For the past few evenings, just before bed, I’ve been easily filling handwritten pages of my novel in my spiral notebook. I’m finding that when I come to a point where a scene or a chapter isn’t quite to my liking, rather than tweak it here or there, I start from scratch. So I’ve been doing lately and discovering there is more momentum and focus than prior drafts. I am making a point not refer to what I’ve written already.
I write as if for the first time. This frees me to go down different paths and find better phrasing or dialogue.
In this recent case, I begin the rewritten chapter from a different point in time. I’m writing a few minutes earlier, still beginning with action, but with more details that will pay off later. The perspective remains the same, but it’s close-up now, perhaps claustrophobic for a time. I think it’s working well so far.
What are some techniques you use to overcome re-write fatigue?
I don’t write prose anymore, but I do write code, and when I lose something or scrap a class or module and have to start from scratch, my technique is to recite a mantra. Yup, a mantra:
“Things are always better the second time.”
Anytime a negative thought (for example, exhaustion) comes up, I just repeat that before the thought is fully-formed. It helps that I /know/ it’s true. : )
Thanks for your comment. It is a good mantra. Repetition in writing and coding can in many cases be viewed as time well spent, not time wasted. You’re sharpening your skills and enhancing recall.