Chapter 3 - Brooke

Writing a full length novel, cover to cover, was genuinely one of the most wonderful experiences I have ever had.  It was a lot like falling in love.  There were these characters, that I didn't really know at first, but the more I got to know them, the more I liked them. And the more I liked them, the harder it became to tell their stories.  Because stories get messy sometimes.  Some days I knew exactly where Brooke and Branson and Charlie were headed.  And other days, I had to just given them the day off, because I had no direction for them.  

For several months, Brooke’s story because my obsession.  She would be my first thought in the morning and she kept me awake at night.  I would wake up at 2am, with ideas for where things were headed.  And I would have to get up.  I did not have a choice.  It had to come out.  On several occasions, I awoke from sleep with great clarity about issues that I was unable to wrap my head around during the day.  My subconscious worked as hard on the novel as my conscious mind did.

For a long time, I did not know how the story was going to end.  I had ideas.  But none of them felt “right.”  It  took time to really get inside Brooke to see how she would have things end.  Because, I came to realize, it wasn’t about what I wanted to have happen at all.  It was always about her.

One of the most surprising experiences I had while writing the book was that I was not always in control of what was happening next for the characters.  I had an idea.  A road map,  But on more than one occasion, I found that I was completely taken by surprise by what was occurring on the computer screen in front of me.  I was shocked (and sometimes dismayed) by what my fingers were typing, but I learned to trust where the characters where taking me. 

In the end, I believe that I will carry Brooke with me forever.  She taught me a lot about myself.  I am really glad that I got to know her.  I hope you will enjoy getting to know her too.