It’s true. My writing group (of one) read the seven chapters of the “new” book that I had written and the scene where she’s looking at the portrait of her father “actually choked” her up. Not only that, but she thinks that the new direction is “definitely awesome!” I’m a little giddy right now, to be honest. I’ve never choked anyone up before. Not on purpose, anyway. I’m sure I’ve caused my mother some tears in the past, but that hardly counts, does it?
But now the pressure is on. I’ve choked my writing group up and portrayed my character’s vulnerability and strength. I need to do more of that. I need to “shed” the character that I started writing back in high school and “embrace” the new character. Which would be great. Only I have no idea how I did it in the first place. I just wrote the scene. I mean, sure–I thought about what I wanted it to say, but how is it that I managed to do it there, but not in the other places where I’ve tried it? What was different about that scene and the others? I know I cut down the drama a bit in the portrait scene–I admit, I was a little over the top in the initial draft. I’m surprised I didn’t have her gnashing her teeth. Was that it? Was that the only trick? Not trick…that’s not the right word. Technique. Technique is so close to trick, though… Maybe that whole theory about “killing your babies” is true. But the drama certainly isn’t one of my favorite things to write–even I find it cloying. Hm… I suppose I’ll have to consider it more. And ask my writing group what she meant. What exactly did it for her?