Anyone else have this problem?

KiwiChick · Aug 30, 2006

I've been writing novels off and on for years, but I've never even finished a first draft. I think part of my problem is that by the time I get 30 or 50k into a book my writing skills have improved so much that I see what I've written for what it really is: unsalvageable. So I scrap it and start another.

I'm almost at the scrapping point with my WIP, which is currently at 150,000 words (and in major need of an edit), but I really want to stick this one out. If I ever get to the end, I'll need to totally pull the plot apart and put it back together, but I guess that's what revision's all about.

Does anyone else find themselves in this situation or is it just me?

KiwiChick

scarletpeaches · Aug 30, 2006

Don't look back until you've typed 'The End'. Sure, I've written crap in my time, but I think, write now, edit later. It would have to be super-bad to be unsalvageable.

Bit like my 1st novel, which I wrote 12 years ago. I kept it to remind myself of how much I HAVE improved!

c2ckim · Aug 30, 2006

That's very true... The more you write the better writer you become.
If your story is somehow off track, put it away for awhile and then come back to it. Reread it from the very beginning and find out where it went off track of what you wanted it to be and then start from there and keep going until you can write... The End
But don't throw it out ... keep it as a learning experience if nothing else.

sassandgroove · Aug 30, 2006

Yes, wait until you get to the end...then you will know more clearly what needs to be fixed. when you get to "The End," set it aside for a little while, then print it out read it though. Don't edit it at this point, but make notes on a legal pad with the changes you think are necessary. I tried to edit as I read and it turned into a big mess. Now I have numbered each scene and have notes on what changes i think I need and what needs to be added or cut. When you are done reading, then tackle the edit with your notes in hand. my 2cents, much of which I learned here, esp Uncle Jim.

Marlys · Aug 30, 2006

I agree with the folks who say finish the damned thing. If the idea of the book is sound, your writing skills can catch up in a later draft.

Unless your problem is that the idea itself proves unworkable the more you get into it? Some people do fine writing by the seat of their pants, but others get lost or find the story peters out before reaching a logical and satisfying end. If that's the case, try jotting down an outline before you start. It doesn't have to be elaborate, just work out the major plot points so that you know the story is complete.

Good luck!

KiwiChick · Aug 30, 2006

Sorry, I haven't figured out how to quote yet. Marlys, you suggested writing an outline. I am working to an outline, but I've decided my main conflict is a bit diffuse, and a lot of the things that happen are only peripherally related to it.

I'm thinking I'll plough through to the end, wait a month, then go back and pull it apart and rework it. :Sun:

NeuroFizz · Aug 30, 2006

I agree with the others. Concentrate on where it's going, not where it has been. That way, there is only one way to proceed--to the end. To me, the best way to judge how a story is written is by looking at it in complete form. This may not apply if one is only 10K words into it, but over 100,000K? Pull it together.

Soccer Mom · Aug 30, 2006

KiwiChick said:
Sorry, I haven't figured out how to quote yet.
I'm thinking I'll plough through to the end, wait a month, then go back and pull it apart and rework it.

You've got the right idea. Finish it. Then worry about how to cut the monster down to size. Welcome to AW. As you can tell from the input, you aren't the first person to have this problem.

(hint, look down in the right corner of the post you want to quote and click the little box marked QUOTE. It will put the quote into a post for you. Then you can delete the post so it only contains the part you want to quote.)

Jamesaritchie · Aug 30, 2006

KiwiChick said:
I've been writing novels off and on for years, but I've never even finished a first draft. I think part of my problem is that by the time I get 30 or 50k into a book my writing skills have improved so much that I see what I've written for what it really is: unsalvageable. So I scrap it and start another.

I'm almost at the scrapping point with my WIP, which is currently at 150,000 words (and in major need of an edit), but I really want to stick this one out. If I ever get to the end, I'll need to totally pull the plot apart and put it back together, but I guess that's what revision's all about.

Does anyone else find themselves in this situation or is it just me?

KiwiChick

At 150K, you should already be finsihed. You're already at the point where finding an agent or publisher is going to be very tough.

How much you improve as you write shouldn't matter. Finish the novel and use your improved skills on teh next draft. You never are going to reach teh point where you're good enough to not do a second draft.

There is no such thing as a good partial novel. Only finished novels are any good.

NicoleJLeBoeuf · Aug 30, 2006

Speed can be useful. If you just blast through that sucker in a short amount of time (easier said than done, I know), you don't have time to go back and look, or for your writing style (or your assessment thereof) to change between Page 1 and The End.

It's probably not too early to plug National Novel Writing Month. Obviously the goal here (50,000 words) is much shorter than your usual draft length, but if you've never reached The End before, it's worth participating just for that experience.

Then you can rewrite it later and expand it where needed. Any thoughts of "Oh my God, this sucks, my writing sucks," demand the mental response of "Well, that's why I'm editing it."

TheIT · Aug 30, 2006

When I did NaNoWriMo last year, I made the decision not to reread anything until the end even if it meant I would have inconsistencies in the narrative. It helped me keep moving forward rather than dwell on trying to fix what I'd already written.

I've been in the write-revise-come up with a new idea-revise again-maybe write something new-revise trap for years. In my current novel attempt, I'm trying to take the same approach as NaNo and just keep going forward. If I come up with something which changes earlier events, I'll make notes and proceed as if the change was already made. Who knows, I might come up with something better later.

KiwiChick · Aug 30, 2006

Jamesaritchie said:
At 150K, you should already be finsihed. You're already at the point where finding an agent or publisher is going to be very tough.

I know 150k is long already, but I've decided not to worry about length until I finish, and work on cutting in later drafts. Hopefully consolidating what I have will reduce the word count (crosses fingers).

Scrawler · Aug 30, 2006

I'm probably weird.I love reading my first drafts and seeing them with more experienced eyes. I'm so proud of myself when I notice a horrible sentence and can change it, or when I rearrange sections for better flow, or see I've repeated myself and know to tighten the paragraph or scene. It's discouraging to think "this sucks" but "this sucks so I'll improve it" gets me fired up.

KiwiChick · Aug 30, 2006

I don't mind rewriting cringe-worthy sentences, but when the whole concept is fundamentally flawed it's a bit different.

janetbellinger · Aug 30, 2006

That happens to me all the time buty I don't scrap the novel, I rewrite it.

KiwiChick said:
I've been writing novels off and on for years, but I've never even finished a first draft. I think part of my problem is that by the time I get 30 or 50k into a book my writing skills have improved so much that I see what I've written for what it really is: unsalvageable. So I scrap it and start another.

I'm almost at the scrapping point with my WIP, which is currently at 150,000 words (and in major need of an edit), but I really want to stick this one out. If I ever get to the end, I'll need to totally pull the plot apart and put it back together, but I guess that's what revision's all about.

Does anyone else find themselves in this situation or is it just me?

KiwiChick

veinglory · Aug 30, 2006

I would suggest going through you partial novels, picking the best and just finishing it. Finishing work is a habit to get into just like writing regularly...

MidnightMuse · Aug 30, 2006

Starting any story without taking it all the way through to The End is never a good habit. Even if you think it, and you, stink -- the only way to improve is to continue writing.

I've never had that problem, so maybe I can't relate, but the only thing you can do is Start, Write, then End. Never put down, never give up, never . . . well you get the picture.

And it might help you to keep word count in mind before you even begin your next one, just so it's in your head and you can learn to naturally reach that goal, without going so far over that you're stuck cutting, nipping and tucking.

All of which comes with practice, practice, practice

Jamesaritchie · Aug 30, 2006

finishing

The only way to learn how to write a novel is to write one from start to finish. It may seem your writing is constantly improving, but there's really no way of knowing this until and unless you reach the end of the story.

I don't care how flawed you think the concept is, finishing the novel is the only thing that really teaches you what good and bad really is.

Not finishing is not only a lousy habit, you learn nothing from it.

Scrawler · Aug 30, 2006

KiwiChick said:
I don't mind rewriting cringe-worthy sentences, but when the whole concept is fundamentally flawed it's a bit different.

My whole concept is (was) fundamentally flawed in that it lacked a plot, and basically went nowhere. But the same idea applies: I love grapsing the concepts of plot and drama, adding tension, developing my characters' depth, understanding "show v tell", adding back story, adding just enough foreshadowing. It's like taking a chunk of marble and carving, using the right tools to finally reveal a smooth, polished piece of art.

Anyone else have this problem?

KiwiChick

Editing like a caffeinated chipmunk

scarletpeaches

c2ckim

sassandgroove

Sassy haircut

Marlys

Resist. Love. Go outside.

KiwiChick

Editing like a caffeinated chipmunk

NeuroFizz

The grad students did it

Soccer Mom

Crypto-fascist

Jamesaritchie

NicoleJLeBoeuf

a work in progress

TheIT

Infuriatingly Theoretical

KiwiChick

Editing like a caffeinated chipmunk

Scrawler

Bored fanatic

KiwiChick

Editing like a caffeinated chipmunk

janetbellinger

veinglory

volitare nequeo

MidnightMuse

Midnight Reading

Jamesaritchie

Scrawler

Bored fanatic