The What If Game

As you might already know, I am writing a YA series.  The first book is called Pelegra and the Son of Merek.  Writing this book has been an ongoing process that has taken about two years.  One year of writing, and another year of re-writing.

For this particular book the hardest chapter for me was chapter one.  It wasn’t the issue of getting started but of figuring out my main character’s background and how I wanted to introduce him as well as how to hook the reader all in the first chapter.  It’s hard to find that balance between enough back story and too much back story.

My point is that I did complete a first draft and did several rewrites with the helpful feedback of the critique group that I belong too.  But, the first chapter still just wasn’t working as well as the central plot conflict.  So I made a drastic decision.

Start Over.

Now I haven’t really started over, most of what I’ve written is usable, I just have some specific edits to do and a few chapters to add to the overall manuscript.  But I was willing to start over and the first step I took was to play the what if game.

I opened a fresh mind map ( I use www.wisemapping.com) and typed what if.  Then I let go of everything but my most basic plot line and started typing out fresh ideas.

That brain storming session completely changed the first chapter into something I’m happy with, added two characters to the novels, and added an entirely new dimension to the central conflict making it more engaging for the reader.

So if you are stuck and have been for awhile, throw away all your preconceived notions about your plot and characters and play the what if game.  Who knows what will happen.