Rob, I agree. If your method is working for YOU, why change it? I think the “just write the book” is more directed at people who will never finish a book. They can’t GET the story down, because they continually fix and fix. And if you never get to the end, you never have a book. I guess that’s who needs to hear this advice.

And me, when I’m practicing my neurotic behavior….

I’m a serial fixer, too. Always have been. I can’t leave a scene until, at least in my mind, it’s ready for typesetting. My “first” drafts are extremely polished.

But I finish things. I type THE END. Have been working this way for over fifteen years (formerly with screenplays) and while this method may seem slow, when I’m done I’m done. I think that has a lot to do with why KISS HER GOODBYE went through very few changes once my publisher got hold of it.

Working this way allows me to digest what I’ve written, see how it lays and plays, allows me time to work my way through plot and character details without discovering 100 pages later that I’ve made a wrong turn.

So, while I appreciate the sentiment behind Lescroart’s advice, it’s advice that works for some and not for others.

The wonderful thing about this craft is that we all work differently. We find our own rhythms and follow the beat we feel most comfortable with.

So if you aren’t writing through without looking back, there’s nothing wrong with that. As long as you do, eventually, cross the finish line.

I’m a rigid outliner, and have spent the most of this year rewriting my horrid draft that came about from National Novel Writing Month, so I understand the addiction to ‘fix’ things.

I will be adding ya to my blogroll! Cool stuff!

Now I just re-read one page back, to refresh my head for the current scene, and I use an outline to keep myself on the major plot path. When I think of new ideas to enhance character, setting and story, I’ve scribbled the details down in a composition notebook so I don’t forget and keep writing. Sometimes, if the idea hits while I’m actually writing, I’ll switch in mid-stream and annotate the change in the notebook for later revision/editing.

The end result of this approach is going to be a very messy draft, but I tell myself that’s okay… I’m just grateful that I chose not to share anything to keep my chaos away from everyone else.

Well, so far, that’s what works. I reserve the right to completely lose my mind with this draft, chuck it and start it over. (Which, ironically, usually means I’ll be okay with it. Feeling like I have the freedom to chuck it is the satisfying part.)

It’s only when I put it down then go back to it later do I really see where it needs work.

I have to give my stuff breathing room on occasion

Jake, I’m writing like that more and more, except for the abovementioned. I think part of it comes with selling and deadlines. We simply don’t have TIME to go back incessantly. I couldn’t take two years to write this book, or any of the other books I have coming up. I USED to have that time. I don’t know.

Edie, I agree about spending extra time on the beginning, and especially the opening lines. Those are SO important.

Allison, I wish you could have seen Lescroat, too. It was pretty inspiring. He talked about worrying later about how one of his characters suddenly changed names, or careers, or even eye color. Since I JUST discovered I changed one of my main characters eye color early on in the book, I laughed when I remembered that. I wonder, too, if maybe the same method doesn’t work for every book?

Tonda/Kalen, serial rewriting because a REAL issue when you have pressing deadlines. I swear, I have got to find a way to cure this, before my editor says, “are you EVER going to send us that book, Natalie?”

Jan, again, I’m thinking maybe the method changes by the book you are writing. Is anyone else getting that?

Jen’s worst problem is she changes small problems into HUGE problems. At least in her mind. She’s convinced a small error is unfixable. With her clean and smooth writing, it NEVER is. So remember that, Jen.

Cele, hey those WORDS sound familiar…..

Well, let’s hear it for serial rewriters and book by book writers. We all rock….