Rewrite... experience?

I actually just did this with my WriMo novel. I wrote most of the original a few years ago, tossed it aside as too over-the-top to work realistically. In October, my husband provided a new idea so I pulled out my notes and began to plot...and tossed out everything to start fresh. That was the best thing to do since I had a new cast, a new setting, and a new plot. I used the basic structure (i.e. I kept locations, leaders, big things the same or with small changes), but I changed everything else.

It was difficult at first. My mind wanted to make it another version of the older story, but if you keep your focus on the new plot, it works out well. Now I have most of the rewrite done; I'm lacking about another 10-15K at most and after rewriting and revisions, I think it will be far more marketable than the previous.

Just take it one step at a time. Keep your new plot as a focus so you don't fall into the old story, and make sure to keep it fresh.

Good luck!

My new mantra is "work on it until it is done."

Take out the crap. Weed out the excess. Pare it down to its basic story and they add the best writing you can to fluff it out again, but this time with direction.

Why did I realize this? Because 13 years ago, I basically wrote a story very similar to "Twilight" and threw it away because I thought it was total crap. Now I know that my crap, with a little more work is worth publishing.

My first project of 2010 will be rewriting my trunk novel from fifteen years ago. A new character added, new events, new setting, but the general idea is the same. I'm better suited to the story now. I've been meaning to rewrite it for years but am only now able to handle the story, I think.

The first draft when I was 18 was 150k, longhand. I'm aiming to turn it into either a novella or a short novel.

Not exactly, though I've done something sorta similar I suppose. I have one that I put aside and have no intention of ever going back to, and I borrowed some of what I liked from it to put in a new novel. Not quite the same thing, though. I think when I redo my first novel, it might require a complete rewrite starting from scratch, but that's too intimidating for me to even consider at this point. Good luck!

You seem to have the enthusiasm for it, though, and that's what really matters.

Hmm, I've turned short stories into novels and vice versa, I don't think I've ever attempted to re-write a novel I considered trashed. But I recycle characters like crazy. If a character I really liked had the unfortunate luck to end up in a trash novel, I pull them out and keep trying to stick them somewhere else until they fit. ^_^

Yep, it happened to me. The novel that is currently being read (for the second time) by a good agent started out with one set of characters and one (lame) way to approach the main conflict, hit 90K words and was declared finished. Then was rewritten with a different beginning and middle, but same end. Then was rewritten to totally change the history and role of an important minor character, which changed EVERYTHING about the story, including how the primary conflict played out and what the two main characters did and felt. Wow! So glad I got this much better idea. Total Rewrite #3 was a success, initially was 110K words, and has since been cut to 82K words.

Rewriting is worth the effort. When you get a better idea, run with it.

BTDT...In college I wrote a short novel with an interesting premise but very little plot and put it away with the thought that there was something there but it needed a rewrite. Ten years later, and much more experience and practice, something sparked that gave me a whole new world, some of the same premise, and far better execution. It still wasn't right, and a year later, I completely rewrote again. After some tweaking by trusted beta readers, I feel good about it. It's indie published now, and I'm happy with that.

Tan, this is an intellectual challenge, and one for which you have a significant tailwind (you have already finished the original story). That tailwind was earned by plugging away to get the first draft done. Your challenge is now less mechanical and more cerebral, but this kind of unplugging and plugging of puzzle pieces can give little bits of satisfaction as you go through it, and a big pile of satisfaction as the new version takes shape. And just keep that tailwind in mind when you get to a sticky place. Pause and turn your mind to freewheel with that force at your back. To me, this is the fun part of writing.

Good luck with it.