Do you ever read a manuscript or piece of work you’ve written and think, ‘Something’s just not right…’ Then spend weeks trying to work out what it is, and usually it’s one small thing, but you know that one small thing means you will have to re-write the entire thing?
Well, guess what…
It’s happened to me 😀
I have been struggling and struggling to finish my current manuscript. I knew it wasn’t the characters, it wasn’t the story, and it wasn’t the setting. Everything was great, in fact, I am really proud of what I’ve come up with.
But it was how I had laid out the story.
It was wrong, and just wasn’t working.
So, although it’s hard to get rid of over 50,000 words of work, I’m going to have to do it.
I will be starting from scratch, working out a better plan and beginning again.
It’s going to be tough and hard work, but it needs to be done. Deep down I know how amazing this story will be with this one change, even if it means starting over everything again. Back to the beginning for me!
But, it’s going to be worth it!
Now to hit that, ‘Delete’ button… Urgh!
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Progress Report:
Status of sixth manuscript: Going back to the beginning! – Planning.
Total word count: 0.
Books read towards goal: 1/50
Currently reading: The Creative Writing Workbook by Matthew Branton.
A Writer's Life For Me. 
Well, don’t literally delete it. I keep everything. Never know when I may to go back to it.
I’m hoping to scour it for any small bits that might be worth saving 😀 But I have a new plan and it is waaay better!
Aren’t they always? 🙂
Been there. It’s really irritating when it’s only a few lines that are irking me and I don’t realize it. Just a deviation from the conversation that makes no sense.
I wish I’d decided to start again earlier. I had been thinking about it for a while, but didn’t have the heart to give up on so much work! 😀 But I am really glad I’ve done it now!
I can so relate. I’ve been stuck on my second book because I know I have to go back and undo my last change. It feels like starting from the get-go and it’s gutting. Hang in there!
I think gutting is the perfect word for it 😀 It’s worth it in the end, but it doesn’t make it easy, right?
Oh most definitely not!
Very brave of you to start again! I’m sure you’ll get there, these things just take time as we all well know 🙂
It is really worth it starting from scratch, the whole thing is coming together so much better and the characters and story deserve it 😀
I had to do that with my current WIP, but it was worth it. I finally finished my third attempt at that book, and it’s so much stronger than it would’ve been. Enjoy the journey of this next draft! Usually I find fresh attempts easier than my first attempts–do you?
Fresh attempts usually are easier, I guess it’s because we’ve kind of already done a run-through of it once or twice 😀 So much better going back and starting again though!
I have a sinking feeling about my third manuscript. All the stories fit together, and I can’t get rid of any of the story lines but one of them isn’t as strong. Ugh. I think it needs to be re-written!
It’s a horrible feeling, when you know it has to be done, but it’s being brave enough to do it! It will be worth it in the end though (my current mantra 😀 ).
It just gives us more time to be with our very special fake friends 🙂
It’s frustrating when you can’t place your finger on what needs to be changed, but hopefully a fresh start (not completely, I hope) will help you figure it out. Wishing you the best!
It’s already coming together so much better! Thank you so much for the encouragement 😀 Think I will need it to keep me going!
I’ve had to do it at 15,00 words and it was painful. In the long run you really want to be satisfied with it. I had a 70,000 word manuscript that required so much editing it almost wasn’t fun anymore.
That was supposed to be 15,000 words!
If the writer doesn’t love the work, then the reader won’t, right? So it will be worth doing it in the long run, but yeah, it is painful actually doing it! 😀
That’s really tough luck Mishka. I’m so sorry. But, just imagine what it’s going to be like this time round.
With all the work you already have I hope it goes from zero to superb in no time at all.
xxx Huge Hugs xxx
Thank you so much for the encouragement! 😀 It really is coming together so much better this time round, wish I’d decided to start from scratch on it earlier!
I’m going through this right now. I know something needs to be done but I just can’t figure out what it is!
It’s hard, isn’t it? Trying to work out what it is that needs tweaking. I hope you manage to work it out! 😀
Good luck! I just had to do that in the summer, after spending almost ten years finishing the manuscript because of college and grad school getting in the way. The agent who sent my manuscript back said the concept was fabulous, but she didn’t fall in love with the manuscript. To me, that meant the execution didn’t work. And seeing as some of the writing was nearly ten years old, and some only a few months old at the time, I started from page one again, and now it’s better than ever. I’m still not done because of work constraints, but it’s been worth it, despite the aggravation.
Getting rid of hard work (especially 10 year worth!) can be a little more than heart breaking, but as you’ve experienced, it’s worth it in the end! At least, that’s what I keep telling myself at the moment 😀
It sounds as though you know the exact direction to take now, which is exciting in itself. I can relate to going back to the drawing board because things aren’t working out, but I have faith in you 🙂
Thank you so much for the kind encouragement! 🙂 It has been worth starting all over, the story really is taking off now, and instead of struggling with it, it’s now flowing like it should!
woo hoo! I can’t wait to learn more about it. Have fun 🙂
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Ok. I’ve wiped more than that, Even when I get out there on that tightrope, I sill keep the original cos I may use that elsewhere. Bits of it anyway. But I do know if something isn’t working there’s a reason.
I’m keeping my old work, as there are some little moments that I’m quite proud of that I hope to transfer into my new manuscript! But it’s going so much better now 😀
Oh, that hurts. Best of luck with the rewrite! I hope you keep the original, just in case.
Thank you so much for the encouragement! I’m currently going through my old manuscript picking out any scene or little moments I liked 😀
Just think of it as a second draft, rather than a complete re-write… it won’t seem so daunting, then. I’ve had to do it with sections, and short stories, but never with a whole novel yet. Mind you, I’ve only written two so far lol!
Thinking of it that way does actually kind of soften the blow 😀 Thank you for the advice!
I’ve lost a manuscript or two to tech accidents, but I haven’t yet had to hit the kill switch on purpose. You are a brave lady! ^-^ Good luck with you rewrite, hang in there!
I think losing work to tech problems can hurt worse than making the decision to start again. The relationships with computers really are love/hate at times!
Thank you so much for the kind encouragement! 🙂
Something so drastic has never happened to me, but I have had to scrap whole chapters. Kudos to you, and I hope you are able to salvage quite a bit of it in the new layout.
Think I can take a bit from my old manuscript, so hopefully it won’t be too painful to star over 😀
Egads! I wish you the best of luck redoing all of that.
Thank you so much for the encouragement! 🙂
I can definitely understand what it’s like to start all over. I have faced that certainly even with projects outside of writing. But it’s definitely better to be content with your work and produce something you can be proud of. I know your story is going to be great 🙂
You’re right, it really is better to restart it now, then keep struggling the way I was going and then not publish it because I’m not happy with! Thank you so much for the encouragement 🙂
I admire your decision to start over. It’s hard to kill our darlings, isn’t it, especially 50,000 words! Glad you have a better plan and, above all, desire quality.
I threw out a manuscript I spent years writing and revising. It never worked. Took awhile for me to see that. I took some of the characters out of that failed book and put them in a totally different manuscript. If I had pursued that first book, this book would never have come about.
It’s all about knowing what’s right for you, if the writing is a struggle to get through, it’s better to just take a step back and start over. It’s certainly going better for me now 😀
Oh man, that had to be a painful decision to make. Still, if your new work’ll be better, it’s all for he best.
It’s going so much better already, and I’m only on the planning stage again! 😀
Ouch, that’s tough. I hate having to delete something I’ve written, but sometimes it’s necessary. I’m sure that if you feel the story will be the stronger for it, it’ll be worth it in the end.
If I had kept going with it, I don’t think I would have published it because I wouldn’t have been happy with it. So, better to cut my losses now and go for it over again, right? 😀
UGH! Yes, I know that EXACT feeling. I actually have two that I need to rearrange the layout before they can be complete. I love the stories, characters, etc., but the order is wrong. I’m sorry you’re dealing with this, but glad to know I’m not the only one. 🙂 Best wishes! ❤
It is nice knowing there are others out there who have gone through the same with their writing! Now just got to keep going with it 😀