Er, don't fix it . . . ?

I usually say, "If it ain't broken, don't fix it." But I think I might start going back on my word.

You see, the thing is, I tend to want to fix a lot of things that aren't broken. For example, people--specifically men--movies, friendships . . . stuff like that. 

And lately, I've been fixing a lot of things with my finished manuscript, Unbroken. 

I've been going through these editing processes, and I can't help but think, "What if this could be better?" My book might be solid as a whole--from beginning to end--but what if it could be better than that? What if it was better than my best? Is that even possible? Can something actually be better than the best?

And it's questions like that that make me want to fix a whole lot of things. Because anything can be improved, even if it's not broken, right?

Okay, now I just feel like i'm preaching to the choir here.......

But on a serious note, I've been making a lot of changes to my manuscript--not big changes, but just a few tweaks here and there that would improve my overall book. I'd just hate to look back one day and think, "Maybe i should have done this....or maybe I should have taken this out." Because really, my characters are actual people to me, and I want to be able to express them, and their personalities, as much as possible. They deserve that. They deserve better than the best. And it's my duty to give it to them. 

So I am. And I truly hope that it's an even more enjoyable read. 

Also, some very important news, I changed the title of my book. It was completely unexpected--but a good unexpected--and I think that this new title suits my book a whole lot better than it did before. So, so long Unbroken. And hello, The Willow Tree. 

I truly believe that this title has a way deeper meaning than the title before, and I also feel like it's more original!

I really do hope to share this book with the world someday. I really know that it could, and can, fix many, many, broken hearts. 

Till next time blog world. 

An Ordinary Tuesday

Do you ever find yourself with a really good book idea, and then, once you hit the third page, you have sudden writer's block?

Well, that's how I feel at the moment. 

While I'm querying my book, Unbroken, I figured this would be the perfect opportunity to take my mind off ease and start on a new project. See, I've had this new book idea in my head for a long time, even before Unbroken was complete, but now that I have time to write as much as I please, I can't think of a single scene that will get me past the first chapter. 

I truly believe this is from not connecting with my new characters. 

I really need to sit down with them, one by one, and figure out who they are. And by that, I mean I need to get out a pen and paper and scribble down every single aspect about them until I can hear their voices clearer than I can hear my own. 

I think the big issue for me is the connection I have with my past characters. For the last year, I've been working hard to complete their story in Unbroken, and now that it's over, I don't know how to let them go. I think writing a new book entitles moving on . . . which means that I'll have to break up with old characters, and I don't know if I'm ready to do that.  Does that ever happen to any of you?

Eh, I guess that's enough ranting about my attachment issues.

Back to the drawing board I go. 

Happy Writing days!  

Connecting and Developing Your Book Characters

Oh, how I wish I could say I had some sort of super power that allowed me to create such amazing, page-turning, stories.

But I don't.

I'm just a plain old human.

With my first book, (I'll call it Manuscript 1,) The characters didn't come to me as naturally as I wanted. I'd read other blogs where people said stuff like, "Yeah, sometimes I turn into my main character for a day." Or, "I could probably have full-blown conversations with my book characters forever." And I'm just like:

"What am I doing wrong here?!?"

I couldn't connect with my characters like I wanted to in M1. I could write down my ideas about them, but I never really felt them. With my new book, Unbroken, the writing process was totally different. I had just finished M1, and, already, I could hear the whispers of a different character. 

I heard her voice. It was magical. 

She was telling me her life story, and I was writing it down. We worked together, like a team, and I truly believe that it's an awesome storyline.

You might be asking, "What did you do differently?"

To be honest, I don't know if I can pin-point the exact reason of change, but I'll share a few tips with you anyway.

-1.) I didn't force my second manuscript to happen--it just kind of did. With M1, I was writing for myself, but with M2, I was writing for my characters. It was a gradual thing.

-2.) I tried my absolute best to capture every emotion of my main character. To me, she's real, and she really wanted me to tell her story in the same way that she would. This, in turn, added a strong voice to my novel. 

-3.) This next tip is weird--be warned--but, whenever I had major writer's block, I'd ask my character, "What would you do in this situation?" And if I got no reply, I'd ask again. I'd keep asking until I knew what  that next paragraph would be about. 

These three things, together, is how I finished my second novel. I didn't want to give up on my characters. I believed in them, and I wanted their stories to be heard. 

I'd love to hear your feedback. So, if you're a writer, tell me, how do you connect with your characters? Everyone's story is different!