When characters separate...

I made a decision recently to separate my two main characters so they could each do their thing before coming back together again. At the time, I thought it showed that each of them was an autonomous person who chose to be with another because they were better together than apart, but I’ve since read through those scenes again and the only real result of the separation has been to cool off the romance—something I definitely didn’t want to do.

So what do I do now?

I have to think about the two scenarios and see how I can make them work with the characters together. I’m going to lose some great scenes—Fisher in the sewers for one—because Gaelan is a dragon and can fly them wherever they want to go, but having them working together instead of apart should strengthen their relationship.

There are several instances throughout the story where the main character wanders off on his own to do his thing. I justified it while I was writing because Fisher is used to being independent; he doesn’t consider working in with others when he’s on a mission. That’s not totally correct though because he has worked in teams most of his adult life and knows the value of having backup. His emotional alone-ness hasn’t impacted on his organisational behaviours.

I need to get Fisher to realise that he doesn't have to remain emotional separate while working with the right person. That one thing will give the romance the boost it needs, right at the perfect place in the story.

There’s a lot more editing in my future. Now I just have to get my family life to settle long enough for my head to get back into the story.