I continue to amaze myself with how big one little change can be.
Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve realized that there’s a large portion at the beginning of the novel that is missing some crucial presence from the character around which the entire story is motivated. My plot is two-fold in the sense that it’s about one character’s central concern which, at first, is purposefully overshadowed by the romantic relationship. As the story progresses, the relationship stays in focus, but elements of the central issue begin to bubble to the surface - the interest in the novel is that the lead becomes cognizant of the two separate elements intertwining.
However, the way I’ve written it asks the reader to lend me his faith that he will read through the relationship stuff and hold on for the ride until the real, captivating interest of the story picks up and the relationship takes on intertwined significance. I know this is unrealistic and too much to ask from a reader (especially one who doesn’t know me, doesn’t care about me, and from whom a potential publisher wants money) . So, I’ve vowed to bring in hints of the buried plot in earlier pages.
I made a simple change of bring some crucial information - barely ten paragraphs - nearly seventy pages sooner, and I’m floored at what insane connections its mere relocation has made, what opportunities it has opened up. While I’m not entirely done combing the first fifty or so pages in hopes that I can make more of these changes, these are the lessons that I need to keep happily teaching myself to help this story - and me - grow.
At this point, having spent more than two years with these characters and having the path to truly complete getting shorter, I breathe a sigh of relief and re-energize myself every time I can make a meaningful change like this. It’s an optimism I didn’t expect to feel; knowing myself, finding there’s more work to be done could be so disheartening. But seeing this get stronger by the day is showing me just how good it can be, and how much better it’s getting. Knowing I am still so young has allowed me to have patience with growth and success, and looking at myself with that kind of maturity is probably the most significant lesson learned thus far.
M
