The Best Laid Plans

About a year ago (Yeah, that long, I’m slow, OK?) I gave myself a new challenge. After all, the last one I gave myself went fairly well. So why not? Right? I mean, we all want to improve our craft. At least those of us who are serious writers do.

That was my aim; to hone my craft, to become a better writer. And what better way to attempt that than to give myself a new, more difficult challenge.

“What challenge?” you might well ask. I wrote my first book in multiple third person point(s) of view. That accomplishment made me proud, especially when I held my work of art in my eager hands. (don’t laugh, it’s not polite) For the sequel I gave myself a new challenge. To write in the first person and still make the story move forward. I am writing a trilogy, so the whole plot had to move forward, not just the life of Liannis, my main character. I think it worked. At least, that is what readers and reviewers tell me.

Never one to stand still, or sit on my laurels, I pushed myself a step farther. For the third and final volume in the trilogy, the one that would wrap everything into a nice neat conclusion and leave everyone satisfied and fulfilled (I heard that snort. You’re breaking my concentration. Cut it out.) I set out to write this one in dual first person. One speaker would be the same Liannis from Book Two, the second voice would be that of her new partner. Why? Because I thought it would work, because I thought I could, because I wanted a new challenge, because I wanted to see if I could keep the voices distinct and still keep the story going in the right direction – because I was _________ (you fill in the blank if you’re so smart).

I began to worry when I got about 10,000 words written. It was a lot tougher than I thought it would be. I wondered if I might be wise to give up that idea and start over. But the members of my critique group encouraged me to stick with it. I reread and edited those first 10,000 words. I actually liked it, so far. It seemed to be OK. So I carried on.

Then, 26,000 words later, at the 36,000 word mark, (that’s roughly one third of the manuscript approximately), I hit the wall. My writing became a struggle – like wading through cold molasses. Keeping the voices distinct began to feel stilted. There were gaps in the plot and background that I wanted to include, but my characters wouldn’t have access to that knowledge, (even though one is a seer). The whole thing began to feel awkward and contrived, like I was forcing things to fit a formula where things just wouldn’t add up. I’m no math whiz but even in fiction things have to add up.

I wasn’t having fun anymore. I think I am not alone when I say writing has to have an element of fun or it becomes a chore, a job instead of a calling. It didn’t feel at all right. I was stuck.

So about a week ago I mentioned to my hubby that I was thinking I had made a mistake and maybe I ought to go back to the drawing board and re-write the book using multiple third person again. He just looked at me for a minute, then said, “Are you sure you want to do that? Will that work?”

I wasn’t at all sure. But I knew what I was doing wasn’t working and something had to change.

A few days later I met with my critique group, who had just read the last 5000 words I had written. One, the one whose writing I admire the most, the only one who is published, looked me in the eye and said, “I’m having trouble keeping the two voices apart. And the story seems to have lost its flow.”

That clinched it. She voiced exactly what I had been feeling. I made my decision then and there. Sure, 36,000 words, one third of a book, is a lot to toss out, but carrying on sure wasn’t getting me anywhere. I would start over. I would rewrite – in multiple third person.

The strange thing is, now that my decision is made, I feel so much lighter. I am looking at my book with new eyes and getting back my enthusiasm for it. And I discovered that all is not lost. There are chapters that only need the POV designation changed and can be salvaged almost intact. And I can see where I can insert other scenes, with additional points of view, that will enrich the plot and offer the reader a fuller understanding of the story and the underlying theme of the entire trilogy.

Watch out, all you scoffers. I’m on a roll again. You won’t be laughing when I’m finished. I will.

Author: Yvonne Hertzberger

Yvonne Hertzberger is a native of the Netherlands who immigrated to Canada in 1950. She is an alumna of The University of Waterloo, with degrees in psychology and Sociology. Her Fantasy trilogy, ‘Earth’s Pendulum’ has been well received. Learn more about Yvonne at her blog and her Amazon author page. View all posts by Yvonne Hertzberger