Beginning Again

Earlier this week I got my entry back from an RWA chapter contest that I’d entered. This particular contest was very similar to my “home” chapter’s contest in that it was only the first few pages that was submitted. My judges were an RWA PRO member and then two readers. One of the judges was particularly harsh in her comments and as a result my excitement about this particular story took a giant nose dive.

In a way though I’m realizing that her comments (along with comments from the other two which were a bit more constructive) helped me see something about this particular story – namely, I’m writing the wrong one. This particular story was about a mail order bride in 1880 Montana Territory. One thing I found out in my research before beginning this story is that not only were there mail order brides, but mail order grooms as well. The women who needed a mail order groom were most often widows who had a ranch or farm that needed to be worked and didn’t want to lose her family’s legacy because she couldn’t own it outright herself.

So I made the decision to scrap this particular story for now – I’m not saying that it won’t ever be written – and begin again. It’s kind of aggravating but in a way refreshing because I know that this story is going to be unique (there aren’t many mail order groom novels out there that I have been able to come across) and as a newbie author that’s what I need.

I also made another decision this week – due to a move and a family medical issue I’m placing myself, writing wise, on hiatus until May. My tiny apartment is over run with boxes (and I’ve only packed about 6) and I need time to get my life settled so that I can concentrate and make this novel the very best it can be.

So what about you? Have you ever started a story only to realize you’re writing the wrong one? What about taking a break from writing all together? How did you cope with either of these things?