War of Nytefall: Eradication had something fairly unique among all of my published stories. There was a big plan, but a key component of the story was trapped in a bizarre state of uncertainty. I knew there would be a secret and who it entailed, but I couldn’t figure out what it was. The major points of my books are typically known to me and I use them as guidelines. It wasn’t the case here for a few reasons:
- I was writing the book in the midst of the divorce. Yeah, I keep mentioning this, but it was an emotional and mental influence. My mood wasn’t as consistent as it used to be and that made me rather fickle.
- There were major gaps in writing times. I went weeks without writing at times, which meant I didn’t have the previous material clear in my head. Tiny details weren’t remembered because they were spur of the moment at the time. I tried to read through it all, but found that it would absorb all of my writing time and then I’d have to wait longer before I got back into it.
- My notes weren’t very clear on this one. I’d tinkered with this story a lot right up to the first draft time. So, I had pieces of various plot points in regards to this major event, but they didn’t always match.
I’m probably harder on this book than I should be since I did very careful editing to make things match the reveal I actually picked. The memory of the ‘twisting idea’ is still fresh because I’m seeing it happen again with War of Nytefall: Ravenous. It’s a lesser extent, but I can already tell that I have to change course on something and rethink the next volume. This is definitely more pantser than plotter, but I’d be in terrible shape if I stayed exclusive to one school. Creating a style that has aspects of both helps to get me over this kind of hurdle. It only leaves me with a level of doubt and worry, but when am I not like that. Can’t say more because it’s a big spoiler.
When it comes to twisting ideas that repeatedly jump off the rails, I think you need to step back a bit and examine. There’s the belief that your subconscious knows better and you should follow the new path. Yet, this is the same part of your mind that can birth paranoia and ask you what bedbugs were called before beds were invented as you try to sleep. Not the most reliable guide. You can take a lot from the detour because it stems from the original story, but you have to make sure that you don’t deviate so far away that everything falls apart. The twisting idea is fun and exciting in the moment, which doesn’t always translate when a person is reading it. They could easily wonder what you’re trying to do because they don’t see the connections. Absorbing some of it and refining the overall combination with editing is my personal choice.
So, what do you do when an idea gets twisted from the beginning?
Legends of Windemere 
I’ve had similar cases when writing some of my books. When I was in the middle of writing the 2nd book of my Revezia series, I was going through depression after making a big mistake (long story) and it happened around the time I was writing a very intense part of the story. Sometimes my mind state can affect the mood like making something darker than what was originally planned. Some of those things get removed in editing if I felt I went too far.
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I think most people have that happen. As authors, we access emotions to get a scene right. It also means we leave ourselves open to projection when life wailing on us. I’ve certainly had a few too far instanced.
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It’s good to know I’m not alone in that. There have been times where some of my stories did get better when something undesirable happen to me where I can add more emotion to some scenes or character interactions.
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It all depends on the story too. Downers tend to get enhanced by sour moods with me. Happy things. . . Not so much.
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Good call. I’ve felt the same with my more morbid stories. Yeah, I don’t see that happening with happy moments or with my more positive stories.
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Makes sense that life would sometimes cause books to alter. As long as the events that were altered make sense to the story.
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That’s always the trick.
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If one of my ideas gets too “twisted.” I usually try to make it seem logical. If not, then I toss it. My current WIP has Adolf Hitler collecting evil souls of those who die for Lucifer. It seems like it might be a twisted idea but it actually works.
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That’s definitely a twisted idea. Hitler as the protagonist?
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No just a minor character
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That sounds so familiar! The novella I’m working on now, one of my POV characters is hated by her sister and blamed for their father’s death. But I don’t actually know HOW the father died or what all the circumstances were.
This just means that while I’m pushing the plot forward, I’m also grabbing spare moments to build that back story.
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Must be a fun balancing act.
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I don’t have a plan for this. I generally have to write it out before I can decide what to keep or alter. I love these behind the scenes looks at how others write. I’m a combination author, too. My storyboard is pretty sparse and I have to make up all the stuff between cards by the seat of my pants.
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It seems to show up with no plan. Having a similar issue with the next book and I’m only outlining.
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Some times it makes the story even better.
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