Okay, so I was wondering if anyone could help me figure things out.
I've written a book set over the course of a college year. Halfway through the year, something happens and the story tells what leads up to this event and it's consequences. So the event happens in the May and the story goes like this;
Chap 1: May 2016 (the event)
Chap 2: September 2015 (beginning of school year)
Chap 3: June 2016 (after event)
Chap 4: October 2015
And so on and so forth. Each chapter is about 4000-5000 words. Now, to me, it reads fairly logically. It makes sense to me. But I don't know whether or not that's because I'm so close to the story that I just know where I am by instinct. Originally I asked my mother to read the manuscript while I sought out betas and she said that, while she liked the story, she didn't like how "the book kept swapping back and forth". Disheartened, I shelved the manuscript and vowed to come back to it after I'd reworked a different book. I've now finished that rewrite and have come back to this manuscript and am facing the same dilemma. I've since asked a close friend who writes reviews for the genre and age I'm writing for and so far her response is positive.
So I'm just wondering if there are any among you who've written similar and made it work or what your thoughts are in general? I'm always open to rewriting, as I've already rewritten one book, but I'm reluctant because I've put a lot of effort into this manuscript, checking I didn't give the plot away at any point and making sure there were always revelations along the way to the finale. To be honest, I like it as it is. If I put it all chronologically, I'm not sure it would work as well. The reader would know everything that was going on (and why) by mid point.
So if anyone has any opinions, please let me know! The only two opinions I have are mine and my mother's and my mother isn't really my target audience, so while her opinion is valid, it isn't 'her' thing so... oh, I'm rambling! Thank you for your time <3
I've written a book set over the course of a college year. Halfway through the year, something happens and the story tells what leads up to this event and it's consequences. So the event happens in the May and the story goes like this;
Chap 1: May 2016 (the event)
Chap 2: September 2015 (beginning of school year)
Chap 3: June 2016 (after event)
Chap 4: October 2015
And so on and so forth. Each chapter is about 4000-5000 words. Now, to me, it reads fairly logically. It makes sense to me. But I don't know whether or not that's because I'm so close to the story that I just know where I am by instinct. Originally I asked my mother to read the manuscript while I sought out betas and she said that, while she liked the story, she didn't like how "the book kept swapping back and forth". Disheartened, I shelved the manuscript and vowed to come back to it after I'd reworked a different book. I've now finished that rewrite and have come back to this manuscript and am facing the same dilemma. I've since asked a close friend who writes reviews for the genre and age I'm writing for and so far her response is positive.
So I'm just wondering if there are any among you who've written similar and made it work or what your thoughts are in general? I'm always open to rewriting, as I've already rewritten one book, but I'm reluctant because I've put a lot of effort into this manuscript, checking I didn't give the plot away at any point and making sure there were always revelations along the way to the finale. To be honest, I like it as it is. If I put it all chronologically, I'm not sure it would work as well. The reader would know everything that was going on (and why) by mid point.
So if anyone has any opinions, please let me know! The only two opinions I have are mine and my mother's and my mother isn't really my target audience, so while her opinion is valid, it isn't 'her' thing so... oh, I'm rambling! Thank you for your time <3