Clearly I had high hopes at fifteen (but I also have a grandiose sense of humor). Oh the changes SO has gone through. First of all, I don't even think it had a title. Actually it may have but it was really lame and it gives away a plot point so we will just forget about that.
I originally wanted to write in journal format to mimic one of my favorite books at the time. Not the case with SO as it is now; it's a good old first-person narrative. And it's funny cause I came up with the idea at the end of the ninth grade. And that version of the story (seriously all three pages I wrote of it) took place at the beginning of the summer after the girl's freshmen year. See, I write what I know.
The names also changed. The girl's name was originally Allyson. But since one of my nieces currently has a name that is similar, that got the axe. The main guy was going to be named Andy because I've always loved that name for a boy but I switched it up in SO because it has more significance now. But I still like the name so it got passed on to my bro-in-law BR's character.
But the HUGE difference is this: I've always known two events were going to occur- Event A and event B. Event B was going to be caused by A. And originally I was going to have Event A happen in like the second chapter. But after thinking it through (for eight years) and changing the direction of the story (and growing up and experiencing new things), Event A is now in like chapter 14 or 15. So while I think I created a lot of background and foundation, it really was important so you got to know the characters and understood where the main girl character is coming and feeling. So while I've said I have known this idea since I was 15, it has definitely shape-shifted and transformed into the little story it is now. And with one happy reader and half of another one (AE sure is taking her sweet time. Sure, she has a job but COME ON! I'm dying here!), I think it was a good move.
Oh but I've always apparently had the "name characters after friends" tactic. One of my good friends at the beginning of high school was named Amanda. The name of the best friend in this version: Amanda. I'm so creative and don't show favoritism at all. At least some things don't change.
2 comments:
I love this post, Annie. I wish you could put this picture on the inside jacket cover when your book is published. Seeing it come full circle is very cool to me.
I never knew about this! Hmmmm...what else have you kept secret? You kept your book-in-progress secret and Lauren and Mandy kept their babies-in-progress secret for quite a while. I must be one of those mothers that their daughters don't need to confide in. I tried to raise you to be independent from us and dependent on the Lord. So maybe it's a good thing! I, on the other hand, told my mom everything...well, almost everything.
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