I've been gone for a couple of long stretches this summer, and I'm sure others have similarly found their work-in-progress more of a work-in-suspension. Returning to such a work presents its own peculiar challenges.
My method appears to be print. I come back to the story and I'm not feeling the rhythms at all. I read through the many files (I use Scrivener, so it's pretty much one file per scene) and don't get very far before I'm feeling even more disconnected. And discouraged. Desperate.
So, I gather the whole miserable bundle into a single file and print it. The current one is 112 pages, which includes fragments, notes, and main narrative (but excludes background, character sketches and such).
I then start with Page One, making notes. At some point, never a predictable point, I start to catch the tune again. Mere proofreading notes become copy editing, which segues into major revision, which eventuates in actual writing, and I'm on my way again. May take several days of this.
Have you folks fallen out with your novel? And how do you return to a state of grace?
My method appears to be print. I come back to the story and I'm not feeling the rhythms at all. I read through the many files (I use Scrivener, so it's pretty much one file per scene) and don't get very far before I'm feeling even more disconnected. And discouraged. Desperate.
So, I gather the whole miserable bundle into a single file and print it. The current one is 112 pages, which includes fragments, notes, and main narrative (but excludes background, character sketches and such).
I then start with Page One, making notes. At some point, never a predictable point, I start to catch the tune again. Mere proofreading notes become copy editing, which segues into major revision, which eventuates in actual writing, and I'm on my way again. May take several days of this.
Have you folks fallen out with your novel? And how do you return to a state of grace?