I keep writing, changing and rewriting..HELP

Sol Quince · Jan 15, 2012

I CAN'T WRITE THE APPROPRIATE START FOR MY NOVEL. Alright, sorry for the caps. I'm just..confused !

Why? Well I'm working on my first science fiction/suspense Novel. The story is kind of complex to me; because i'm only 16, and under experienced with writing science fiction.

Let me explain roughly...

In the story it goes back in time allot. And no, not a TIME TRAVEL... The main character travels threw a portal to arrive on what we all know as "PLANET EARTH" because, of course this character isn't from earth. She is an alien. To get to the point-she forgets almost her whole past from traveling threw a portal for the first time. (Threw out the story, there is dreams, flashbacks, and visions.)

This is when I thought chapter one should start. It is first person, so I couldn't have her narrate something she wouldn't remember. Then I think were she should be, or what should take place....Should the beginning be right after she blasted threw the portal? Or later on, then explains why she doesn't and still doesn't remember anything from the past?

I had an idea of a simple beginning that the alien is asleep, wakes up confused. Then a man (the scientist who created the portal) explains her past, were she is at..ect...also maybe the guy sets the story goal(reminds the alien, because of the memory loss, what she should do)

SO question is:

Is it a bad habit to go back to change the VERY beginning of the story every other week?-I tried to write a plot line, but i'm still confused. The way I think the story should start is kind of awkward: Confused alien, lost somewhere, or in a mans house(The scientist). Man talks to her about what happened...I just want something else to happen before the explaining.( I don't want to overwhelming the reader)

chickenrising · Jan 15, 2012

I'm very confused.

gothicangel · Jan 15, 2012

I don't think I've written a book where I've hated the first chapter for most of the book's gestation.

The WIP I'm editing at the moment went through at least four different opening chapters. I was obsessed that it was going to start with a battle between the Romans and the Picts. Every time I wrote it, I HATED it. Then about two weeks ago [this is after seven months after typing the first word, and two drafts], I thought how about my Romans fleeing a war band instead? Which is quite cool, because hunting is a theme that runs through the book. The result is a cracking open chapter.

What I'm saying is don't force it.

Can I ask is the first draft complete? If not, leave it. You can come back to it later.

Leigha David · Jan 15, 2012

Your post is a little confusing, but here are my suggestions on what I gathered.

1.) DON'T PANIC! You got this.

2.) Don't fret so much over the beginning. The first thing you need to figure out is the story you're trying to tell and flesh it out from there.

3.) Take your time. Do a little research before doing any major writing. If you don't know much about science fiction, now is a good time to do some reading up on topics that will help your story. Research is a lovely, lovely thing.

4.) You seem to have a lot of alternating ideas with no direction (or a very loose one). Take your time with this too. Buy a notebook and start jotting down your ideas. Over time you'll find what ideas you like and which ones you don't. The story will grow with time.

Those are my suggestions anyway. Hope this helps?

Sol Quince · Jan 15, 2012

Thanks for helping! ^^ But sorry I've always had a problem with explaining things. I always confuse people... I just think it's cuz i'm stupid :/

Leigha David · Jan 15, 2012

Sol Quince said:
Thanks for helping! ^^ But sorry I've always had a problem with explaining things. I always confuse people... I just think it's cuz i'm stupid :/

Now, now. Don't be going and spouting such things! You're not stupid. You're still young. Trust me, I have issues with trying to explain myself. To be completely honest, I'm better at typing than I am at talking. Seriously, I don't think anyone would ever believe I was a writer if they heard how socially awkward I am in real life.

I also know what it was like to be 16 with an awesome story idea and absolutely no idea how to write it. It wasn't until I was 19 or 20 that I finished my first manuscript. I'm 22 now and doing my 4th rewrite. The story grew with time and became something special.

You have potential. Just keep at it! It's dedication that makes the writer!

backslashbaby · Jan 15, 2012

Beginnings are just that way for a lot of us, me included. Feel free to hate the beginning and move on

Pick up where you know the first scene you do want in the story. Write from there.

You can always write the perfect beginning later. It's a common thing to do. And first drafts are allowed to suck, btw

Just write what you do know and get down the bones, at least.

eta: Write the end, for that matter. You don't have to write scenes in order, either. Folks do it lots of ways. Just do what you feel like doing to get down what you do know about the story.

Leigha David · Jan 15, 2012

BTW, I went ahead and "liked" your FB page. I'll be keeping tabs!

timewaster · Jan 15, 2012

Sol Quince said:
I CAN'T WRITE THE APPROPRIATE START FOR MY NOVEL. Alright, sorry for the caps. I'm just..confused !

Why? Well I'm working on my first science fiction/suspense Novel. The story is kind of complex to me; because i'm only 16, and under experienced with writing science fiction.

Let me explain roughly...

In the story it goes back in time allot. And no, not a TIME TRAVEL... The main character travels threw a portal to arrive on what we all know as "PLANET EARTH" because, of course this character isn't from earth. She is an alien. To get to the point-she forgets almost her whole past from traveling threw a portal for the first time. (Threw out the story, there is dreams, flashbacks, and visions.)

This is when I thought chapter one should start. It is first person, so I couldn't have her narrate something she wouldn't remember. Then I think were she should be, or what should take place....Should the beginning be right after she blasted threw the portal? Or later on, then explains why she doesn't and still doesn't remember anything from the past?

I had an idea of a simple beginning that the alien is asleep, wakes up confused. Then a man (the scientist who created the portal) explains her past, were she is at..ect...also maybe the guy sets the story goal(reminds the alien, because of the memory loss, what she should do)

SO question is:

Is it a bad habit to go back to change the VERY beginning of the story every other week?-I tried to write a plot line, but i'm still confused. The way I think the story should start is kind of awkward: Confused alien, lost somewhere, or in a mans house(The scientist). Man talks to her about what happened...I just want something else to happen before the explaining.( I don't want to overwhelming the reader)

Have you read Diana Wynne Jones 'Hexwood' http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0007333870/?tag=absowrit-21 There is a US edition too though it looks expensive.
It is a fantastically complex plot involving two quite separate realities but achieved with apparent ease. Worth seeing how she does it as it could help.
Alternatively simplify your plot.

Layla Nahar · Jan 15, 2012

Sol Quince said:
I
SO question is:

Is it a bad habit to go back to change the VERY beginning of the story every other week?

Yes!

As to what your alternatives are, that's a very difficult answer. Many people say - oh, you always have to re-write the beginning, or - oh, you always find out later that you began to early etc. But there are others who say that setting up the beginning correctly is what makes the rest of the story write-able. With short stories, the ending is somehow indicated in the beginning, makes sense that something like that would also be the case with a novel. What about the story - how the story will unfold and end (even if you don't know the details) is indicated by your beginning?

Bufty · Jan 15, 2012

It's just the imagination working overtime. Don't fret about it.

Keep reading the type of novel you wish to write and be sure to spend more time doing that and writing than shoving stuff up on the net.

brianjanuary · Jan 15, 2012

I would start by reading several time travel novels to see how other authors have handled the genre. Plus I would study story structure/story architecture, so you know how to set up a good story. Then pick a direction and stay with it until you've written the whole novel. You will learn a lot this way and you will have a good knowledge base to go back and rewrite.

AmethystEva · Jan 15, 2012

Hey, don't think you're stupid. This is an indication that you want the beginning of your story to turn out right, to be able to move forward. I'm with the don't-force-it crowd. I never have problems with writing the beginning of my story, but the beginning changes later on when I've already written several chapters, and then I have to either add or cut, like it happened to me last month with the first installment of my series. A problem that I used to have when I started writing was I'd write like 30 or 40 chapters of a story and then I would delete the whole thing and start over.

Dr.Gonzo · Jan 15, 2012

It isn't sci-fi... but read Craig Clevenger's amazing second novel: Dermaphoria. The protagonist is an illegal chemist, making lots of naughty drugs for lots of naughty people. He overdoses on his own brew, and the story has a present all while he struggles to remember the past. The prose is beautiful and other than genre, it sounds like what you're wanting from your work.

My advice on going back: Don't. Keep moving forward. You'll have a better idea of what you need to start with once you have the rest of the story laid out.

timewaster · Jan 15, 2012

I usually need to get the beginning right before I move on. However if you are in a big look start somewhere else- you might have got the wrong beginning.

scarletpeaches · Jan 15, 2012

1) Write the whole book then choose the most fitting beginning.

2) It's spelled 'a lot'. There is no such word as 'alot' or 'allot' when speaking about many or a great number.

iBel29 · Jan 15, 2012

Your post was a little bit confusing. But many people have different strategies for writing, I know its frustrating to rewrite many times, but there have been times where I had to rewrite the beginning because I hated it. Also sometimes its good to have someone else read it, to have a different pair of eyes, rather than your own

Devil Ledbetter · Jan 15, 2012

Sol Quince said:
SO question is:

Is it a bad habit to go back to change the VERY beginning of the story every other week?

The fact that you're even asking this question tells me you already suspect what the answer is. I'm going to give it to you straight, Sol Quince: It's a terrible habit. It's a two-headed monster consisting of procrastination and self doubt, and it can keep you from ever finishing your story.

The good news is it's something a lot of new writers struggle through and get over.

Replace your habit of rewriting the beginning with the habit of squeezing shut your eyes while you scroll past it as fast as you can to get down to the next scene, while repeating the mantra "I will fix that later. I will fix that later." Write your whole book and don't stop until you reach the end. Then you can go back and fix the beginning (as well as the rest of it).

The neat thing is, once you get to the ending the appropriate beginning will probably seem obvious.

Welcome to AW.

timewaster · Jan 15, 2012

Devil Ledbetter said:
The fact that you're even asking this question tells me you already suspect what the answer is. I'm going to give it to you straight, Sol Quince: It's a terrible habit. It's a two-headed monster consisting of procrastination and self doubt, and it can keep you from ever finishing your story.

The good news is it's something a lot of new writers struggle through and get over.

Replace your habit of rewriting the beginning with the habit of squeezing shut your eyes while you scroll past it as fast as you can to get down to the next scene, while repeating the mantra "I will fix that later. I will fix that later." Write your whole book and don't stop until you reach the end. Then you can go back and fix the beginning (as well as the rest of it).

The neat thing is, once you get to the ending the appropriate beginning will probably seem obvious.

Welcome to AW.

I'd just to say that this doesn't work for everyone. Some people do actually have to fix the beginning. Just saying.

bearilou · Jan 15, 2012

Sol,

I'm writing something right now that I suspect strongly I will have to either rewrite my beginning or cut dramatically. My current suspicions are that I started too early in the story.

The thing is, I can't know for sure until I reach the end. If I spend time now trying to hone up the beginning, two things are likely to occur.

1) I will never get to the end because I'm too busy screwing around with the beginning.

2) Once I feel like I've gotten 'the perfect beginning', it may very well change once I reach 'the end. So all that work only to have to change it again? The thought makes me sweat. That's time I could have been writing and not tinkering.

So. My advice, worth what you're paying for it because we are not all alike and what works for me may not work for you. Get a notebook, make notes. Every time you have a thought about something in regards to the beginning, make a note but don't try to go back. Keep plowing forward to the end. Then go back and look at your beginning.

Devil Ledbetter · Jan 15, 2012

timewaster said:
I'd just to say that this doesn't work for everyone. Some people do actually have to fix the beginning. Just saying.

Well, I don't believe I said "This works for everyone."

Sol Quince is having a major enough issue with it that he's asking whether it's a bad habit, because he sees how it's keeping him from continuing the story. So apparently rewriting the beginning every few weeks isn't working for him.

One big problem with re-writing the beginning over and over is any changes you make now must be carried over into the rest of the story. So you end up rewriting the beginning and everything that comes after it, over and over, which is a real 1 step forward, 2 steps back sort of proposition. And the amount of work grows exponentially the further you progress into the novel. So you start rewriting chapter 1 and fixing chapter 2, then you write chapters 3 and 4, then you go back and change chapter 1 and go through and fix all the rippling wave effects this creates in chapters 2, 3, and 4. Then you write 5, 6 and 7 .... then you go back and second guess the beginning and change it yet again, then you have to fix chapters 2-7. Lather, rinse, repeat. What a nightmare.

And how do I know this? Could it be that when I started my first novel I rewrote the beginning more times than I can now remember? Why yes, yes it could.

I'm just sharing with Sol Quince what I've learned. He is free to ignore my advice and take the advice of those who would suggest he stay mired at the beginning of his novel until he's convinced it's perfect.

aurinko · Jan 15, 2012

To piggyback on the OP:

But what should you do if you suddenly realise that a decision one of your characters made several chapters ago (pretty close to the beginning of the story (I write very long chapters)) was bad for the story and that you've (partially) written yourself into a corner? In that case, you should go back and rewrite, right?

In my case, it makes my head hurt because one of my POVs got written into a corner while the other one didn't, and going back a few chapters to rewrite one of the POVs would mean finding a good new way to arrange things and have POVs smoothly flow one into the other. Just thinking about the task makes me wanna go on vacation or something.

Dr.Gonzo · Jan 15, 2012

aurinko said:
To piggyback on the OP:

But what should you do if you suddenly realise that a decision one of your characters made several chapters ago was bad for the story and that you've (partially) written yourself into a corner? In that case, you should go back and rewrite, right?

In my case, it makes my head hurt because one of my POVs got written into a corner while the other one didn't, and going back a few chapters to rewrite one of the POVs would mean finding a good new way to arrange things and have POVs smoothly flow one into the other. Just thinking about the task makes me wanna go on vacation or something.

I don't go back and change it. I make a note of where the change of direction takes place for when I'm editing. In my WIP I decided that the job my MC has isn't as thematically relevant as it could be. I changed it. There's two scenes earlier in my book that will have to be rewritten. Two of my characters merged into one about halfway through. All scenes leading up to this point that they are in will have to be rewritten to some extent. I make a note, either mental or physical one, and move on. Give yourself some slack on it all being nice and neat. That was the easiest way for me to complete my first draft.

elindsen · Jan 15, 2012

I will admit that reading other's work you tend to think "wow. How do they do it?" Just worry with the first draft of getting the bones down. You don't have to love the entire story. That's what editing and revisions are for

Devil Ledbetter · Jan 15, 2012

aurinko said:
To piggyback on the OP:

But what should you do if you suddenly realise that a decision one of your characters made several chapters ago (pretty close to the beginning of the story (I write very long chapters)) was bad for the story and that you've (partially) written yourself into a corner? In that case, you should go back and rewrite, right?

You can, but here's what I do*: I go back to that part and make a quick note [in brackets, in red text].

It might look something like this: [I don't think she decides on so-and-so here, because that messes up such-and-such later.]

That's it. Then I keep the story moving forward as though the character decision I later decided on was made.

When I start my second draft, I keep a separate file called "Patch Scenes." Here is where I take those little red notes, probably with some of the surrounding text, and decide what scenes I need to add or rewrite. I don't write them then, though. I just keep a list of scenes to be written.

Once I'm at the end of my second draft, I go into the patch scenes file and start writing all of those scenes that are needed to fix plot holes, enhance characterization or whatever else I might have botched in the first draft.

For me, writing the patch scenes is one of the most fun parts of second drafts. That's because I know the characters very well by then, and I know what happens before and after the scene, and have a clear picture of exactly what that scene must achieve.

*And in case anyone is feeling sensitive today, here's a disclaimer: This may not work for absolutely everyone. Try it at your own risk.

I keep writing, changing and rewriting..HELP

Don't mind me.

Toughen up.

Leiloo

Don't mind me.

Leiloo

~~~~*~~~~

Leiloo

present

Seashell Seller

Where have the last ten years gone?

Wonderfully Irreverent

present

Come on you stranger, you legend,

present

DenturePunk writer

Come on you stranger, you legend,

I should be writing.

Wonderfully Irreverent

Zombie lovin'

Come on you stranger, you legend,

*