When The Story Pivots and Changes

My writing journey has been a bit of a roller coaster.

I don't have any accolades to claim, though if I actually attempted to get serious about writing contests and submitting my work, I could change that. After I finished my rewrite and recording of the audiobook of "Memoirs of the In-Between" I decided that I needed to decide what to do next.

I was reading some of another Vocal author's successes and his overview of some of the articles he's had published, and I realized I wasn't 'that' kind of writer. I was happy for this author, though he doesn't seem to think he's done well enough. I think he's on the right track, and he's got a lot to be proud of.

But I realized the reason why I don't really fit into the world of writing that I'd been trying to fit into, because I don't have a speciality that I choose to perform in, or a wealth of knowledge in one subject to call myself an 'expert' at anything. I have seen a lot of people call themselves experts at things, write books, and then I look into them, and I find that they have no formal education on the matter in which they wrote.

I refuse to be like that.

I know a little about a lot of things. Mostly just enough to get me in potential hot water. And unfortunately, that doesn't make it great for niche writing, nor submitting articles to articles.

Coming to terms with my limitations also helped me come to terms with my strengths.

It stung a little, realizing that I'm pretty mediocre. I won't ever be great. But it's totally okay. Because I'm a storyteller. I tell stories, and that's truly what kind of writer I am.

I am a teller of elaborate lies and a fervent fanatic of fantasy. I can weave worlds together like silk threads on a loom. I can hyperbolize and metaphorize with the best of them. I have brought grown men to tears with my stories, while subtly making them confront their own realities that might align.

My fantastical imagination has helped a grieving child cope with the loss of her parents.

So, considering that, I decided to dedicate the last few months heavily to doing what I do best: Telling stories.

I published a poetry ebook called "Unhinged Healing" on Amazon, and that will expand into other platforms later. My amazing soulsister-platonicwife-bestfriend-breakfastqueen is almost done illustrating The Hound Who Saw. *I love her so much, can you tell?*

So I started the big grand project some of my long-time readers remember me posting chapters of, "Long Live The Queen." I went back and as I re-read what I already have, my mind was full of more ideas and details than I had before.

I had recently taken time to read the Tales of a New World series by P.C Cast, and I was in awe of her ability to weave three or four different stories in different locations at different times altogether, to have them finally progress to meet in the final book to create a fantastic finale and final story where it all comes to an explosive, beautiful ending.

I. Want. To. Be. That. Good.

The only way to get that good is to write like you are that good. I went back and recycled a lot of my content, adding more and more detail into it until I realized how bare my story had been at the beginning.

I'm now at a frustrating point where I need to decide if I am still going in the direction I took with the main character. I'm only halfway through what I have, and now I need to make a decision that is going to affect whether I scrap 10 chapters of content, using what I can out of it, and completely re-write it, or I am going to alter the direction subtly as I have thus far.

I'll be honest, scrapping it feels like sacrilege.

I just have to buckle down and really think about if I do scrap that event, what can occur in its place that will still get the story in the direction I want it to.

I guess my point is, you can't be afraid to pivot. You can't be afraid of your limitations. And you gotta be proud of who you are and what you are good at. Lean into what you know, lean into what you're passionate about, and find your strengths there.

And most of all. Keep writing. No matter what kind of writer you are.

Oh, hey, before I forget - some of these links are affiliate links. They won't affect how much you pay for the product, but I may receive compensation if you buy anything that is linked after clicking. Thank you for your support!

Find my fictional fantasy book "Memoirs of the In-Between" on Amazon in paperback, eBook, and hardback.

Listen to the audiobook or purchase the book on my Patreon

Find my TTRPG content on my Gumroad account

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