Ideas: Time and Growth

Ideas take time to develop and mature, as do writers. My current writing project started taking shape in my mind back in 2009 when I was on vacation in Disney World. And while there are still some elements of that original core concept, the story has greatly changed and evolved over time.

I don't want to say too much for fear of spoiling things, but I think the most significant shift came in that my original concept was based largely on what I would now call a gimmick, a power of one of the character. The character in question still does have a diminished version of his original power, but the story is not built solely on that as it's foundation. The characters, their personalities and interactions are now firmly on center stage, and I believe it is making for a much more compelling story.

The side note here is that you shouldn't be afraid to change your original vision. Some of the things I changed more recently were a struggle for me. I had lived with these ideas floating around in my head literally for years, and it felt very odd to change them. I felt like I wasn't being true to my original vision. But to be blunt and honest with myself, despite my attachment to it, my original vision sucked. It was a fun quick idea, but it was not a compelling piece of fiction.