For the longest time, the characters in my current work would not listen to a thing a said.
When I didn’t want they to end up together they would, and when I then went back and wrote another draft to intentionally push them toward each other, they’d turn away stubbornly. It seemed like whatever I had in mind, they insisted on doing just the opposite. It was frustrating and made me despair, especially since I didn’t want to force a story that didn’t want to be told. You can tell when a story is like that. It’s not pretty.
Then, finally, I realized what needed a makeover wasn’t the plot, it was one of the characters. So I picked him up, knocked him about this way and that, turned him around a few times and voila! Here was something I could work with. Yes, it meant a drastic overhaul of every scene containing even a mention of him (difficult since he is one of the main focal points of the book), but I could do that. I could definitely work with that. All of a sudden, it was like my characters were poised and ready, staring at me as if to ask, “Yes? What is it you want us to do?”
But now the problem is, I don’t know.
I brutally ripped an unrequited love from the heart of this guy and now he is a much less likable but much more interesting character. I gave his object of affection room to feel uncomfortable and alone instead of waltzing straight from one relationship into the next. I gave them each new hobbies, friends, and relationships, and everything looks good to go. But what do I do with that?
I wish I had an answer for you, but right now all I’ve come up with is: keep going. Keep writing, keep trying, keep hacking away at this story until it starts to resemble that which I know it can be. Not having a clear pathway in mind is difficult, but I know the end that I’m aiming for, so the path should become clear in time.
— Amy
When you don’t have a clear path, you can end up anywhere.