Casting Call

I thought I had a short story, but recent critiques have led me to a different conclusion. Maybe what I have is a summary...of a novel. A middle-grade novel. I've been re-evaluating my manuscript and I think maybe it can be developed into something more. I'm starting to look at the bigger picture.

I've broken the short story into chapters, and I'm adding additional ones. I'm adding new characters, as well. I'm surprised to discover that most of these characters are ones I already know, ones that I created for different roles in different settings--for different manuscripts altogether. I have this mental image of a drawer full of former characters--mothers, fathers, best friends. I'm opening the drawer, sifting through my collection, and plucking out potential cast members eager to escape into a new plot.

It's strange to see how easily my "old" characters can be plunked down into the world of David and his inherited cat. It's almost like they just waiting for me to see their potential. At the moment they are still in the auditioning stage, but I have high hopes that some of them will make the cut.