HappyCoati
this message may be offensive
I need to admit something to you guys, I don't have the same love for DTOD as I used to. I've tried and tried to write the sequel but it just feels weird. I still appreciate the support it's gotten, and I'm still proud of the way I write, but the subject matter makes me so uncomfortable now that I've realised (with lots of therapy) that I wrote the entire thing while I was unknowingly in a very toxic relationship myself. DTOD never was meant to romanticize abuse in any way --pretty much the opposite in fact-- but it feels strange to reread things I wrote back then with the retrospect I have now, and realize I was way closer to my MC than I actually thought I was.
I don't think DTOD is a bad book. Maybe it's just harder to write it now that I no longer relate to Sarah. I have bouts of inspiration from time to time where I'll manage to write an entire chapter, and then the quill goes dry for another month. It's painful sometimes. I catch myself getting stuck in the plot because I think Sarah's dumb, and then I remember/realize dumb Sarah was some kind of self insert of who I was and no longer am.
I've been debating whether I should leave it where the first book ended, or rethink the whole thing and take it in a different direction. I know a few people have been waiting for the sequel, I just don't know whether I have it in me anymore to bring that to completion.
WoolyMammoth58
@HappyCoati - First and foremost, your writing is—and always has been—absolutely breathtaking, even when exploring difficult and toxic subjects like those in DTOD. It’s amazing what we discover when we look back on our own work years later and realize just how much of ourselves we unknowingly poured into it. I can only imagine how surreal it must be to recognize parts of your own past experiences reflected in those pages. Much like your own personal journey, it may simply be time for a new chapter in your writing as well. Or perhaps there’s another character, perspective, or story within the DTOD world that resonates more with who you are today and where you want to go next. Whatever path you choose, I hope you know that your readers are here because of you—your voice, your talent, and the way you tell stories. Whether that leads to a DTOD sequel, a different story in that universe, or something entirely new, we’ll be cheering you on every step of the way. ❤️
theforestgreene
Oooh I feel this so bad. It sucks when you begin to feel disconnected to the muse which used to inspire you so much simply because you've grown. Have you considered exploring other new projects just to get the spark going again? The best thing about the writing craft is you can always come back to Sarah's story at any time, whether to continue it or revamp completely. It's your story <3
ValinorsTwilight
@HappyCoati Write what you're comfortable with. If the story is giving you trouble, I recommend starting fresh with a completely different story.
