I did have trouble with the middle:not the actual writing but decided the plot was weak and ditched it, took at least a year to rewrite the whole middle section. Yet I still like being a pantser!
I will edit as I go, but that is just minor. I can't do a major edit till I am finished. Sometimes I have to remember that I need to make a note of brand new characters because they may pop up again in later chapters. It saves hunting through the previous chapters to find them. I did try once to plan out a whole book. Had the idea. Wrote character sheets for all the major charactes, back stories, the full works. Outline of the plot, themes I wanted to investigate through the book. They are all still in my WIP folder. Everytime I think I will start I open a doc write Chapter One and that is all. Total block.
Totally agree. The time that I start to really look at what is going on (rather than panting away) are draft 2 - ???? Right ow, I am about to go into edits on my 12th draft. Loving it!
I must admit as much as I detest editting, it has to be done. Sometimes I'm about to rewrite my fifth paragraph during an edit and I think - effing hell I am just going to rewrite the whole chapter. But of-course that means I then have to edit it! I just love the process.
I'm big into the process, too. that's the whole point! I love having my novel published, and I enjoy promoting it, but what I really love is tackling my WIP.
I did have trouble with the middle:not the actual writing but decided the plot was weak and ditched it, took at least a year to rewrite the whole middle section. Yet I still like being a pantser!
DO you like pantsing around with the first draft or editing?
I will edit as I go, but that is just minor. I can't do a major edit till I am finished. Sometimes I have to remember that I need to make a note of brand new characters because they may pop up again in later chapters. It saves hunting through the previous chapters to find them. I did try once to plan out a whole book. Had the idea. Wrote character sheets for all the major charactes, back stories, the full works. Outline of the plot, themes I wanted to investigate through the book. They are all still in my WIP folder. Everytime I think I will start I open a doc write Chapter One and that is all. Total block.
Totally agree. The time that I start to really look at what is going on (rather than panting away) are draft 2 - ???? Right ow, I am about to go into edits on my 12th draft. Loving it!
I must admit as much as I detest editting, it has to be done. Sometimes I'm about to rewrite my fifth paragraph during an edit and I think - effing hell I am just going to rewrite the whole chapter. But of-course that means I then have to edit it! I just love the process.
I'm big into the process, too. that's the whole point! I love having my novel published, and I enjoy promoting it, but what I really love is tackling my WIP.
I agree the middle muddle is the worst! I’m less than a hundred pages into my fourth book, DEAD MERCHANDISE. So far, so good.
Glad to hear it! Keep it lean - like I wish my real middle could be.
Keep it up, Judith. Similarly, I found my second novel was much easier to keep tight, as well. You can post a link to your existing books if you like.