Imagine my dismay upon discovering that the final two thirds of the novel were an even bigger mess, with more characters doing things that didn't serve the purpose at hand, scenes that didn't move the plot forward an inch, and descriptions (many, many paragraphs full) that were there just so the author could describe something lovely and the reader would be suitably impressed.
The good news is that while there's a big mess I have to fix and a whole lot of words that will not make it to the next round, the novel IS essentially complete, which means I have something to work with. Better yet, I have my chapter by chapter outline so I can actually see which chapters aren't working and what I can salvage from them. Hence the value of this outline, written mostly during during and after (because I pants first, then plot - although obviously in this case I did very little plotting).
The bad news is I have no more Supernatural to watch until the next season is released and I'm all caught up on GOT, which leaves me nothing to watch - unless perhaps you have a suggestion? Preferably something that doesn't take place in the world as we know it.
Anyway. That's where I'm at. I'll leave you with a few late summer pics taken on my road...
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| Great Blue Heron, aka GBH. Wish I had a zoom lens. He was pretty. |
Have an awesome week and I'll be back on Friday with a review of Did You Ever Have a Family? for the Cephalopod Coffee House.
Sorry the rest of it's also a mess. Since you want to work on it, I'm not going to suggest any show that will suck up your life right now.
ReplyDeleteMe too, but at least it's fixable.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, YAY on having a basically completed work on your hands. And if the mess is fixable - which it always is - you are on your way, again.
ReplyDeleteAll true :)
DeleteI wish I had all the chapters done in my WIP. I keep getting bogged down. The 100 is a great sci-fi show once you get past the first two episodes where it seems like it's a CW teen-focused show. It's a bit Game of Thrones in that anyone can die and nobody seems like they're actually the good guy.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to check out the 100. Thanks!
DeleteLove you pictures, and you've given me a good idea/ The post-writing-outlining might help me step back and see where I am with my current project. I'm a little too close right now, in a "can't see the forest for the trees" kind of way.
ReplyDeleteIt is helpful in that I can see in brief all the major things that happen that lead (are supposed to lead)to the end. I usually have a t least two documents for each novel, one the novel itself, and two the character sketches, world info (which usually come first), and then the chapter by chapter outline.
DeleteLove your pictures.
ReplyDeleteI am very, very glad that you found the mess before it was published. Too many writers don't.
Good luck.
I have to admit *cringe* I did query. So glad no one wanted to see it.
DeleteThere's more to watch than Supernatural. I used to like that series but it should have ended a while ago. Seriously...the adventures of Sam and Dean have long outlived their amazing days.
ReplyDeleteI agree, but it's still fun to watch for the most part.
DeleteCongrats on making it this far on the novel. I'm sure it'll be fixable.
ReplyDeleteAs for TV recommendations, I need a lot more to go on. What have you seen? Like, have you seen Grimm? The first couple seasons were creatures of the week, but the last couple seasons got pretty interesting. How about Person of Interest? That takes place in the "real world", but with a supercomputer that knows all. And is sort of benevolent.
I haven't seen much but those are good suggestions, esp. the last one; I like computers that are are sort of almost alive :)
DeleteOh, I like the idea of a chapter outline AFTER the first draft is written. Sounds like a plotting device I can use. Thanks for the tip Marcy :)
ReplyDeleteIt has proved very helpful and you're welcome!
Deletesuch lovely nature, I like the banner pic too with the ocean or lake or sea, whatever it is! I live in the middle of a lowland and we don't get such vistas
ReplyDeleteIt's the ocean off Pemaquid Point and yes, it is lovely :)
DeleteAt least it's written. That's so much better than not having a plot to revise.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Oh, so true.
DeleteCheering you on with the revisions! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI suggest Daredevil or Banshee!
ReplyDeleteI will check those out! Thanks :)
DeleteSTRANGER THINGS, definitely. JESSICA JONES after that. And I'm looking forward to more of FAIRY TAIL, whenever you have it ready.
ReplyDeleteI've hit a world-building snag of my WIP. I hope to work it out during a boring car ride tomorrow.
Best wishes on the rewrites! You've got it handled, I'm sure. Thank you for the lovely photos.
ReplyDelete