Thank you all for the continued requests for updates and to get back on a regular posting schedule. I think I am making progress, but re-iterate my decision to not begin posting again until the story is finished.
My problem (and the reinforcement for my approach) is both simple and complex. I hate stories that go on forever, driving me to OCD behavior of checking slavishly for updates. I am a voracious reader and like to get through the entire story. I think some of you are of the same bent.
Now, with that context in mind, let me share a little of my recent plot problems. My story was veering dramatically from where I wanted it to end. That might have been alright, but it was turing into a vanilla, "hero has no real challenges" type of story, which I don't like that much. I had reached chapter 36 in draft form an realized the conflict that I thought was driving the story was too much of a cliche.
So I threw it out.
But that caused a problem. Every direction I took after that seemed to fall into a similar path. Coupling the writing doldrums with a new job made it difficult to focus the effort needed to actually get the story back on a path where you, the readers, should care about the conflict and resolution.
If I had posted along the way, I would literally be written into a corner now.
By being able to throw out sub-par work, I still have a clean slate for the direction the story is going.
Could I begin posting again?
Yes, but I won't until I've written the whole story so I know it is a complete tale, that I hope you will enjoy. I'm presently writing chapter 33 for the third or fourth time, but think I have a path forward that will be sustained through the entire adventure.
Thanks for your patience.
-Charlie Foxtrot
P.S. I've been kicking around an idea for a totally new story to write once "A New Past" is complete. I think you'll all like it, but let's get the first one put to bed before I begin an new tale.