Isn't it fun to rediscover?

acelticdream · Dec 25, 2011

After a 3-4 month hiatus, I have finally returned to writing my novel. Yay!

I did a read-through right now of the roughly 36 pages (5 chapters) I have written. I casually spotted some glaring typos, deleted a few odd sentences ... just things that stood out to me as I read through.

What got me though is that I didn't remember writing as much as I did. It was fun reading through and noting my reaction to the little twists and turns I had introduced. It was as if I was reading a brand new story for the first time, clueless as to what is really going on and woooing and ahhhhing in all the right places.

And while I know there is a lot of final editing that will need to be done to those 36 pages, overall ... I was thoroughly pleased with what I have written. Heck, even with knowing all the clues and who did it ... I was very much engaged. Even my chapter ending hooks grabbed me.

How cool is that?
I know ... silly. Especially considering I'm just under 10,000 words in on my first draft.

So, while I didn't actually progress my story any in the last day or so word-count wise, I did accomplish a few things:

a) Did a slight change to the plot ... changed what character did what. This only tightened things up much better in my opinion.

b) Did a quick, basic edit of what I had written. I guess I'll do this in chunks ... every 3-4 chapters or so.

c) Refreshed my memory on where I left off. Kind of important you know LOL.

d) Boosted my self-esteem a tad know that I can impress myself by reading my own work and being thoroughly engaged.

I guess this can be akin to an epiphany. A sign to say that I am on the right track.

Has that happened to you when writing?
If so - share your experience!

heyjude · Dec 25, 2011

Yes! I love this feeling! It's so good to go back and say "Hey, I didn't do half bad." :tongue

So glad you're there again.

DocBrown · Dec 25, 2011

I know exactly what you mean.

It's always a pleasant surprise.

knightrunnermat · Dec 25, 2011

It's funny because I did the same exact thing a couple days ago with my thriller. I have been so busy working on other projects that this kind of got pushed off my to-do list, but I read through it and remembered how much I liked my story. I even added a new scene after being stuck for a long time on this specific part.

acelticdream · Dec 25, 2011

Good going, Matt!

If I was many moons of hard work into my novel, I would have said the time away from it was needed in order to bring a fresh perspective to it when I did come back.

It also helps that I decided to stop writing linear and to skip to the ending of the book because I was formulating how to tie everything together and lay it out to the reader. That's what I have been typing today. By the end of tonight, I will be close to 5000 word mark for the day's total, perhaps a tad over it.

I guess though, because I'm knew the writing process, that I just didn't find my "groove" and sub-consciously knew it enough that I needed to step away for a bit. *shrugs* Sounds like a plausible idea perhaps.

HunterEmkay · Jan 2, 2012

Ha!

I found exactly the same thing when I read back on my own WIP last month (December wasn't very kind to my WIP but I did manage a bit of work).

I normally don't read back at all - but for this time was forced back to rewrite several scenes and character points which were jarring me. And I found that I actually enjoyed my own writing, even if in first draft. I added a couple of scenes, took out a scene, and was motivated to add another few thousand words.

I was always a little fearful of re-reading my own writing, thinking it was bound to be awful somehow. But after a little time and distance, I found it to be a motivating exercise to get me across a wall.

Isn't it fun to rediscover?

acelticdream

Just me ... dreaming and writing.

heyjude

Making my own sunshine

DocBrown

Hopes to one day write for food.

knightrunnermat

acelticdream

Just me ... dreaming and writing.

HunterEmkay