Scrub it!

[erastes]

Well, I've restarted the book in a new place, which hurts. I hate to lose what I've written, but as some wise person said a few threads back, I can re-use it. Not as it stands, perhaps, but I'll be able to use it for reference and author notes. However I've done two big "no nos" for a start - as I've started with Landscape AND Weather!! Chortles.

I've had a couple of authory conversations with people about this phenomenon, but to me, it's very difficult to change anything once I've written it, because once I've put it down on paper, even in outline, it becomes real for me, and to change it makes it become A.U.  Does anyone else experience this?

And just for the fyi Mr Television - I could really do without the cancer adverts this time of year, ok?

Comments

[sleveen.livejournal.com]

it's very difficult to change anything once I've written it, because once I've put it down on paper, even in outline, it becomes real for me, and to change it makes it become A.U. Does anyone else experience this?

YES!!!
Oh Lord, I have so many pieces salvaged from novels, and pieces of almost-novels and wonderful story ideas that went nowhere. And you're right: as soon as you put it down on paper, it's real. It hurts to get rid of it.

[gehayi.livejournal.com]

Not me. For me, nothing is set in stone until the rewrite. Until the story is finished and fussed with, it's simply a work in progress.

[crawling-angel.livejournal.com]

it's very difficult to change anything once I've written it, because once I've put it down on paper, even in outline, it becomes real for me, and to change it makes it become A.U. Does anyone else experience this?

*nods muchly* I tend to stick in scenes from where I've actually been so when I write it I AM there! Changing something I felt...or my characters are now feeling...isn't on, lol!

Oooh, I had 'yes, your dubious scenes are okay with us' green light from someone. Have you heard of Shadowfire Press? Just wondering. I feel I want to 'collect' names of publishers and sift through them for authors I recognise. It's a scurrrry word out there. *shakes*

[pepperlandgirl4.livejournal.com]

One time, I was bitching to my sister about a book that eurydice72 and I were working on. It was a sequel to another book, but the first one hadn't been published yet. In fact, we were still editing it, and so there was some flexibility with it. So anyway, I went on and on to my sister, about how we wrote ourselves into a corner, and I wasn't sure how we could fix it, and we were probably screwed, etc.

She looked at me and said, "So why don't you change it?"

I said, "What?"

"You're editing the first book. Why don't you change that little thing?"

And I couldn't answer her because it never even occurred to me. It was like, once it happened, it happened. Period. Full stop. With a sense of wonder I said, "Oh...oh we can change it! Easily! It'll fix all our problems!"

She laughed. Ever since then, when we've made a mistake and written ourselves into a corner, we pause and remind ourselves that we can change it. It never stops being weird, though. As a result, we don't take that momentous step often.

It's also why I don't personally do outlines. I feel like once I've created an outline, then the story has, for all intents and purposes, been told, and I lose interest in actually writing it.

[mongrelheart.livejournal.com]

but to me, it's very difficult to change anything once I've written it,
I have that issue about characters' names. Once I name 'em, it sticks. As for changing other things, i often find it moderately difficult, but doable.

[markprobst.livejournal.com]

Me too. Once I've written something, fiddling with it feels like I'm tampering with history, but... I just tell myself I was just mis-informed in the first draft because here's what REALLY happened...

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Ah you see, that's the diff - I don't rewrite! Once it's down, it's done.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Check: Preditors and Editors

and: The Water cooler.

Essential for publishers you don't know of.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Nod nod - I've only done one outline and hated it, I didn't like to commit myself to the story in that way, because generally I just write and see what happens.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Mark! Where you bin, boy?

I'm very glad it's not just me!!

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Yes, I like to have the names set in stone before I start out, or at least not to change them. Can't imagine Rafe ever having been a Charles. No no no.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Silly isn't it.

SPECIALLY WHEN YOU KEEL CHARACTERS!!!!!!!! *cries*

[markprobst.livejournal.com]

I'm still here, just bogged down in the holidays. Very Christmassy at my house. We've been getting quite a bit of snow. I'm loving it.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Oh so jealous for the snow - and the Christmassy! Have a good one!

[the-sea-to.livejournal.com]

MIND TWIN!