That vague, queasy feeling

[pjthompson]

8,000 / 100,000 (8.0%)

I've written or "recovered" 8k and two chapters, but I have this queasy feeling I may have begun this story too soon. The opening has way too much stuff, and some of this prose—from at least eight years ago now—is soooo clunky. Part of me says I should just try to rewrite the whole thing rather than editing the old stuff, but some of it is not bad at all. I think I need to press forward and get the story down, worry about the clean and scrub of prose later. Just like I'd do with any first draft.

I have to remind myself this isn't really a rewrite at this stage, because I never finished the draft and I'm changing and revising as I go. This really is still a first draft. Getting it on the page right now is the only thing that's important.

I am missing something in this opening. Something important, maybe, or maybe I did start the story too early. That's not usually a problem with me. Or maybe I'm just not used to a non-action opener. Or maybe it's just boring as hell.

Time will tell.

Comments

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Push on--it'll come to you.

[pjthompson]

I thinking doubling back at this point might be fatal.

[wldhrsjen3.livejournal.com]

I'm still not sure about my beginning. I've written it three times because I keep changing my mind about when the story needs to start... I finally decided to let the reviewers decide for me because my head is too muddled to see it clearly. :/

[pjthompson]

Yep, distance is the only thing that helps with that sort of stuff--at least for me. Letting it go and moving on. Convincing yourself to let go and move on can be a challenge, but...

[kmkibble75.livejournal.com]

Yeah, just getting it down is the right way to go, I think, especially considering the revelations you've had already. Who knows how many more will show up?

[pjthompson]

Who knows? Ramona is full of surprises. A non-organic writer's nightmare. :-)

[kmkibble75.livejournal.com]

Which is why you're perfect for one another. :-)

[pjthompson]

A match made in...uh...