, I should probably be working on the sequel to my latest release, Falling Through the Weaving... It's written, but needs heavy revision, and is currently simmering on the back burner of my imagination.
I've learned to let my creative process lead me, and work on whatever project calls to me in the moment. That's a freedom I wouldn't have if I had a book deal and deadlines, so another plus for self-publishing.
The story I'm writing now is one of my favorites (I love them all, really). I wrote the first draft in three weeks after attending a writing conference in 2019.
Time brings such perspective, whether you're talking about life in general or a story, and it's fascinating for me to look back and see the transformation of each of my manuscripts.
I'm still pursuing screenwriting, and have a mentor to help me there, which is fantastic, but I'm so enjoying seeing this fantasy novel from a new perspective, and bringing depth to characters who weren't fully developed in the previous version.
Anyway, that's my writing update. I hope it finds you well, and inspired with whatever you enjoy in life.
Thanks for reading!
Peace @katrina-ariel / @LeiaTalon
Top photos by Janko Ferlic and Sami Takarautio / Unsplash, all others mine.
I really am glad to have made it back here. I had forgotten how much I learn from others and you are one that I love to learn from.
Hi! It's so good to hear from you! I'm glad you're back, as well. It's so wonderful to connect. Thank you for the sweet comment. 💖
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You say rewriting - is this volume 2 of Falling Through the Weaving?
No. That will come later. I'm not ready to tackle that revision yet. 😂
Congrats on rewriting your fantasy story even if the task can be daunting at times. Giving it a spin (in this case the 3rd person perspective) can sometimes reveal interesting new insights. Fancy cover with eye-catching symbolism.
Thanks so much!