I have two completed manuscripts which no one wanted 😢 I think after 30+ agent rejections, that’s a fair assessment... but I’m doing ok because I’ve decided to take the best of both and create a stronger, better hybrid. I started by trying to cut and paste bits out of each story so the blank page feeling was gone. But I’m getting so confused about where I am in the plot and half the names are wrong, so... today I decided to just start again and rewrite from the beginning... I’ve been watching the "How to Write" video course and got to the plot part today and I’m developing a new plan with correct names and time lines and - hopefully - taking on board what I’ve learned so far from the videos... wish me luck 🤞📝
Comments
Info
K
good luck!🍀
Thanks Kate 😲
Hi Anne, this "10 Key Scenes" list from C S Lakin might be useful for plotting in the key bits that you are recycling :-)
Thanks Emmaloo, this looks really interesting and might help me structure properly...
Hi Anne
good luck!
Just a tiny piece of personal experience, without any pretense of methodological value.
I started my new novel writing a single chapter, just for the fun of it, I liked the central scene. I had no idea it would have become a novel. Then someone read it, and they loved it, my motivation grew, and I added a second chapter, and a third, always maintaining its coherence. It became a short story, now it is a 50,000 words novel - and growing.
Miraculously, the plot and characters grew with the text. The original scene is now Chapter Twenty-Three. LOL. I don't know how good the novel is, but writing it this way was fun! And it is definitely a low-cost approach.
So, you could just take the chapter you like better, featuring the character you love most, and build a new story around it, I guess other chapters you wrote will come in handy throughout the creative journey... but actually, I don't know if it could work for you or for other friends.
It is just my tiny piece of personal experience.
Greetings from sunny Italy
Jo, near Venice
Thanks Jo, that sounds intriguing... I think my problem is I tried to reuse too many chapters and the whole thing became disjointed. Maybe if I picked just one or two, I can make it work better. Definitely worth thinking about!
Thank you from a wet and very windy Buckinghamshire
Anne
I feel very sorry for you just reading this. Sometimes it is a real struggle. You have to actually like doing it to stick at it! Admire your persistence. Plotting and planning is a very personal thing but I think Harry's book on how to write a novel is very useful to read or re-read. Being clear eyed about your characters - the story/plot and every sentence doing one thing well and clearly - all good advice from it.
Forgot I had Harry's book... I must go look for it and reread as you say cos it’s been a while. I do think it’s a struggle writing a novel (my flash fiction just "appears") but I enjoy it and now I’m retired it gives me purpose... thank you for the nudge and giving me something to think about
Forgot I had Harry's book... I must go look for it and reread as you say cos it’s been a while. I do think it’s a struggle writing a novel (my flash fiction just "appears") but I enjoy it and now I’m retired it gives me purpose... thank you for the nudge and giving me something to think about