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Janni Lee Simner
janni
07 June 2008 @ 01:46 pm
Writerly note to self  
When you have a trunk novel about which, for more than a year, you've been saying: I really like the worldbuilding and the story and the plot, the only problem is the two main characters ... it's worth at least considering that the fix might be getting rid of those characters and letting someone else tell the story instead.

Or maybe not--I'm still thinking about it. There are other possible fixes, too, including the obvious one of overhauling the main characters.

But it's kind of amazing just how long it took for the ditch-the-protagonists option to even make it onto the table.
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stormywriting[info]stormywriting on June 7th, 2008 09:08 pm (UTC)
"But it's kind of amazing just how long it took for the ditch-the-protagonists option to even make it onto the table."

Possibly you were in denial.

I don't even want to think about the rewriting that would entail...

Janni Lee Simner: Clue[info]janni on June 7th, 2008 09:10 pm (UTC)
I don't even want to think about the rewriting that would entail...

Oh yeah. :-)

On the other hand, giving my protagonists personality transplants was going to mean a ground-up rewrite anyway, so I guess I'm in for a ton of work either way!

(Reminds self: no work on this novel until I actually finish the one in progress ...)

Edited at 2008-06-07 09:11 pm (UTC)
Sherwood Smith[info]sartorias on June 7th, 2008 09:33 pm (UTC)
With the usual caveats, I think sometimes it takes a while for the subconscious to kind of unstitch a story, and let one see it in its component parts.
Janni Lee Simner: Clue[info]janni on June 7th, 2008 10:28 pm (UTC)
Yes. And to figure out what are the central (and the interesting) bits, and whether they're really where I thought they were ...
~twilight~[info]_twilight_ on June 8th, 2008 12:14 am (UTC)
That sounds like a lot of work. Best of luck.

Got a lot of rewriting over here, too, if it makes you feel any better. Have about two months before chance to get-out-of-slush expires.
Janni Lee Simner: Clue[info]janni on June 8th, 2008 12:31 am (UTC)
Oh, I'm not upset about the work--more like, amused. This book is gonna take a lot more work no matter what I do. It's just helpful to finally be thinking clearly about what the options are. :-)

Good luck with your rewrites!

Edited at 2008-06-08 12:32 am (UTC)
~twilight~[info]_twilight_ on June 8th, 2008 12:36 am (UTC)
Thanks. :)

This often happens to me
Me: But, but... I thought you were done, or maybe just needed a quick cleanup.

Story: Noooooo! Muahaha!

Me: But I already did multiple major rewrites.

Story: Hahahah! Funny hoo-man being. Ha! Nooooo, but I am not done.
Janni Lee Simner: Clue[info]janni on June 8th, 2008 04:18 am (UTC)
Heh. Yeah.

I'm of the theory that the story always knows best ...
~twilight~[info]_twilight_ on June 8th, 2008 05:20 am (UTC)
Yep. :)
Gwenda Bond[info]bondgwendabond on June 8th, 2008 02:24 am (UTC)
Ha -- I'm doing a version of this, only I'm keeping the characters and setting and completely changing the POV and the story. It's actually fun thus far.
Janni Lee Simner: Clue[info]janni on June 8th, 2008 04:19 am (UTC)
I think it will be fun, when I get there. And I figure, I get to keep much of the groundwork still, which will be kind of interesting. I don't have to build everything from scratch, for once ...
jeannineatkins[info]jeannineatkins on June 8th, 2008 03:20 pm (UTC)
yikes, it doesn't amaze me at all that it took "long" for the ditch-the-protagonist option to come. I'm in awe of your insight and bravery to contemplate that step. Ouch, ouch, ouch. You will do what is right, I'm sure, and I'm trying to up my courage seeing yours!
Janni Lee Simner: Clue[info]janni on June 8th, 2008 09:10 pm (UTC)
It'll be fascinating to see how it works once I get in and try some writing! (But not now. Now, I finish the book and the articles in progress. Really!)

I think it's easier because some time has passed--when I first finished this particular book, I definitely wasn't ready to contemplate a complete overhaul!
[info]miladyinsanity on June 8th, 2008 06:44 pm (UTC)
If it's either the worldbuilding or the characters, you try never to have to face it because of the amount of work it would entail.

Though, just last week (or maybe two weeks ago, I can't remember...too much alcohol and late nights LOL), I was wandering around Manchester, then I went home and tossed out all the worldbuilding for a WIP without a second thought.
Janni Lee Simner: Clue[info]janni on June 8th, 2008 09:09 pm (UTC)
The funny thing about this book is, it's the one where I learned how to worldbuild, and I couldn't have written anything I've written since without writing it first --but along the way, I kind of let the character side of it, which I'd been thinking of as my strength until then, slip. It's kind of fascinating.