V is for Vacillating #AtoZChallenge

Welcome to the A to Z Challenge. This year I’m blogging about the Behind the Scenes for the Echoes Trilogy – a story a started writing about six years ago.

A2Z-BADGE-100 [2017]

When it comes to certain elements, plot twists, characters, and scenes in Echoes I’ve vacillated like a pro. (Vacillated = wavered back and forth.) In fact, six years into the project the change I’ve made or plan to make are somewhat amusing to me. Here’s a compilation of some of them:

  • I’m planning on merging Farrow and Gage, two of the lesser-talked-about guards, into Chadwin, a guard with a lot more air time in the novel
  • I changed the City of Outcasts into Island of Outcasts
  • One of the guards from the City of Outcasts is instead going to be a smuggler in the Island of Outcasts
  • Instead of being loosely based on a Scottish/Irish/English countryside, Kios is set in a country that bears a remarking resemblance to New Zealand
  • Originally there were three maids: Wren, Mekayla, and Marina. Eventually I narrowed it down to two maids, excluding Wren. Then some beta readers said it was confusing to have the two maids have names that were about the same length and started with the same letter. So, the maids are now Wren and Marina #nowlookwhosconfused #spoilerthatwouldbeme
  • The story was originally named “The Guardian’s Secret” and then I realized that the title implied that Teah was the main character, and that happens to be false, so I changed the title to Echoes 
  • I’m contemplating there not being any music in Kios, but that’s still one of those things I’m vacillating about

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There are more things – especially dealing with plot twists, but of course I can’t exactly tell y’all about them without ruining the storyline.

One of the things I enjoy about writing is all the surprises that take place. You might have heard the quote that says something about “No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader.” I don’t 100% agree with that quote, but I will say that if it’s true, then my readers will be exceedingly surprised. I’ve been so surprised while writing this book that it’s rather amusing.

What is something you’ve vacillated about recently?

12 thoughts on “V is for Vacillating #AtoZChallenge”

    • Lydia Howe says:
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      Oh dear. Sorry about the issues with your lawn! Goats are a lot of fun, and not nearly as mischievous as their reputation leads most to believe. 😉

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    • Lydia Howe says:
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      Ah yes! I’ve experienced that before. Mostly though, I wait until I’m pretty much head-over-heels for a book, then I dive in and have fun with it.

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      • blikachuka says:
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        haha yeah the book I have started working on (still in the plotting stage) isn’t the type of book I planned to write, but it started with an interesting question, and everytime I answer something, more questions branch off, and the story just kind of grows. So I figure it wants to be written. 😛

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