NaNo Pitfall #1 - do not go back and read what you've already written.
Okay, so I opened the file this morning to get some words written, and for grins I decided to read some of the beginning of this book. I found a few typos, which I fixed. Not a problem. Then I found a bit of worldbuilding that I have since differed from. Umm. Crap.
Now my brain is so busy worrying about how I'm going to fix this that I can't think about where I was supposed to take the story next. Seriously. And what's worse is, I knew better. I know if I start finding flaws in the story, I'm going to want to go back and fix them all before I continue. It's a thing about me. It's also why I've learned to write the way I do - straight through, no stopping and no going back.
Yes, at the beginning of the book Nigel (a minor character whose name is going to be changed) doesn't know what the hell is going on any more than Jo (the MC) does. But in the later chapters, he's part of the group that's known all along and has been keeping it a secret. Sooo, I either need to fix the beginning or I need to fix this middle part.
Ack.
Deep breaths. In through the nose, out through the mouth.
What I really need to do is forget I ever saw that flaw and forge ahead. The story is going great so far, and whatever Nigel does ultimately doesn't matter to the crux of the plot. (Unless I make this into a series, and then Nigel's crucial to the plot that would carry over several books.) Regardless, I need to tuck this flaw into its proper place and fix it later.
Remember folks, you can always go back and fix afterwards, but you can't fix what isn't written. So just write. Damn it. (That last part was for me, btw.)
And thus ends our brief neurotic break. We now return you to your regularly scheduled psychoses. ;o)
Yipes! That's painful.
ReplyDeleteCould Nigel have lied about not knowing?
That's one way to deal with it, but for now, I've decided to ignore the flaw and forge ahead. I could spend the next week rewriting and editing, but I've got words to get out. I'll deal with Nigel later. And he won't like it one bit. ;o)
ReplyDeleteUgh -raises hand in shame-
ReplyDeleteYou just explained what happened with my last story. It was great- well written, good characters, interesting plot- and then BAM. I changed some things and felt like I couldn't move ahead without changing the previous stuff. So that's why I'm taking a break from that.
I hope it all works out!
Oh my - I haven't tried NaNo because there are many reasons why I don't think it'd work for me. You've pointed out one that I haven't even thought of.
ReplyDeleteI am doing a mini NaNo writing a story for my son.
Good luck with your project.