AHHHH!!!

[poetic-art.livejournal.com]

I just figured out the perfect alternate beginning to my story...13000+ words into it. What do I do?!?&%$*)*@ Whatever, I'm keeping my word count. I'll consider what I've already done 'research into my characters'. :p

Comments

[bookgirlwa.livejournal.com]

Don't panic! Write the alternative end down as well, while it's fresh in your mind, keep it in a seperate section or document then go back and join up the dots and choose the best ending later. I usually have several sections of what I'm writing on the go at once, my brain doesn't work in linear fashion, usually - I'm quite shocked when it does on ocassion!

[bookgirlwa.livejournal.com]

Gah! All this frantic writing has curdled my brain - I misread `beginning' as `ending' (wtf, brain?). My advice still stands, just bung it in there as well, and go back after November and work it out then. :-)

[poetic-art.livejournal.com]

That's what I think I'll do. Thanks. :)

[netbug009.livejournal.com]

Ignore the other beggining for now and keep moving. You can always edit the thing in December. DO NOT START OVER IN THE MIDDLE OF NOVEMBER.

[poetic-art.livejournal.com]

I ended up doing just a synopsis of my new beginning and yeah, I'll keep going from there, keeping the word count I had. Thanks for the advice. :)

[netbug009.livejournal.com]

No problem.

[chipmunk-planet.livejournal.com]

If you want, write the alternate beginning and keep them both. Funny how you might change your mind and like the first one better.

Or just keep going, pretending that the other beginning is how it started. If it really bugs you, you can color the differing parts a light gray font, so it's still there, just not so visible. That's what I do when I do NaNo editing.

DELETE NOTHING!!!

[poetic-art.livejournal.com]

Nah, I worked too hard on it to delete it. Good suggestions! Thanks. :)

[polargriff.livejournal.com]

I suggest keeping the first beginning you have and just writing down the alternative beginning. Do NOT delete anything! Just add to it. You can always decide between the two beginnings come December, after your final word count. ;)

[poetic-art.livejournal.com]

That's exactly what I did. Just so I could keep track of where I'm supposed to be I wrote a short summary of my new ideas. I ain't deleting anythin'. :) Thank you for your suggestion.

[s0kate.livejournal.com]

perhaps, also, you can use BOTH beginnings? perhaps one beginning is a dream, the other the reality of the way it started. or perhaps one is the way a character wished it had started? ... find a way to incorporate both into your story. it'll up the wordcount for your novel and you won't ahve to start over. that way you can decide which you like best when nano's over or you can keep them both!

[poetic-art.livejournal.com]

In a way I am using both already. The first beginning gave me so much insight into my main character (who I'm keeping) that I'm sure I'll be able to fit it in somewhere. At least most of it. Thanks for the suggestion. It's a good one. :)

[deadache139.livejournal.com]

I just remembered that a huge part of my plot is for this particular person to be DEAD at the beginning, and I've written him in--very much alive and kicking. :\

[poetic-art.livejournal.com]

I read your comment and then I read your LJ name and thought to myself, 'yes, you have one of those'. Yeah, I've got a million of em.

Good luck. :)

[deadache139.livejournal.com]

Thanks, you too :)