Remember my goal a couple weeks ago, the one about finishing the first draft of my book by the 16th of this month? I remember it fondly. And it's not going to happen.
Here's the story about that. I was hard at work and making good progress toward my goal. Then, on the 4th of July, as I tried to squeeze a bit of writing in between the barbeque and the fireworks, I wrote this line on page 117:
"I knew what I wanted--I'd always known what kind of relationship I wanted."
I stared at it. And I knew I had a problem. Big problem. As in the entire book was pretty much wrong. Okay, the main character was fine, and her parents were fine, but everything and everyone else? Yeah. Wrong, wrong, wrong.
I shut my laptop and told my husband I couldn't finish it. I had to brainstorm and rewrite the entire thing starting at the end of the first chapter. He was a bit concerned--after all, the reward for my finishing was going to see the Captain America movie when it comes out. Anyway, he asked why I felt like I needed to rewrite the whole thing. I explained it to him and he agreed that, yeah, I needed to rewrite it.
Don't misunderstand me, I love having epiphanies that make my story better, I just wish they would come more conveniently sometimes. :)
In any case, I'm putting that story aside until I can recreate the characters in my head. But to keep myself motivated (i.e., to go see the movie) I have a new goal that I've been working on. I'm rewriting another manuscript. The story was too unfocused, so I'm cutting it in half and fleshing out that part of the story line. My goal is to reach 50,000 words by Saturday night and then spend next week adding in scenes that I missed. Right now I'm at 42,000 words, so I should be able to make it.
If there's one thing I've learned from this experience, it's the need to be flexible sometimes. I could have kept writing the first WIP and made my goal, but I would have been frustrated because it was all wrong and I knew it was wrong.
What about you? Have you learned anything lately?
I'm glad you had your epiphany--what was it, by the way? (And why was that particular line so long).
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you still found a goal you can feel good about.
I learned (actually, re-learned) that I can be fairly obsessive about some things.
Way to be flexible! At least you didn't have it all finished when you realized it just wasn't how you wanted it. Good luck with your new goal! You're doing great!
ReplyDeleteRosalyn--The line was long because it was a first draft and basically spewing words. :)
ReplyDeleteBeing obsessive can be good. At least you get things done.
Nisa--Thanks! I'm so glad I hadn't finished the entire thing! Thanks for commenting. :)