Rewrite Challenges
NaNo is over. My novel is almost over. Rewrite lies ahead.
I took a peek at the NaNo forums about rewriting novels. So many people are frightened of them. I suppose they are scary, especially the first time.
My novel still doesn't have a real title. I refer to it as Edwina. Titles are important but the novel is more important. And the novel needs work.
Starting the rewrite is so tempting. However, first I need to finish the rough draft. I think I know what to write now once I get to sit down and work on it the next time. Then I will start the rewrite.
Everyone says to let the novel sit before starting the rewrite. Sometimes I do. This novel I will not wait for but will push on to do a first draft.
The place to start for me is to pinpoint major problems. One is my main character. I didn't plan ahead very well and didn't know her well when I started to write. I do know her now. That will change the tone and situations in the beginning of the novel.
Secondly I will tackle Edwina. She is fun or should be fun. I want her role to expand a little and insert more of that fun into a novel that has gotten much too serious.
Third are the supporting characters. They are stereotypes and two dimensional. I know who one of them is but let her slip away almost into nothingness as the novel progressed. She does some important things in the plot and needs to be more than a ghost of a character.
The bad guys weren't planned to begin with. I have no idea who they are yet. They didn't even have names for a chapter or two.
Which brings me to names. There are so many for teachers and others in the novel. The cast isn't huge but each member needs a name.
Once the first draft is done, then it can sit a time. Then I will know more of what the novel is so I can ponder how to take it from there to where I want it to go.
I took a peek at the NaNo forums about rewriting novels. So many people are frightened of them. I suppose they are scary, especially the first time.
My novel still doesn't have a real title. I refer to it as Edwina. Titles are important but the novel is more important. And the novel needs work.
Starting the rewrite is so tempting. However, first I need to finish the rough draft. I think I know what to write now once I get to sit down and work on it the next time. Then I will start the rewrite.
Everyone says to let the novel sit before starting the rewrite. Sometimes I do. This novel I will not wait for but will push on to do a first draft.
The place to start for me is to pinpoint major problems. One is my main character. I didn't plan ahead very well and didn't know her well when I started to write. I do know her now. That will change the tone and situations in the beginning of the novel.
Secondly I will tackle Edwina. She is fun or should be fun. I want her role to expand a little and insert more of that fun into a novel that has gotten much too serious.
Third are the supporting characters. They are stereotypes and two dimensional. I know who one of them is but let her slip away almost into nothingness as the novel progressed. She does some important things in the plot and needs to be more than a ghost of a character.
The bad guys weren't planned to begin with. I have no idea who they are yet. They didn't even have names for a chapter or two.
Which brings me to names. There are so many for teachers and others in the novel. The cast isn't huge but each member needs a name.
Once the first draft is done, then it can sit a time. Then I will know more of what the novel is so I can ponder how to take it from there to where I want it to go.
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