Do You Forge Ahead or Revise as You Go?
Balancing Progress and Refinement in Fiction Writing
This one’s for writers struggling to find a rhythm with their writing process…
I used to low-key hate my writing process. I’d write the first draft as quickly as possible, usually with a pen and paper. It was barely a story. Then, I’d rewrite it as I entered that version into the computer. From there, I’d hop, seemingly at random, to improve this scene and then this other one. There was no rhyme or reason to it, but after a series of back-and-forths, eventually, the revisions got more and more refined, and at some point, I’d have a final draft.
It sucked.
I wanted to write a better, cleaner first draft. I wanted to rewrite and revise on a more linear path. I wanted something logical, dammit.
But you know what? It’s my process. I can fight it all I want, but I’m not getting anywhere with a new project until I do it this way. (Even this short little post went through the same process.)
This is how it works for many (most?) of us.
Writing is an art, not some logical task with step-by-step instructions you follow in the same exact order every time.
Even with those early drafts, sometimes you forge ahead, and other times you dip into revision mode to change details, plug plot holes, or otherwise improve what’s come before.
When writing fiction, authors often face a dilemma: forge ahead or pause to refine what’s already written. Both approaches have their merits, and striking the right balance can enhance your writing process.
Let's explore how to navigate this balance effectively…
The Art of Forging Ahead
When coaching a new writer, I tend to err on the side of continually moving forward. Here’s why:
Momentum is Key: Continuously progressing through your plot helps you maintain the momentum and excitement of telling your story. It allows you to stay in the flow of ideas and your characters’ emotions.
Overcoming Perfectionism: Forging ahead all but forces you to silence your inner critic and embrace imperfection.
Discovering the Story: As you write, new ideas and plot twists may emerge that you hadn't planned. Characters will come to life, showing you their true motivations. Moving forward allows these discoveries to unfold naturally.
When trying to move forward, remember that the first draft is about telling yourself the story so you have something to revise. And like Hemingway said, “The only kind of writing is rewriting.”
The Power of Revisiting and Refining
Many times, your characters take you on a path you weren’t expecting, or you figure out a plot point that was elusive a few chapters earlier. At some point, the changes you need to make to previous material become distracting or difficult to track. So in some instances, reviewing what you’ve already written makes sense:
Enhancing Quality: Revisiting your work lets you improve pacing, strengthen character development, and update scenes based on new developments you created later. Plus, you can improve the language as you make those updates, all of which elevates the overall quality.
Addressing Plot Holes: Taking the time to review your work helps identify and address inconsistencies or plot holes that may have been overlooked in the initial draft.
Deepening Themes: Revisiting your previous scenes provides you with an opportunity to deepen themes, which can add layers of meaning and help your story resonate more thoroughly with readers.
Of course, there are some dangers here, too. When revising and rewriting, you run the risk of getting trapped in an endless loop of editing the same chapters repeatedly. This endless polishing isn’t moving you forward. Instead, it’s procrastination or a manifestation of perfectionism, preventing you from making meaningful progress.
That endless loop stifles creativity and leads to frustration. If you find yourself endlessly tweaking instead of moving forward, it’s time to address the problem.
Finding Your Balance
As with most things, the answer is finding a balance that works best for you:
Set Milestones: Establish specific milestones where you'll pause to review and refine your work. This could be at the end of a chapter, after each meaningful sequence, or upon reaching a major plot point.
Listen to Your Instincts: Let your instincts guide you. If you feel stuck or uninspired, revisiting your work might reignite your creativity. I’ve found that if you’re not excited to write the next new scene, something about that scene isn’t working for you. Jumping ahead or back might give you the time you need to figure it out.
Embrace Flexibility: Your approach may vary depending on the project or your current writing phase. Adjust your balance as needed.
Balancing the act of forging ahead with revisiting and refining previously written material is a dynamic, ever-shifting process. By understanding the benefits of both approaches and adapting them to your current needs, you can create a writing process that fosters creativity, even if it’s not the consistent conveyor belt style we want to count on.
I love talking about writing processes. If you have one that works for you, or if you ever had an ah-ha moment about your own process, leave me a comment.
Time’s running out to sign up for my 2-part webinar series, Storytelling Mastery for Novelists. Here, I’ll share the most costly mistakes I see in fiction writing and how to overcome them. Live sessions are on May 20 and 22.
I’m a slow writer. I can only write for a maximum of thirty minutes at a session. It takes me a few months to get the first draft of a novel, then a year or more to edit.
I’ve struggled to understand how people manage NaNoWriMo. I’ve tried writing a first draft without editing but it just doesn’t work for me. I find editing a shoddy first draft so overwhelming, I dump it.
However, I do limit my editing. I edit the chapter I last wrote before I start the next. I might add something to a previous chapter if I’ve discovered a plot hole. I usually end up with a first draft that doesn’t make me sick to my stomach.
I’m a massive rewriter/editor. I’ll write the story and print it out to read. I know! But only on paper do I see the flaws. And develop enthusiasm for a better story. This will go on until deadline. I still won’t be happy but I can live with it.