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Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Goodbye


Before completing my manuscript and sending it off for the first rounds of edits I was having a hard time finishing it. Here is my reasoning. 


I’m ashamed to admit I have been avoiding my novel. I sit down to write, clicking the word document entitled WIP, then something happens like I realize my dog needs fresh water, or I need to clean out my car at that very instance and I walk away. The next day I repeat my steps, and just reach for the red X in the upper right hand corner, this time without any excuse besides I don’t want to – can’t say goodbye to my characters.

I’ve learned the hard way that there is no switching off from writing my novel. That just because I have powered down my laptop for the night, it doesn't stop my fictional characters popping into my head over a greasy cheeseburger and a mound of fries or keeping me awake on the wrong side of midnight.

They're kind of bossy like that.

And I all love them for that, of course - even the assholes. Especially the assholes. They are my snotty nosed kids, in the sense that they were conceived in my minds. And they have become my closest friends - perhaps even closer, because I know everything about them and they can’t nor want to hid anything from me (and who can say that about a real person?) And they know everything about me as well, living inside my twisted mind and all, yet they don’t avoid my eye contact because they know my lofty dreams, and greatest fears.
I understand how unhealthy this all sounds and after crapping out an unnecessary line or two I realized that I have to let go. Not for my own sanity, I lost that years ago, but for theirs. The strong willed characters in my head won’t stand for the muddling of their life for my own selfish reasons. The ransom has been paid now they demand release – I told you they were pushy. So I power up my laptop determined to finish their story, not to be derailed, or lose focus because as much as I have grown to love them, my characters deserve to be shared with the world and to boss someone else around. 

7 comments:

  1. I can't wait to meet them....and yes, you must share them with all of the world. I have so many characters in my head now bossing me around and there us always room for more.

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  2. Letting go is always hard no matter what the circumstance. It's exciting that your book is now one step closer to publication. I cannot wait to read it!

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  3. Looking forward to meeting those lil pesky people. Glad they are not leaving you alone, they want their story told.

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  4. Wow Desmond...That is so true. They become so real to us, it feels like saying goodbye...I get it :)

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  5. Awwwwww! I guess that's what series are for. ;-)

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  6. What you just said confirms what I already knew.. that this is going to be an amazing story that I know I am going to love bratty kids and all. With the characters taking over your already brilliant witty mind how can it not be absolutely amazing!!!

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  7. "They're kind of bossy like that." Like voices in our heads!

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