Stardust
Dreamer
Hello everyone.
A few years ago, I had an idea for a story and immediately began writing on it, pantser-style. I wrote maybe 100,000 words, over a period of a few months, before I came to a screeching halt. I wasn't happy with where it was going. I had done scarcely any world-building, character development, or planning beforehand, and it was showing in the writing, though I loved the story's potential.
So, I started over. I began working on what I called the 'second' draft (though I never finished the first). It was looking a lot more promising; my characters had more depth, the setting was richer. And by that point I had planned most of the story's major events, right up to a sequel. I was excited about the vision I had of it.
But. In spite of all this, my writing process was messy, and I found myself deeply confused about what to write more often than not.
Cue: lots of overthinking and hopeless re-re-rewriting......
Now I have come to a screeching halt yet again, and I see that although the story still has potential (to me anyway, and a writing friend I've allowed to look over it), it's a Hot Mess. It just feels too... chaotic to finish now, this way.
I've got a huge writer's block, and have had for the past several months now. I think the only way to rescue the story is to... deep breath... rewrite it from the beginning again... But this time with a proper, extensive outline, so I don't get lost and confused again.
I know there are articles out there about outlining a first draft––the Snowflake Method, for one. But I have found none about outlining a second draft, and since I have never outlined a first draft in the first place, I'm confused. How should I go about it?
I want to see this story finished, but I'm stuck.
I'll be grateful for anything. Any input at all.
/Stardust
PS. Sorry if this entry is difficult to understand. I'm too confused myself to make much sense. Feel free to ask if anything is unclear!
PPS. Also sorry about the length. I decided I'd have to go into detail so you know where I'm coming from.
Summary: I've got a messy, half-written story that I need to rewrite, this time with a detailed outline, and I've got no idea how to go about outlining it.
A few years ago, I had an idea for a story and immediately began writing on it, pantser-style. I wrote maybe 100,000 words, over a period of a few months, before I came to a screeching halt. I wasn't happy with where it was going. I had done scarcely any world-building, character development, or planning beforehand, and it was showing in the writing, though I loved the story's potential.
So, I started over. I began working on what I called the 'second' draft (though I never finished the first). It was looking a lot more promising; my characters had more depth, the setting was richer. And by that point I had planned most of the story's major events, right up to a sequel. I was excited about the vision I had of it.
But. In spite of all this, my writing process was messy, and I found myself deeply confused about what to write more often than not.
Cue: lots of overthinking and hopeless re-re-rewriting......
Now I have come to a screeching halt yet again, and I see that although the story still has potential (to me anyway, and a writing friend I've allowed to look over it), it's a Hot Mess. It just feels too... chaotic to finish now, this way.
I've got a huge writer's block, and have had for the past several months now. I think the only way to rescue the story is to... deep breath... rewrite it from the beginning again... But this time with a proper, extensive outline, so I don't get lost and confused again.
I know there are articles out there about outlining a first draft––the Snowflake Method, for one. But I have found none about outlining a second draft, and since I have never outlined a first draft in the first place, I'm confused. How should I go about it?
I want to see this story finished, but I'm stuck.
I'll be grateful for anything. Any input at all.
/Stardust
PS. Sorry if this entry is difficult to understand. I'm too confused myself to make much sense. Feel free to ask if anything is unclear!
PPS. Also sorry about the length. I decided I'd have to go into detail so you know where I'm coming from.
Summary: I've got a messy, half-written story that I need to rewrite, this time with a detailed outline, and I've got no idea how to go about outlining it.