Most of you know that I’m currently editing a new manuscript, one that recently gave me some grief with the possibility of a major plot hole.
Fortunately, I seemed to have dodge that bullet, much to my relief! However, I’ve found it difficult to re-engage in my manuscript, especially to make the changes I need to make in order for it to be more plausible.
Why? I’m not sure, exactly. Most of the changes I’ve had to make aren’t that big or difficult to do. However, it has still been hard to force my way back into that world.
Perhaps it’s just because of the busy-ness of this time of year. Yes, Christmas Eve is a month today! Hard to believe, isn’t it?
However, I think it’s more likely because the discovery of this plot hole scared me. I’m continually afraid I’m going to find another one and that it will be impossible to fix.
But I can’t let that fear rule me, so I have decided to move forward little by little, doing a bit each day and working methodically. It might take longer that way but I think it will help me if I take the time. It might be just what I need to re-engage in the story and enjoy it once more.
And who knows? If I do find another problem, by then I might be so in tune with my work that it will be easy to solve!
Do you ever struggle with something when things get difficult, even after the problem is solved? Leave a comment and let me know.
Hi Lynne
I’ve been putting off doing a re-edit of my first unpublished book – partly because of inertia, partly because it’s easier to write something new (and it’s November and NaNoWriMO), partly because I liked the way it was but also because I have to get myself back in the mental space of that work again. But I will get there 🙂
Sometimes it’s a real struggle, isn’t it? And I like editing so it’s not just that. I did do some more work on it last night and made some progress.
Oh my goodness! You are speaking my language. Fear is one of my biggest struggles to overcome when I write. So annoying. I have a quote on my desk from JRR Tolkien that keeps me going. He says, “Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.” It continually challenges me to keep moving forward.
Yes, you’ll definitely never get anywhere if you give up and that’s something I frequently need to remember.