To Trunk, or Not to Trunk?
Recently I attended the monthly meeting of the Northeast Ohio RWA chapter. The presentation, by the funny and talented Donna MacMeans, was about adding emotion to your writing. I learned some wonderful tips for doing that. For an example, check out Donna's article on "Rooting Interests."
As usually happens when I attend a meeting like this, I think about the lessons being imparted in relation to my WIP. And as usual, I find room for improvement in my work. This time, I had a stunning vision of clarity when I realized why I have been having such a hard time writing this book: the conflict, or rather, the lack thereof. My hero and heroine are too alike. In real life, that's a reasonably good thing--common interests and all that. However, it doesn't make for particularly interesting fiction.
Now the time has come to decide. Do (Can) I make their lives more complicated and thus more interesting, or do I put this one under the figurative bed? I have had these characters in my head for years. I know where I want them to end up, but can I make the journey interesting enough for anyone to come along for the ride? Do I even want to keep trying, or would it be better for my mental health to say au revoir?
I did some thinking, and read a couple of great blog posts: http://wordwranglers.blogspot.com/2011/11/book-under-bed.html, and http://katesheeran.com/2011/05/13/under-the-bed-not-a-bad-thing/. I have learned so much about writing with this manuscript. Working with these characters has been fun and enriching, but frustrating. They haven't changed all that much since they first were put on paper, but I have changed in so many ways. And so, under the bed it goes, at least for a while.
Once I made the decision, I felt so much better. I went back to another MS that I had started last year, and immediately cranked out 10 pages.
Have you ever trunked a MS? Why, or why not? Did you ever go back to it?
2 comments:
Marian - Great post. Lots to think about.
In the last ms I just finished I got 10K in and wondered, who cares? I didn't have enough of a motivation for my characters. I hadn't made it hard enough on them. So I thought for a few days without writing and when I went back, I changed one fact.
And it made all the difference.
Hi Marin, I loved Donna's presentation also! I went home to add another 3,000 words to my MS! I was so motivated. I have thought about shoving it under the bed but I just love them so much I keep adding and changing and revising and cutting. I want it to be everything I imagine it could be. It is the first so, you learn a lot on the first and I think every author has to start somewhere. Everyone has their first book and then it only gets better from there. So, I think we just need to pick which one it's going to be and go with it until it works - then it's time to move on :) That's what I plan on doing.
Post a Comment