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/lit/ - Literature

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17001202 No.17001202 [Reply] [Original]

Working on my first novel, need some advice:
As I’m writing I’m noticing there are large chunks from earlier chapters that I want to rewrite. Is it typically better to change those before continuing, or do I just finish a first draft without worrying about continuity errors?

>> No.17001940

>>17001202
Finish the fucking draft.
You can only edit once you have a crystallized the vision into a draft and know what should be cut, changed or added upon.

>> No.17002141

>>17001940
Aye aye captain!!!

>> No.17002159

>>17001940
Is it normal for there to be large continuity errors in a first draft? Cause as I’m coming up with new ideas I’ll often reference things that didn’t happen or happened differently.

>> No.17003438

>>17001202
I finished a novel anon. 90k words. What I liked to do, is speed write chapters, put them through a revision process and then move onto the next chapter. So at least when I go back rewrite it, it's not complete trash. My method is to take 5 pages.
1. rewrite it line by line
2. Ctrl +f "not, like, as if, that, had"
3. Rewrite it again line by line
4. Read it silently
5. Read it aloud.

Usually I do this in chunks of five pages. My chapter are usually 10-20 pages. I've been told my grammar is shit. So when I'm done with my current project, I'm going to try and learn some common grammar rules I should be following and change my revision process. Good luck anon.

>> No.17003524

>>17003438
Thanks, good insights
>put them through a revision process and then move onto the next chapter.
I sort of do this as I write. That is my biggest fear, however. I want my first draft to be semi polished, because what I’m really afraid of is a having to do a massive rewrite.

>> No.17003549

>>17003524
Yeah anon, same here. There are more things I check for as I ctrl+f. Those are the most important ones. I was reading through some friends work. He uses dialogue tags way too often, he hands holds and tries to over explain. He pointed out things for me I couldn't see. Something that would help you if having someone to read your work. Develop thick skin so you can take honest criticism. That's probably what has helped me be satisfied with my novel the most. It's still shit, but it would be worse if I hadn't listened to people's advice. Not everything, but the stuff that resonates.

>> No.17003596

>>17003549
I used the word “for” 570 times out of 36468 words. Is that bad? Never really considered rules like this

>> No.17003614

>>17003596
For, I think is alright. I'd have to read your stuff to tell you whether it disrupts flow. "Had, that" imo are the two biggest culprits of being completely unnecessary and disrupting. I also like too get rid of "not, n't." And try to reword things if possible. Maybe I've fallen for the old Strunk and White meme. Also, pick up a copy of Strunk and White, Elements of Style if you haven't.

>> No.17003667

>>17001202
>novel
meme genre

>> No.17003668

>>17001202
If you have an idea on how to make something better, it's always smarter to act on it sooner rather than later. You don't want to risk having great ideas disappear from memory later.

>> No.17003671

>>17003667
Good. Has the best chances of propagating.

>> No.17003842

>>17003668
I keep a separate word file with appropriate sub headings where I can dump whatever inspiration I have for later, mostly for future chapters but also clear ideas for revisions I wanna come back to later. Im hoping that will work out.

>> No.17003856

>>17002159
Yes, lots of authors advocate just getting to the finish line and then going back and making sure everything is actually consistent and referenced events happen at the correct time

>> No.17004009

>>17003856
Okay thanks! Just hearing it from someone helps a lot

>> No.17004364

>>17001202
The latter

>> No.17004370

>>17004364
Unless you caught some super tiny detail that you can't even believe you noticed and which you know it is unlikely you will catch again.