On the Road

How taking a break led me to clarity, compassion and a fresh start

I’ve reached a fork in the road.

As we all do, I slaved over the first draft of my first novel, with mixed success, according to my honest and beloved early readers. I knew it needed work - a lot of work - but living with this family (and feeling bad about everything I was doing to them) was too emotionally draining to keep going.

It was time to walk away.

Before I did, I mocked up a cover for the ‘book’, both to give myself courage and to have something tangible to validate my effort. I used a photo I’d taken on the island where I live, which is also the setting for the novel. Then I put the draft in the proverbial bottom drawer to rest as advised by, well, everyone really.

This week, more than a year later, I opened that drawer, dusted off the manuscript, and realised that not only does it need an ocean of work, I’ve written it from the wrong character’s point of view.

I could cry, or I could celebrate. I’ve chosen the latter. I now have a wonderful opportunity to reimagine my story from a whole new perspective and with much greater depth.

Ain’t clarity great?

Instead of feeling overwhelmed I feel energised, excited and ready to go. It’s like having a shiny new project, but with the characters and plot already formed. “Duh, of course” I hear you say, but for me it’s a lightbulb moment, and I’m stepping out with courage and optimism.

It’s the least I can do, both for myself and for my long-suffering fictional family. I feel I understand my characters better, and I have greater compassion for my ‘new’ MC, now I’m walking in his shoes. I know our shared journey will be all the more rewarding for having a clear path ahead.