A dilemma

 

This is dilemma-faced me. Obviously.

My friends, I am facing a dilemma.

You may or may not know that I wrote a Regency story a while ago. I absolutely loved it, and I still love the characters in it. I like many aspects of the plot. I know what I would change about said plot. I know what I want the characters to be like at the start and at the end of the book. 

However, I also have new and exciting ideas about how I could change the plot drastically and rewrite the characters into a different story. I don't know what to do! I've been working on versions of this book for about four years because I want to get it right. Maybe the fact that I haven't got it right yet is a sign the plot is old and worn and tired. Yet I really, really want to get it right one time and enjoy reading through it. 

The thing is, I've tried out these ideas and I've got rather stuck every single time. I thought I would see if any of my fellow writers have ever felt like this and what they have done. I can't be alone in this feeling - should I take my not getting anywhere as a journey of discovery or a brick wall?

I'm not going to lie, I feel a lot like this.

I love the characters so much! I love the romance (or I will do once I've reworked it very slightly). I have thought of ways to deepen some of the characters and add some subplots, not for the sake of it, but because I like the characters. I've thought of some insecurities and weaknesses for a character who needed them. I've thought of ways to smooth lumps and bumps in the plot. 

I only have two problems. The first - the heroine seems to be a bit boring and flat. I need her to be someone the readers can root for like a real person. 

The second - rewriting for the umpteenth time seems like I'm making myself run on the spot. 

What to do, friends?