Don't destroy the soul of the story.

[Svrtnsse]

So...

I was planning on going back to an old novel and finishing it up and fixing some issues with it. It's my first novel I ever wrote (and yes, so far the only one), and I haven't touched it in about two years or so - I think.

That start off with I decided I should re-read the story to get back into it. What strikes me (among other things) is how different the writing style is from how I write now. My first impulse is that if I want to fix this story and get it out for people to read I'm better off just rewriting it from scratch.

I think I can do that. It's just a whole lot of work and I need to get used to the idea of working on a project that big again. I'll just have to whine and rant a little and feel sorry for myself a bit before I dig down and get started.

So, I do - the ranting and whining, you know.

One comment I received, from more than one person is that I shouldn't do it. I shouldn't rewrite the story because I'll risk destroying the soul of the story and it wouldn't be the same anymore. On the one hand, I can see where this is coming from. After all, I'd rewrite the whole thing and it'd be different.

On the other hand, I'm not sure how much of an issue it would really be.

The way I feel now is that either I'd rewrite it from scratch, or I'll leave it as is and write something else instead and probably not publish it at all.

What are your thoughts and experiences with situations like this?

 

[Svrtnsse]

I should add I'm currently leaning towards doing the rewrite anyway. I still think it's a good story and that it could do with being well told. Yes, it'll change the soul of the story, but I'm not sure I should let that get in the way of me doing what I feel like.

...then again, I'm sure I'll change my mind about it again within the next 48 hours (or five minutes).

 

[Penpilot]

Here's the way I think of it. You already wrote a version of that story. That version doesn't go away if you do a rewrite. If the old version of the story isn't worthy to send out then it does no harm in trying to rewrite it. The new version may be better. It may be worse. But it doesn't change the fact the old version exists and won't go away unless you erase it, so really, you don't risk destroying anything.

Also part of developing as a writer is to gain the ability to take a story identify what's wrong with it and fix it. That's how a writer develops consistency. If you don't ever try and fix stuff, then you don't develop any of these skills.

 

[Svrtnsse]

These are good points - especially the one about developing as a writer. I tried to make the same point a while back when rewriting a short story, and it worked out pretty well. Might as well try the same thing again with a longer piece.

 

[Demesnedenoir]

Write it, change can be good for the soul.

 

[DragonOfTheAerie]

I'll put in my experience...

So, when I first joined here (about six months ago...whoa, has it been that long??) I was working on a huge project that I loved with all my heart and soul, but I'd been stuck on it for two years. It was driving me near to madness with its obstinacy and eventually, with no other options left, I quit and began my current work in progress, with the assumption that I would one day return to the big project, this time ready to write it.

Now it's been several months and the old project still lives in my mind, though the new is at the forefront. And I wonder, every now and then, if I will ever return. If I will ever WANT to return. If my ideas will ever still have the same meaning and importance for me. I seriously doubt I will be able to pick up where I left off with it in ten years. What I mean is, even now I see it as somewhat of a microcosm of who I was, 16 years old, in 2016. I'm going to change. My style is going to change. My preferences as to what I like to write are going to change. And when I come back, what happens to that story? Will the things that excited me about it still excite me? Will I still be able to love it in the way that I did?

Scary thoughts. They're scary to me. But, here is the clincher: I've accepted that what you refer to the "soul" of the story will change. When I return, it will be as a totally different person, and my way of approaching the story will be totally different. Not even necessarily better. Different. I will connect to the characters in new ways, I will explore the plot in new ways. A lot will change. The story might even be unrecognizable.

Who knows? It might just get digested, the components broken down, the characters passed into new and different stories, the ideas recycled (passed on and recycled because I don't think ideas ever really die). But I don't think that will happen. I think that, one day, this story will become incarnate again. I have no idea what form it will take, but I'm going to wait for the right time, and when it comes time to enflesh it again, I will.

There is no way your story won't be different, because there's no way you aren't different. But I think that's okay.

 

[Ronald T.]

I agree wholeheartedly with the points Penpilot made. You lose nothing, and who knows what greatness you might achieve?

Just don't throw away the original manuscript. There's always a chance you might wish to revive the old version by infusing new life into it. Often, there are valuable gems hidden in your older text, bits that have more power than you first realized.

So, save the old for future reference, and full steam ahead on a rewrite. There's no down side in keeping the old and starting the new.

But I offer a warning. Don't let starting new projects prevent you from finishing the old ones. Take your stories to the final stage by completing the first full draft and then by editing it until it is as clean as you can make it. In my experience, there is no better teacher than seeing a project to its final destination. It's not until then that you, or anyone else, can see the hidden beauty of a story told full and well.

All my best to you in coming to a satisfactory decision.

 

[oenanthe]

My first novel was fanfic. it was an incredibly long, rambling mess of pure joy. I've been encouraged and tempted to go back and rewrite it, now that I know what I didn't know back when I wrote it.

I likely never will. even flawed, it is what it is and people adore it even though it's nowhere near perfect, and I have moved on.

 

[Netardapope]

My main question would be whether you want to keep the same plot or give the whole story a makeover, just with the same characters. I say that you should get to work on the project that interests you most. If the prospect of just revising it calls you, then go ahead and do that. If you like the idea of starting from scratch, then do that.

In my experience, the only projects I finish are those that occupy my mind on a constant basis. If your writing styles are truly as drastically different as you say, then I would argue that the process of finishing this story would be much easier if you rewrote it.

You're not alone, friend. I've been going through this exact issue. It's only been a few days since I decided to reboot my whole universe.

Sent from my SM-J700M using Tapatalk

 

[Chessie]

Dude, I'm SO glad you brought this up.

First, you. Do it. Redraft the whole thing but keep the old one on your hard drive. I remember Enar's Vacation. It's a cute little story that would benefit from your improved skill. But after this? Please consider writing a new novel. My concern is that you'll get stuck rewriting old stories instead of trying your hand at entirely new conflicts and characters.

And why I'm glad you brought this up, because I've been considering rewriting one of my old novels too. At the time, I had no idea what I was doing. Three years later, I have a much better scope of the story and I know I can write it bomb. So, I fully support this rewrite of yours.

 

[Heliotrope]

Oh man, I read this thread a while ago but didn't respond, then I re-read it again when I saw Chessie responded because I really wanted to know what she was going to say (since she used to be totally against re-writes!) And I was surprised... Chessie OMG! Not the response I was expecting from you.

So, not the response I was expecting from myself lol! I agree with Chessie. Do it, if you want to. The story would be improved by your new skills.

However, my personal, humble opinion is that old stories with old ideas often don't make it because they are underdeveloped, don't hold enough conflict (inner and outer) and are generally just "amateurish" ideas.... if that is a thing. I know with my old stuff it's not that the writing is bad (which is it), it is that the ideas/concept/premise itself is weak. So not worth re-writing.

If you have a gem of a premise you just have to re-play with, then do it!

But consider that your new skills may be better utilized on a new, more mature, compelling concept.

 

[Svrtnsse]

Slowly running out of "thanks" here, but I do appreciate the input and support so far.

@Netardapope:
The plan is to use the current version of the story as an outline. There are bits and pieces I know already that I need to cut out, and there are a few things (very few), that I need to add. Other than that, the story will basically be the same. Just - hopefully - better told.

@Chessie:
It is indeed a cute little story about a socially awkward man who goes on vacation and meets an exciting and interesting woman - in a fantasy setting.
And yes, after this, new novel for sure. This is the only "big" thing I have left unfinished now that Emma's Story is nearly done. I too don't want to get stuck rewriting the same old stories over and over again. I'm definitely going to be dragging up some old characters though, as many of them have untold (completely) stories left to tell.

Thanks again for the support everyone. Makes it easier to get on with the project.

 

[Svrtnsse]

If you have a gem of a premise you just have to re-play with, then do it!

Uh... "boy meets girl" - good enough?

Seriously though, I do think I could make this work. It needs some tweaking and cutting, but I guess that's why I want to do a rewrite instead of just editing what's already there.

 

[Chessie]

I don't know, Helio...

Ideas are a dime a dozen. What matters is execution. From what I recall about Enar's Vacation is that it's a little love story with a simple concept that allowed him to build a very real world around it. I like Svrt's world building and think that's one of his strong points, which he can use to his advantage here. What I'm saying is, any concept can be mature it just depends on how you write it.

As far as rewrites go, what I refer to as a "rewrite" is, okay...

A writer drafts up a story, fixing mistakes along the way. Writer then sees a scene that's off, does some tweaking, keeps drafting. Stops again because story is getting harder to work on, it's getting larger. Writer then chips away at the original skeleton of the story: the plot, by rewriting new scenes that creative voice has already placed in order. And we can talk freely about that last point somewhere else but I have serious beliefs around this. Anyway, writer eventually gets stuck in a cycle of constantly rewriting scenes to "improve" them, thus having to tweak everything coming before or after, etc. The novel can never be perfect. It won't be. This cycle prevents writers from finishing more work than they actually realize they are capable of producing. This is what my personal definition of a rewrite is.

What Svrt is talking about, is what I define as a "redraft". Two completely different things, so no, my answer isn't any different than it would've been.

 

[Svrtnsse]

What Svrt is talking about, is what I define as a "redraft". Two completely different things, so no, my answer isn't any different than it would've been.

Shush now, you're still not Chesterama.

Anyway, you're right though. I could go in and start tweaking the scenes as they are, but in the end that would probably take longer, and yield a less satisfying result. Better to start over and do it "right" from the start.

 

[Chessie]

Shush now, you're still not Chesterama.

Anyway, you're right though. I could go in and start tweaking the scenes as they are, but in the end that would probably take longer, and yield a less satisfying result. Better to start over and do it "right" from the start.

Lol, wat?? It's totally still me in here. :wavespin:

 

[Svrtnsse]

I know, just messing with you.

 

[Ronald T.]

I would like to add an important detail to what I said about not letting new work prevent you from finishing older work. I absolutely agree that some writing efforts are worthy of abandonment. I only suggest that it might not be a good precedent to set as your general rule of thumb. There will always be times when the story becomes difficult, or you feel I lacks the necessary pizzazz. That can happen to any writer. But that's not necessarily the time to give up on it, at least not forever.

But I agree, there are times to move on. Even at the risk of using a cliché, beating a dead horse is a waste of time.

All I wanted to say was, don't give up too easily.

 

[skip.knox]

Write it, change can be good for the soul.

Change is also good for the bus.

I do not disagree with the good arguments for rewriting, but I'll offer an alternative. Don't rewrite. Write a new one. The only reason for the rewrite would be if you are determined to publish that one.

If you are determined to publish, still don't rewrite. Send it off to an editor, or use this story to find yourself a good beta reader. Either way, don't rewrite until you get serious feedback. Your reader is going to see things you do not. Dealing with that is an important part of growth as a writer.

Just another way of thinking about it, not a prescription.

 

[Demesnedenoir]

I don't know, Helio...

Ideas are a dime a dozen. What matters is execution. /QUOTE]

Ideas might be a dime a dozen... or 6-7 figures in the case of a hot spec script/pitch. So, while ideas may be cheap, the right idea isn't.

Redraft, rewrite, edit, $#!$@&!... no matter what it is or what you call it, the writer must eventually be like a calf-roper, tie the rope, throw your hands up, and hope the calf doesn't get away. Writers just don't get it done in seconds, heh heh.