Some people have asked me if my stories ever evolve into something different than I was expecting. Or if my stories ever change as I’m writing them. Sometimes they do slightly, other times quite a bit.
Did you want to see what the changes for one story look like?
I give you The Graham Quartet and the Mysterious Strangers!
I started out just writing a short scene of a thousand or so words describing a cabin in the snowy woods and adding some characters. That’s all it was going to be.
That wasn’t enough.
I was begged to write more. So I backed up in the story and started writing. My plan was just to bring the story up to the cabin scene and then resolve it.
Ha!
Nothing like a plot twist
to keep an author writing.
By the time I got back to that scene in the story, I had to write more. I didn’t know what all was happening, what was going to happen, or how it was all going to end. Remember, I’m not a planner, so . . .
Thankfully, I had a blog reader who kept leaving me comments with suggestions, ideas, thoughts, and such even though he didn’t know what I had written or where the story was going.
And that’s how this story evolved. It changed from a short scene, to a full mystery. The cover changed too.
From this cover
<<<<<<
To this cover
>>>>>>
Do you like the newer cover better? I sure do. But I didn’t change the cover until I had written the 2nd Graham Quartet book and wanted the covers to match in some way.
Do your stories ever change from what you thought when you started to something different? Were they drastic changes or just small things? Do you want to read how one of my other stories changed and evolved? Let me know.
I would like to hear how other stories changed!
On another note….I love the Graham Quartet books! Book 3?? Please??😉
You aren’t the only one who would like another Graham Quartet book. 🙂 If I could get the right idea and stop being sidetracked by all these other story ideas, I might get a book 3 written. 😉
I can so relate to this post! I’ve not read these yet, but my siblings are rooting for book 3 XD
Perhaps I can get a book 3 written some time. 🙂 And maybe by then you’ll have read the first two books. 😉
I love reading about your writing processes! And I definitely like the second cover better:) The Graham Quartet series is so fun!
Thanks, Edith! Glad you enjoyed this post. And yes, that second cover is much more interesting. 😀
Yes, tell us more! My stories tend to want to morph into something different too. A little too often.
Uh, I think you know I’m one of the ones patiently *cough cough* waiting for the next Graham Quartet book. 😉
😀 You made me smile, Amy. 😉
It can be a struggle to MAKE a story stay short.
I will be sure to let you know if I start work on another Graham Quartet book. 😀
My stories generally change drastically because I get ideas as I go on. 😉
Fun! Sometimes I like my stories changing on me, other times I’m not sure. 😉
Enjoyed reading this post!!! Yeah, um . . . my story has changed so much that it might be a struggle to recognize it, if you compared the very first draft with the one I have now. 😀
And, yes, the second cover looks a lot better!!!! I’m glad you went with it!!!
It is interesting how stories can start off one way and then be totally different by the time you reach the end. 🙂
Haha! That’s certainly an interesting way for a story to be put together! 😀 I’d be interested in hearing how one of your other stories changed. I love hearing little behind-the-scenes snippets!
Yes, my stories aren’t always conventional when it comes to them getting written. 😉
I agree, behind-the-scenes about books is fun. 😀