Who’s Writing This Thing?

You know that moment where the story you thought you were writing turned into something different? When the character you thought you know turns around, strips off the mask and changes everything? Yeah, that was me last night. And I have to say, it resulted in my mind being officially blown. It’s not like this is the first time I’ve had a story evolve. *stares at Tavis* But it’s the first time I’ve had a character significantly rewrite themselves on me. Yet that’s what Reah did.

Now let me say this up front, her doing this solved a problem I sort of knew I had, one I was sure I could take care of through the story. Well, okay, I thought I could. Or maybe I just kept telling myself I could. 😉

This way is better than just doing it through the story though, and I think it’ll be better, and make her a stronger, more dynamic character. It makes the story arcs more complex and I think it’s going to require me to rethink significant elements of the story, but that’s okay, because I have no intention of rushing things. I need to stop giving myself arbitrary deadlines that are stupid. I’ve been fighting the urge to do exactly that all month so far.

Part of my brain is screaming that I need to write a novel in March. Not because I have something ready to go (not at this point at least), but because I haven’t been writing a novel since JANUARY. Because that was ever so long ago. All of what, 4 weeks now, since I finished Unmasked. After I took just two weeks off post-NaNo before diving into that one. I’ve decided that this madness must stop. Or at least slow down. Anyone have a spare roll of subconscious-rated duct tape? I need it to shut this screaming bitch in my brain up for a bit.

I have a mountain of editing to go, and I really do need to get to it. But also, as I said, I want to take enough time to really develop Spire of Time properly. Last night’s abrupt personality reversal from my MC suggests that story isn’t ready for writing, maybe not even outlining, though I’d started that. It’s nothing I can’t toss, and if it makes this whole thing better, it’s worth it.

I’m trying really hard to embed in my thick skull that, just because the story for Devan flowed well enough for me to do a novel every other month, that doesn’t mean they all will, nor should I expect that they will and rush to keep up. I’ll let you know how this struggle works out. But if I suddenly turn up here in the next two weeks, declaring myself ready to write my next book, please smack me. HARD.

Of course, I should say that this is only one of the incidents from yesterday that left me wondering who was in charge in my brain. The other one’s truly bizarre, at least to me. Have you ever had a story idea that’s out of your usual genre/age group? Yeah, I see a lot of hands. How about one that was a lot out of your normal writing arena? Still a few of you with me. Tell me, have any of you had one that was in a genre you don’t read, aren’t all that interested in reading, but it’s still killer enough that you can’t quite turn away from it? I don’t dare look, but someone tell me I’m NOT the only one. I actually started swearing a little. Well, okay, a lot. I do NOT write contemporary romance. You can all picture me sticking my tongue out at the story idea I dutifully wrote down because I’ve trained myself that way. It’s even got a pretty good title. But I’m still not writing it. Nuh uh. Take that, muse. You’re not the boss of me. Probably. Maybe. No, I’m still not writing that story.

All right, in a less childish vein, there is something fairly exciting coming in the new month, but I don’t want to give it a way. All I’m saying is to watch this space for information. Yes, it’s writing related. Yes, I think you’ll enjoy it. No, you can’t bribe me into telling, not even with chocolate and hot guys.