I realize no one has answers for a problem manuscript without reading it, but your comments helped. It makes a difference for me to know others have had or are going through some of the same writing scares. Those who said distance is a good thing are right. It always helps to come back to something with fresh eyes. That’s why I can’t understand how some writers whip out books, poems and stories and send them out into the world, immediately. Yes, there are authors who write five and six books a year! How do they do it? Without a doubt they have more smarts (and organizational skills) than I do.
Oddly enough, the moment Charles said, “All I can tell you is that it is a sign something ain’t quite right” I got a flash of where the problem was: At the very beginning–with my outline. I tried to complicate matters by having too many characters involved in the same goal which in turn caused a pivotal character’s actions to appear extremely contrived. Make sense? Well… to me it does. As Audrey commented, I was trying to make things happen.My point here is not that my problem is solved, but that comments really help. They encourage and cause us to think. Really doesn’t matter whether you’ve read my manuscript or not–you had a vague idea of what I was going through and what I needed.
Time is precious. It’s the one thing we can’t get back. Just want each of you to know I appreciate you giving your time to me. That’s what you’re doing when you take the time to comment.
Tomorrow I’m meeting my friend Janie at the library where we’ll write till we drop. I plan to fix this story and I’m looking forward to it. I’ll let you know what happens.
Mustang Library, Senior Citizen Center, Chamber of Commerce and a bunch of other things. Good vibes in this library!