I've tried to write this post several times now, and I've failed over and over. Today, I'm going to suck it up and get it done.
I'm revising a particular chapter in Book 2 at the moment. I got feedback from my wonderful editor (and several beta readers), and there is a scene that has to go. Actually, it's more than one scene.
When you change something early in your book (what I'm talking about happens in chapter 7), it's going to cause a cascade effect throughout the rest to the story. As a result. many scenes have to be rewritten.
So in changing this one scene, I'm going to change the arc of one of my major characters.
Changing a character arc is not something an author can take lightly. I've planned a 5 book series. I've got a broad outline done for all 5 books, and a detailed outline done for the first 3. That's a lot of interconnecting pieces. So, if I change something in Book 2, now I have to take that into account for 3, 4, and 5.
What is the end result of all this change? Well, for one it will change the overall tone of my series. I think the reader will be more happy with the tone. The changes give the reader what he/she wants. However, I am going to miss my original plan.
Like I mentioned in another post, one thing I do is make an extra copy of all the scenes I change in a major way. I treat them as maybe a secret version of the story, or a personal version of the story: something I get to enjoy but few others will ever see.
I hate to say goodbye to the story as I originally envisioned it, but I recognize that the suggestions I've received do address my audience's needs. And in the end, that's the most important thing. So, I look forward to sharing the new version with you. I'm sure you're going to like it :)
Peace,
-Troy
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