Well, my day job completely sidelined the initial manuscript rewrite by going totally insane with busy-ness. On the nights I didn't have to work overtime (I'm a proofreader and editor by day), I couldn't bear the thought of sitting behind a computer screen. I've continued to take notes on ideas as they've come to me, and it's been an interesting process.
I've lived out the phrase "kill your darlings" on a few different versions of this manuscript. The most extensive was when my manuscript came in at about 120,000 words. I knew I had to hack and slice, so I considered completely cutting a character out.
BIG BUT: I loved her rekindling relationship with her ex-husband.
BIG BUT: I loved her ex-husband.
BIG BUT: I loved their "snappy" dialogue.
BIG BUT: I loved her overwrought mother-in-law.
I eventually came to realize that she really didn't belong ... I loved too many things that were outside of her character and was kind of forcing her to be a part of the overall story. So, I did it. I hacked her out and saved her in her own little folder to possibly rework into a story all her own.
So now, I'm trying to integrate my characters' stories. I have the main characters - Character A, Character B and Character C - each with her own set of friends and families. They share a common experience, but their stories are separate, which is what the agents who have read it or want to read it don't like.
My initial game plan was to turn Character A's current best friend into Character B. Because of the story line I already established with Character B, she would end up working at Character A's husband's company. I then thought of a way, based on a story line already established for the husband's company, that I could incorporate the husband of Character C, thereby bringing her into the fold.
I was extremely pleased with how quickly I was able to come up with this solution and was raring to get started.
And then.
BIG BUT: Character A's current best friend as written has some significant personality differences from Character B. That means I will have to change tons of dialogue between A and her friend, as well as much of the old friend dynamic to make this new friendship work.
BIG BUT: Character B's current work situation as written will have to be tweaked to replace the current big boss with Character A's husband.
BIG BUT: I can easily find a way to get Character C's husband in the act, and I can clearly see how Character C will meet A and B ... but, then what? There has to be something more significant to the story than they all meet and chit chat. I think I have this figured out, but it will involve quite a bit of rewrite.
BIG BUT: Character B has a significant epiphany facilitated by her currently written best friend. I love this best friend. She is wicked cool. I don't want to simply replace her with Character A.
OMGsh. Can you just hear the whining I've done in my head?
Do you just want to kick me in my big buts?
After the whining and gnashing of teeth subsided, I realized that if I want to seriously resubmit this manuscript, it needs to be what it needs to be, not what I'm emotionally attached to it being. Instead of mourning the story lines and dialogue and witty scenes that I have to change, I'm looking forward to discovering how these characters will get to know each other and make a difference in each others' lives.
My goal is to have the rewrite done and ready to submit by the first day of spring - Thursday, March 20.
