) so that you can switch off when you need to and not lose your writing momentum.
Next, I would like to put in a plug for my new website address (if it is ok with KDW). It's [link]http://www.mikelambson.com[/link]
Ok, on to my question...
So a few months ago Meredith ran synopsis challenge, awesome by-the-way. Based on comments I recieved on my very, very early synopsis, I did some major cutting and reworking of my plotlines. This isn't a problem; it's actually fun to brainstorm for new ideas. The problem I am having now is that, since I am almost starting over, I am having a hard time keeping my writing pace at all. I am giving myself monthly, weekly, and daily goals that help me, to actually sit down and write, but it's like I have killed a small bit of the magic, or the fun in my writing.
Has anyone else gone through this, and how to you kick the fingers in the proverbial butt? I've got the ideas and the notes, I am still writing, but I've slowed to half speed or less at times. I'm not even stressed. Could it be a lack of excitement? If so, how do you get that back?
Kevin J. Anderson, in his 11 tips, suggests always having multiple projects in different phases of writing--world building, first draft, revision, etc. (no problem for me ) so that you can switch off when you need to and not lose your writing momentum.
I get around that by not rewriting. I would say submit the work and move on to something new. New stuff is where the real practice and writing happens anyway, so if you've lost your excitement, why torture yourself? Write something new
My two cents anyway.
Maybe I am just afraid of not getting it right or something like that. IDK ****Now comes the string of fake cuss words...darn, freaking, dumb, idiotic,crappy, mental cramps**** WHEW! Now that that's out of the way, somebody slap me in the face and tell me to write.
By-George, I think I hit my head too hard on the brick wall, it smarts. Yes, me, myself, and I are a very crazy team tonight. Shhh, I think the village is trying to find me again. No matter how well I cover my eyes they always seem to find me. EEP!
Maybe stop writing and draw up a rough map, if you haven't already. Do a little more world building (can't really overdo that). Or write a scene or two from the POV of a different character.
Which kind of rewrite are you trying to do? If the first kind, that may explain the lack of enthusiasm. You may need to wait until you are excited and willing to do it the second way.
Also, as Meredith suggests, jump around in the story. Write the part that is most exciting to you, instead of slogging through stuff that isn't so that you can get to the exciting parts. As I have said before and will say again, just as movie scenes are not necessarily filmed in the order in which they will be viewed, story scenes do not have to be written in the order in which they will be read.
If you write Chapter Later On before Chapter One, and then write Chapter Whenever, and then write Chapter Last of All, and then go write Chapter In-Between, and so on, doing the parts that are clawing to be put on paper until something is written for all of it, and THEN go through the whole thing to fix the transitions and "edit" to get it to flow together smoothly, it may work better for you.
The last time I tried a rigid writing schedule with goals and timetables and outlines---and this was some thirty years ago---I wrote a novel in about a week's time. Then the schedule broke down three chapters into the next novel.
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At least two ways to do rewrites: 1--sit with the previous draft and make changes in it (aka "editing"), 2--sit down with it all in your head and start writing it all over again on blank paper (or screen).
Hm. Then I must be doing a rewrite right now instead of the first draft. I'm still not completely fluent on this writer's jargon...
Typically, I'll write a chapter or two of my novel, and then a story idea thats been percolating in my head for a while will insist on being written, so I'll start the story. Between drafts of the story, I'll go back to the novel and work some more on that.
Sometimes, I find that getting feedback on a manuscript can lead to new ideas for that story or novel and motivate me to work on it. So perhaps workshop the manuscript a bit and see if that gets you excited about working on it.
I hope that makes sense.
It has worked for me in the past. I find that redrafting is a lot simpler and turns out a better product than trying to go in and "fix" whatever is wrong in the initial draft if more than a few minor issues appear.
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MartinV, rewrite method 2 requires that there are already previous drafts. Writing it out from scratch and from what's in your head can be a first draft, but that's not what I was talking about. I was talking about having written it at least once, and then writing it all again without looking at what you write before. That method is especially helpful when you've "edited" the story to death (or at least to the point where it's lost its "sparkle").
I hope that makes sense.
I've never done that type of revising, there's another name for it -recasting maybe- anyway, someone suggested I do that for part of a story they critted for me. They didn't think the first part was me-like I was writing it for editors or some such-and I didn't find my voice until half way through or so.
I thought about doing it but wasn't sure if I could recall all the stuff I wanted in that first part.
Oh yes, I wrote a novel five-six years ago and I've learned so much since then(even though I'm still stuck) I'm sure the writing needs a lot cleaning up so I thought about just doing a rewrite or recast, it would be a whole lot easier and faster I think.
For my own work, I am going to go with the world building and writing exciting scenes as they come to mind rather then pushing at the story in order. I say - I was telling myself that I can't skip ahead till I have the current scene figured out. I was killing my own excitement.
I can feel my excitement building again; Woo Hoo!!
P.S. I know I act 15 some times, but I am almost double that age. I'm young at heart dispite what my wife may tell you.