How can I fix it?
In the past few months, I kept asking the same question over and over. Something was not working in my story. Usually, I’m good at rewriting, but not this time. The story seemed disjointed and I didn’t know how to fix it. I rewrote it so many times, but nothing seemed working. “Screw it!” I deleted the disconnected part and asked my teacher, Jane Morris, for her feedback.
It flows better, but it’s still not working. Think about the problem and not the solution.
What’s my problem? I see the disconnection, but at the same time, I also see the clear connection. Why can’t I convey the connection more clearly on the paper? Maybe this is my limit. Maybe this is as far as this story can go. But deep down in my heart, I knew what the real problem is.
I was too attached to the opening to destroy the structure.
Sometimes when you get a good laugh, you may want to keep the joke, but if it doesn’t help your story, you need to save it for another time and let it go from this piece. I know the basics. I know! But because the opening worked so well, it was hard for me to deconstruct it this time.
After taking a deep breath, I began major surgery. An hour later, my story came back to life. It still needs cosmetic operations, but now it has a great bone structure.