Discarded Ideas

Think about your own work. How many times have you begun a book with A Great Idea, a plot filled with Great Characters, Wonderful Setting…and several months later, the only thing you have left is the title (maybe) and a couple of characters. 

For the most part, I’ve been very lucky. Most of my titles have stuck as well as the basic premise of the books. From there, however, the finished product has always varied in several degrees from the original concept. 

My favorite example was the plot for Forsaken Soul. This book was originally meant to be the introduction of Sir Hugh, Prioress Eleanor’s eldest brother, who had just returned from crusade with King Edward. In that same book, I also wanted to bring back Juliana, the somewhat crazy (or maybe too sane) friend of Prioress Eleanor, who begged entrance to the priory as an anchoress in Tyrant of the Mind.  

Have you ever been at a gathering where there were two people of such strong personalities that conflict was bound to happen? Same thing can be the case with characters in a book. Hugh and Juliana warred with each other to the point that the book became less a story about (spoiler deletion) than about their dislike for each other. One had to go, along with his or her subplot. At the same time I was struggling with this, I also experienced six weeks of sciatica. That gave birth to a character and her back-story which hadn’t been part of the original plot at all. By the time I finished tossing Hugh, placating Juliana, giving depth to this new person, adding a new killer with a new motive, and reworking the first half of the story, I had a very different book. 

None of this is a bad thing. In fact, if you aren’t under some hellacious deadline, it can be fun. Over time I have learned to listen to my characters. In Tyrant of the Mind, I could not get the story going until I put Brother Thomas in the first chapter instead of Prioress Eleanor, a change he was demanding. In Forsaken Soul I had to choose between characters (Hugh got his book later) and let another one in.  

While listening to what your characters are telling you, don’t discard your original ideas. Record them. Muses don’t toss ideas at us without at least expecting them to become mental compost. An idea, character, setting, or phrase can be helpful later. With Sir Hugh, I was able to expand on his character in A Killing Season because I had kept notes on him and mulled them over for a couple of years.  And don’t think discarding ideas, rewriting most of the book, or even changing the focus are indications of failure. Part of craft is experimentation and learning what works.

Comments

[camille minichino]

That line about strong personalities at a gathering -- I have NO idea what you're talking about, Priscilla. That did NOT happen at every holiday, every funeral . . . never mind.

[camille minichino]

Sorry, I got distracted. Just meant to say, great post.

[Staci]

With two such strong personalities, I can definitely see the possibility of a book for each of them. They sound like two people worth getting to know!
And I agree that ideas should not be discarded. Even if something isn't a good fit in one book, it might work perfectly in the next.

[Terry Shames]

I had a situation over the weekend where I had to let my WIP sit because someone had intruded herself into the book and I had no idea what she was up to. Finally, yesterday I realized I didn't have time to work on that book right now, but that if I didn't solve the problem, I would probably never move forward on it. It would become the dreaded discard--after 20,000 words. Took a walk and said, now or never, sweetie, what is she doing in your book? Bam! My gleeful subconscious unfolded it for me and I ran home and jotted it down. Saved from the discard pile!

[Priscilla]

Thanks, Staci. Hugh and Juliana will pop up again because I find them intriguing. the joy of having minor-minor ongoing characters! Believe much in the sub-conscious, Terry. One of my best ideas arrived as I was falling asleep. Camille, I think we are related...

[Susan Shea]

I occasionally write scenes that just don't fit when the book is almost done. I know well the "kill your darlings" expression, but, gee, a whole scene, and a snappy one at that? I make myself feel better by saving them in a kind of storing up against hard times mindset, but I must confess I've not yet taken one out, shaken the dust off, and inserted it into another book!

[Ann]

I've occasionally stripped out "walk-in" characters from one book and plunked 'em down in the next. I've also taken beloved secondary characters and gently set them aside ("Sorry... you need to go take a nap. We'll try the next book!"). The muse knows best! ;-)

[Priscilla]

Love the idea of telling one to take a nap! The discussions with characters put aside can be interesting...

[Priscilla]

Just in case we think we alone are crazy to be talking to characters, I just remembered a wonderful play by Pirandello: Seven Characters in Search of an Author. We are not alone!