What if I delete a scene?

Yeah, you can count it. Just because you're not using it in the final product doesn't mean you actually have to delete it from the document right now. Save that for the bigger editing process at the end of the month after you finish the draft.

After all, even if you're sure the scene won't work, you might find yourself wanting a line or two later.

"But that's not how it happened at all. This is what really happened..."

Dale

Just mark the section somehow or copy and paste it at the end of your file. You've already written them and it's fine for you to save them towards your word count.

Yup. I'd either hilite it in some obnoxiously bright colour or use strikethrough, but definitely keep it for word count purposes.

All wise words. Writing is for NaNo, editing is for December.

As Chris Baty says in the official NaNo book, you're allowed to highlight the text you no longer need and change the font to white, so it doesn't show up against your background but counts towards your final total.

Dale Emery said:

"But that's not how it happened at all. This is what really happened..."

Dale

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I like this, plus it adds to the word count!

NaNo seems to be a word count contest more than a good writing contest. I think anyone who writes a bad scene should just leave it in and take it out after Dec 1st. You can do a lot with your story after Dec 1. I would not do much editing except maybe glaring spell check problems.

What "Use Her Name" said. Don't delete it. Although NaNo is a word-on-screen contest, save the bad scene and rewrite it when you edit. The idea for NaNo is to turn off the editor, internal and external, get the words written. You never know--that bad scene might be the perfect subplot that leads to the perfect ending.

GeorgieB said:

The idea for NaNo is to turn off the editor, internal and external, get the words written. You never know--that bad scene might be the perfect subplot that leads to the perfect ending.

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I second that. You're too close to your book at the moment, you can't really judge. I won't be sursprised if later you discover this scene adds depth to the entire story.

I've had an identical problem yesterday, but I'm keeping the scene because I have a good feeling about it.

Good luck!

Dale Emery said:

"But that's not how it happened at all. This is what really happened..."

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Brilliant! I'm off to do that right now . . .