So, early last year I wrote a short story, while I was going through a tough emotional time. Okay, a breakup.
It was a really good story, I thought, emotional without being obvious. Well crafted.
I sent it around, it got rejected around. Then I put it aside a while.
Recently I’ve looked at it again, and realized that it’s still a good story, sort of, but it’s too emotional, and really obviously a breakup story, in kind of a boring way.
So I thought about that for a while, and did other things.
A few weeks ago, while I was doing something utterly impossible to write during (driving), I realized how to fix the story. Of course! Obviously!
And I’ve been holding that thought in the back of my mind since then, while I did All The Other Things. Like, finished driving; finished Nightcraft Mother; visited with my folks; got sick; whatever-all else.
Today was the day to work on the story. Yay!
But it was such a nice day, and I’ve been sick for so long, and I had a freelance job to finish, and I had groceries to buy, and a garden to tend to, and and and….
In the second hour of gardening, I realized, Okay, this is classic writing-avoidance behavior. It’s a simple fix. Go fix the story!
So I have now just spent the last four hours on this “simple fix”. Because, of course, it was not so simple. I don’t think I’ve ever had such a short story cause so much pacing, fidgeting, reading of the entire internet, going out back to look at the garden again (I saw a bird catch and eat a bee! Gross!), snacking, refilling of wine glass, etc.
I ultimately realized that the trouble was that the “simple fix” required turning the narrator into an unreliable narrator, which is quite a trick even when you do realize you’re doing it, and very nearly impossible if you don’t.
Anyway! I’ve done it. I’ve gone over and over it, and I think I’ve got it. I think she is no longer a Mary Sue, and it’s no longer a boring and overwrought breakup story, but a cool and moody piece with an interesting protagonist.
I think. I hope. Anyway, I’ve sent it out. 🙂 Wish me luck!
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In other news! I went to yoga this morning, my first exercise of any kind in a week. It felt really good; the teacher was gentle on me, because I asked her to be. And my writing-avoidance hours in the garden were very good and productive. I am feeling better every day, thank goodness. I was sick just long enough to get the “I will never be well again…” madness; it’s nice to know that’s not true.