In March, 2013 I published my first novel, Dorothy Jones A Jazz Age Through Oz.
Between December, 2012 and the time I published it, I placed a lot of pressure
on myself to get it done. I would read it again and again; however, when I
arrived at the chapter entitled "Emerald City," I would lose
interest. I just assumed I was tired of reading the story. Yet, I never tired
of reading the first chapters of the book. I published the novel and received
good feedback on it.
One Saturday in June, I awakened at 4am in
the morning. Needless to say, I wasn't happy. Saturday was my day to sleep
until 11am, not sit up in bed before the rooster crowed! I lay back on my
pillow and all I could think about was Dorothy
Jones. In my mind, I flipped through the book, laughing at most parts until
I arrived at "The Emerald City." It was then I accepted the
inescapable fact I did not like the end of my book!
I got out of bed, turned on my laptop, and
spent the next two days re-writing the end of Dorothy Jones. By magic, different themes, sayings, characters and incidents
within the story began to tie together and make sense. I republished the eBook that
Sunday night.
Was it a surprise to me I didn't like the
ending of the story? Not at all. When writing the story, I wanted Dorothy Jones to be a short story; something I could
submit to contests. So, I stunted Dorothy's
growth. Instead of allowing the story to take the course it desired, I forced
it into the direction I wished it to go. Now that I've allowed Dorothy Jones to be the novel she desires
to be, I love to read the entire novel, again and again.
Have you ever experienced this
phenomenon in your writing? I would love to hear about how you learned to release control.
