I'm changing direction with my edits for a bit ...
In all honesty, I've been struggling to feel connected to my novel for a few years now - something that has greatly affected my ability to edit it.
Delving into character edits not long ago helped me to reconnect with my characters (an ongoing journey), which definitely helped and made editing feel easier for a while.
But when those character edits started leading into further plot edits, I found myself struggling again - this time with confidence in the plot, the choices I'm making, and the ideas I have for the story. I kept catching myself wondering whether the novel was good enough at all ... or whether I should shelve it again and work on my new fantasy idea instead.
Hearing other writers talk so passionately and confidently over the years about their own characters and stories has been difficult at times too.
Not because I'm not happy for them - I genuinely am and love to root for them - but because there's been a jealousy that's hard to admit out loud.
I missed feeling that deeply connected to my own story.
I missed being excited by it instead of intimidated by it.
And when you already feel disconnected from your work, hearing someone else talk about theirs with certainty and love can sometimes make you feel every further away from your own creativity.
I came very close to giving up.
But while searching for a spare notebook, I stumbled across a non-fiction history book I was using for research while drafting this novel: The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England by Ian Mortimer.
I am a massive history lover and, the moment I picked it up, I remembered how much I genuinely love researching and learning. How inspiring it used to feel. How it used to make me want to write.
So, on Sunday evening, after returning from visiting family, I sat down with the book and started taking notes just like I used to.
And I felt something stirr in me again.
That's when I realised the missing connection between me and my story might actually be the world itself. So, instead of continuing to force plot edits that aren't clicking ino place, I've decided to shift my focus tpward worldbuilding and research for a while.
And, honestly? It makes sense.
Because strengthening the world will naturally strengthen the plot too. The characters, their goals, the conflicts, and the events of the story will feel more immersive and interconnected instead of simply existing on the page beside one another.
It also reminded me that creative blocks are rarely caused by laziness or failure.
Sometimes they happen because we're trying to reconnect with our stories through the wrong doorway.
This doesn't mean my novel has suddenly become plot-driven. It's still deeply character-driven and my character's arc remain at the heart of the story.
It just means that, for now, my editing journey needs to take a worldbuilding and research route - both the strengthen the novel itself and to help me reconnect with the story I fell in love with in the first place.
Keep your eyes peeled for more news on my writing here and on my Instagram!
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