Back on track

I would like to thank everybody that encouraged me to continue when I was wondering if I should start all over again.

I've spent the last couple of weeks or so, not rewriting, but rethinking. I looked back on each chapter I'd written and thought about what should stay, what should go, what should be added. I outlined the story arc for each major character. I cleared up some problems with my world-building. Although I haven't plotted all the way to the end, I've managed to get almost that far, and certainly far enough to start writing again. I'd totally bogged down, feeling like I was digging holes and making problems bigger.

Well, it's been a very positive exercise. Whole chapters have shaped themselves in my head, and now that I've addressed all those problems that were nagging at me, my confidence is returning. Having looked at the story from multiple points of view, plot holes have filled in and new ideas have popped up. Today I sat down and cranked out about 2500 words, which is almost record-breaking territory for me. And I know what story I'm going to be telling tomorrow too. Now that I am clearer on the story I'm writing, it's coming easily again.

I am one happy camper.

I do hope this experience will be useful for someone.

And no, I didn't rewrite anything I've already written. I did make quite a few notes on what will need to be changed when I start revisions though.

I was sort of hoping it could serve as an encouragement. Stopping and thinking hard is what helped me, although I'm sure there are twenty other different ways that work.

I'll probably hit the doldrums another couple of times before I even finish the first draft *sigh*.