Time and experience has pushed me passed this issue. I now rewrite the existing story and use any alternatives to create new stories.
For those of you experiencing this problem, my suggestion is to get a clear picture of your story line, write the story from beginning to end, and then edit. Your story line may change slightly as you write, or even majorly, but the point is once you get it complete, unless it is just not working, stick with your story line during editing and rewrites. If new ideas present themselves, take note and use them for your next story.
Share your experiences with this issue, and your solutions.
Blog Directory
5 comments:
I'm currently in the second draft of a novel. I have a general feel of how I think it should go. There are already things that I see changing as a rewrite: certain characters changing sides, minor characters gaining importance, and my poor main character not getting the original ending I had planned out. Some of the changes hurt (a little bit), some are surprising. But, in the end, I think that I'm going to get a much better story. :D
I think everyone develops their own revision methods.
I've never had a problem with story drift in revision/editing, but have sometimes come back to see where something wasn't working as well as it could and changed the section (and the ripple effects of the change).
Lynn, good luck with the novel.
Terry, yes it is all a learning process.
Learning process indeed. One must rely on the voice of the book. Sounds crazy, but that is how I've learned to do.
Very true. I struggled for a while, trying to do it like the other writers in the how to books. Finally, I figured out it is such an unique process to the individual, that is a journey you must discover for yourself.
Post a Comment