Oh My Gosh..

I'm sure this is very common. I've read advice (Michael Stackpole, if I remember correctly) that if you write something that makes changes in earlier sections necessary, you should simply write yourself a note so you don't forget, and then keep writing. Don't go back and make changes until your first draft is done. I think there's something to that.

That's good advice. Keep track of what changes you will need to make (Change Dana to fat and bald here--remove earlier references to hair and flat stomach or Replace semiautomatics with spitballs starting here), and proceed as if the changes were already made. Don't make the changes until the first draft is complete.

Maryn, who should take her own advice

That's what I do. I make notes of my thoughts in a seperate but clearly marked document so I know which story it belongs to.

Like - Dragon Soul is the story, then the document will be Dragon Soul Notes.

Then I file those notes away, and keep on plugging at the story until I finish it. Then I go back through my notes, evaluate the finished story, see which ones I like the most, which ones benefit the story most, and add them in. I don't encounter this too much as I have a pretty clear idea of my story before I start writing, but always be adaptive.

I hear every time you look at your document, there will be something to change. Even after the book is published I am sure authors are scratching their head going, "I should have..."

I like Holly Lisle's article on one-pass revision. Well worth studying.

Ah. Paradoxes and plot holes. Ya gotta love 'em.

It happens to me all the time, and most of them I just make a note and move on. But recently it got to a point when I changed so much, especially after I did some good, solid research, that I actually had to go back and fix the ms. before I could continue.

But my suggestion is, try your best not to edit while you're working on the draft. Make notes. Then fix everything in the next draft.