The Hangover of Chapter 29

By D.I. Muhammad 

I am two days out from finishing Chapter 29, and the air in my writing room still feels heavy.

I don't outline my stories. I sit in the quiet, and I wait for my characters to show me what they are doing and let me hear what they are saying. Usually, it is a beautiful mystery to unravel. But two days ago, it was devastating. I've had a couple of devastating moments writing that I had to just sit with it before continuing. 

My main character did something that completely broke her husband and her child, the two people she loves more than anything in the world.  I didn't plan it. After I wrote Chapter 28, they gave me a glance into the next Chapter. My heart broke. The tears came, and I had to prepare myself again to write a Chapter that pulled on me emotionally.  

I sat at my keyboard, watching it happen through tears, typing as fast as I could to capture their heartbreak.  After capturing what they felt, I too was emotionally distraught.

Now, even though two days have passed, I am still hurting for them.

Right now, the characters are already showing me flashes and images of the next chapter. They are ready to keep moving, but I am not. I am still processing the debris of what just happened. I am anchoring myself in the quiet of my room, practicing patience, and waiting until I am strong enough to step back into their world and tell the rest of their truth.

If you've ever wondered what my writing process looks like, this is it. It isn't charts or index cards. It is just me, sitting in a quiet room, feeling everything.

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The Mission

Coming Soon