Thursday, January 6, 2011

Change of plans

Well, there I was, working away at editing my NaNo project and  fixing the flat/missing characters, fleshing out the scenes, when Fiona tells me to consider trying MG (middle grade) instead of YA (young adult).  I think about it, and think about it, and push it aside.  I continue to work in the middle of my first two chapters, rewording and cutting things out while my mind keeps telling me how I should start my story.  And my mind (or muse, as I later found out) keeps saying, "What you have is good, but what I want you to do is better!"

Then, last night as I was laying in bed, drifting off to sleep, my muse taunted me again with the opening words, then it pulled back to show me the 14 year old girl hearing them said.

So, today I wrote the opening words my muse insisted on, and continued on with this now younger MC.  My entire thoughts on the story have been tossed aside for something that seems better- something I am excited about writing.  I have no idea where this Moira (that's my MC's name) is taking me, but I've already learned some new things about her.  In this world of knights, kings, and magic, I found a young girl who is special.  I'm still working out why she's special, and what that means to those around her, but I am excited to go on this journey with her. And isn't that what it's all about???

5 comments:

  1. Interesting. I have a story I need to change the MC age on to...
    How cool to be able to really listen to your character and find out who they are instead of forcing them to be something they're not.

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  2. PK- Let me know how your change goes!

    I am finding that when I hit a wall in my writing and have either a) lost interest in the story, or b) can't figure out where to go next, that I've either made my character do something they wouldn't, or am in the wrong POV. This was the first time I realized I had set out with the wrong ages. Thanks goodness the characters are there to set things straight!

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  3. It's fun how a change in intended audience can alter a story ... sometimes it's just what it needs!

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  4. I think you have the perfect voice and imagination for MG fiction!

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  5. Thanks, Trisha-- that really means a lot to me!

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