Right now I’m struggling with something in my “grown up” novel that just really seems silly from the perspective of a children’s writer, and that is, how much fun should this thing be to read? Should my character find romance, should the guy who seems like an obvious love interest actually be the love interest?! should there be an ending that wraps things up, how much should I balance the fun of reading with the seriousness of my Big Idea?
A previous draft ended with my dear protagonist bleeding to death, alone, in the back of a rental truck used for transporting illegal drugs and realizing that her brother has betrayed her. New ending? Dear protagonist is embraced in the bosom of her family, a wedding has everyone put aside their differences and realize how much they love each other, the love interest beckons.
I guess it’s the enduring influence of my grad school writing program that still gives me these night terrors about writing something that’s actually fun to write – and to read.
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Personally, I always get a little ticked off when the character ends up with the love interest that is not implied. Because I’m big on romance, and I get attatched to certain couples that I really like. So, you don’t have to go for the obvious love interest, but I think it’s better to stick with the one you imply. Unless it’s something like “the best friend” vs. “the dashing guy/girl that everyone has a crush on”. Then it’s completely different.
-Annie
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