Crossing The Threshold

Taking That Leap…

I’ve gotten to the point in my novel where my character is about to fully commit herself to the world of the story. She’s already part of the way there, but she still has one toe in her ordinary world.

The chapter that I’m working on at the moment will solidify her presence in the world of the story. After this chapter, there is no going back for Joey. This is not a fully voluntary choice that she has made, and she feels trapped.

The thing is, I’ve been really struggling with this chapter for a while now, and I think part of it is that Joey desperately doesn’t want to bring that last toe into the story.

All the while that she is half way between the two worlds; all the while that there is still a chance that this is all a bad dream and that she can go back, she can’t move forward in the story.

Basically, she is in her comfort zone.

And I need her out of it, if the story is ever going to move forwards.

At the moment, I can sort of picture her like those memes we see online of dogs desperately clawing at door frames and furniture, while they are carried to their inevitable destination of the horror that is a bath.

Right now, I am wrestling Joey through the house, so that I can dunk her in that bath (metaphorically, of course), and up until now, I have failed. I’ve been listening to all of her excuses why I shouldn’t do this, and yes, I’ll admit, I’ve felt sorry for her, but enough is enough.

Today, she will finally take the plunge, and although it will not always be pleasant, I know that she is strong enough to cope with everything this new world will throw at her.