Patricia Stoltey

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When You’ve Been Away from Your Manuscript Too Long

August 8, 2015 By: Patricia

Sometimes we discover a project is not going well, so we set it aside and let it rest.

Sometimes life interrupts, as it has a way of doing, and the project must be placed on a shelf until all those crises are resolved.

And sometimes, we just poop out for a few weeks…or months.

Then, suddenly, the urge to write coincides with a block of time to write. Whether you have 20,000 words done, or 70,000, the break interrupted your flow of ideas. You’re not sure where you need to add scenes. You can’t remember half of  your characters’ names. And you have no idea which sections need fleshing out and which are polished and ready to go.

That’s where I am with my major project (as opposed to my side project which is another story….literally).

Here’s how I’ve decided to proceed with the major project:  From the beginning.

I printed out the first fifty pages of the 65,000 words written so far and am going through it meticulously, taking notes on timeline and characters. I have a notebook for the notes and a couple of legal pads for added paragraphs or scenes.  I will incorporate edits and new scenes into the manuscript before printing out the next fifty pages.

I know what you’re thinking. If I worked from an outline and kept notes from the beginning, I might not have this problem. I can’t argue with that. It’s simply not the way I started this novel. And I like the story too  much to throw it away.

So if you don’t see me online very much for the next month, you’ll know what I’m doing. First fifty pages, then the second fifty pages, and on until the end.

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Category: The Writing Life Tag: editing, finishing manuscripts, finishing projects, Revisions, rewriting

Comments

  1. Susan Gourley says

    August 10, 2015 at 10:34 am

    I’ve done that exact thing with a manuscript. It usually works pretty well for me and improves the parts I do have done.
    Susan Says

    • Patricia says

      August 10, 2015 at 9:14 pm

      I’m hoping that’s what happens here, Susan. At least I can say I have a new enthusiasm for the story and determination to make it better (and get it finished).

  2. Allan Emerson says

    August 10, 2015 at 9:48 am

    It’s amazing how quickly you lose the thread when you stop working on a story, isn’t it? The one good thing about a writing break for me is that sometimes I come back with a perspective on the story I didn’t have while writing it. (Or so I tell myself…)

    • Patricia says

      August 10, 2015 at 9:12 pm

      I’m telling myself the same thing, Allan. This can only make it better, right?

  3. Madeline says

    August 10, 2015 at 7:49 am

    I’m in a similar spot with my WiP. I put it aside physically – not mentally, haven’t stopped thinking about it! – while I worked on getting my ebook together. When I go back to the ms, I’ll start from the beginning, too – immersing myself in the story, the characters, everything. Looking forward to it!

    • Patricia says

      August 10, 2015 at 8:39 am

      That long “rest” seems to have refreshed my enthusiasm for the story, Madeline, so I’m hoping this goes well. I’ve set aside a lot of writing/revising time so must now simply stick to the plan.

  4. Margot Kinberg says

    August 10, 2015 at 5:42 am

    Thanks for sharing what you’re doing with that manuscript, Pat. I had a similar sort of thing about six weeks ago when I went back to a manuscript I hadn’t looked at in too long. On the one hand, it’s beautiful to be working on it again. On the other, getting started all over again? A challenge!

    • Patricia says

      August 10, 2015 at 8:37 am

      At least in my case I’m enjoying the challenge. Otherwise the manuscript might hit the shredder. 😀

Meet Patricia

I read, I write, I blog, and sometimes I do the laundry and cook. My 2014 novel, Dead Wrong, was a finalist in the thriller category of the 2015 Colorado Book Awards. Wishing Caswell Dead (Five Star/Cengage, December 20, 2017) is a historical mystery set in 1830s Illinois in the fictitious Village of Sangamon. The novel was a finalist for the 2018 Colorado Book Awards for General Fiction. Read More…

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