God continues to Amaze me and always in unexpected ways.
As you may recall, I spent the last two weeks altering my latest novel for the umpteenth time. When I was through, I was so burnt out I told myself, “This is it! I’m done with this novel. It can get no better through my hands.” So, I laid it aside, determined not to touch it again.
Well, then I got this wild idea in my head to enter this writing contest. The suggestions on the contest said to alter the ending to your first chapter a bit even if it wasn’t the true ending in order to keep the judges engaged and wanting to read more. Well, I discounted this as frivolous nonsense.
Then, an idea kept popping in my head, one that has been coming up again and again throughout my edits that I have been resisting with the fortitude of all of my might. This idea told me to re-arrange my first chapter to open with a stronger beginning. I had discounted it because I believed I needed the intro because it contained crucial motivations to my characters. However, since the idea kept coming up over and over again, I could dismiss it no longer. So, I figured, “What could it hurt just to play around with it a bit?”
So, over the next two days, I’ve become obsessed with re-working my first chapter. Nothing has been added. Just re-arranged and added a past tense to make it all flow.
What amazes me is that I never would have touched my novel again if I hadn’t been researching writing conferences. As I was researching writing conferences, I came across the writing contest. Why was I researching writing conferences? Because a lady at church mentioned to me that I should attend one. Now, if that’s not a God-thing, then I’m not for sure what else could be?
So, I incorporated my new first chapter into my novel (it can’t hurt? It’s not like agents are clamoring after my material anyways) and we’ll go from here.