I’ve been working on a book recently that drops us in the middle of New Orleans. Sounds great, right?
There’s this adorable little shop on a quiet side street, spooky cemetery, fabulous characters.
I’m here for it.
But the more I wrote, the more I realized there’s a lot going on and stories that need to be told. At least to me. Maybe not to readers. But I need to get my story straight, so to speak.
So back to the beginning we go.
To the catalyst that started my characters on the path that they’re on.
And while these words may never be read by anyone but me, let this be a note to writers everywhere, it’s perfectly okay to write sections of a story that will never be published.
Writing these chapters is an amazing way to open up your characters, crack open that story, grease your wheels, and answer burning questions.
I call them exploratory chapters.
Sometimes, they’re a real life saver.
So if you’re struggling with a book, I highly recommend going back to the beginning and writing some exploratory chapters.
