Back Where I Want To Be

The trouble with me I’m a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to my writing. I know I don’t always see the obvious and that bugs me. Whether I’m writing flash fiction, a short story or a novel. I keep asking myself a series of questions.

Is this the best idea I can come up with?Is there a better starting point for the story than the one I’ve chosen?Have I chosen the best character, or PoV to tell the tale?How much research do I need?

The last question became my stumbling block yesterday. Not that I was on form, I was feeling a little under the weather. After submitting four short stories in January, I’ve turned my attention back to the Granny Wenlock novel. Now here’s the problem. I’m nervous.

I’m torn between what’s in my head and what sort of tale I want to tell. The Funeral Birds, Granny Wenlock’s first adventure wasn’t really about her. It was Joan and Dave’s story really. As the Crow Flies is going to be more about Martha Wenlock and her life, or should that be her death. And this is the problem. I’ve worked out the opening, and I know in which direction I want to take the story, but is it the right one.

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Yesterday, I was trying to find the right way to bring Martha Wenlock and her descendant, Dave together. I wanted it to be a unique way, something that other writers of timeslip novels hadn’t thought of before. Yes, I know it’s a difficult call, but that’s what comes of trying to think outside the box. Remember, your first idea is the most common one. The one everyone else would have thought of, so always go for your second or third idea. That’s easier said than done. I sat with an aching head, trying to think of something. I watched a few Time-traveling film trailers on YouTube to see if I could tap into something to inspire me. I’ve an idea floating around my head, but will it work?

The problem I’m having is making the concept I have in my head realistic enough that the reader will believe it. Then it is at what point in the story to bring the two characters together. I suddenly realised I needed to work out a family tree. Martha Wenlock died in 1651 as a witch so would she have been buried in a churchyard? Would her grave been marked?

See how the questions kept coming?

Now my mind is buzzing. Once you start answering one question, another takes its place. This is what you want your reader to do when they start reading your work.

I have a hairdresser’s appointment today, so I will finish now.

Chat with you again soon. Have a great day.

Thank you for dropping by. Please leave a comment, and let me know how your thought process works when you’re writing. Thank you.