The process of writing

[Dobble]

Is it normal to want to keep going back and rewriting everything? I don't mean rewriting as in restructuring things or choosing better words or imagery or anything of the sort. But going back and rewriting from the beginning completely without even looking at your previous writing. I don't want to move forwards sometimes, just back to the beginning and doing it all over (though the later parts and even ending has already been written in my head, in actual words).

I am very new to writing, but I think the general advice is to keep going until the end so you have a first draft. And then start editing. How do you all do it?

Yes, it's normal but definitely go right through so you have a first draft. You won't see everything that needs changing about the beginning until you get to the end, IYSWIM.

I tend to keep a folder of 'changes for draft 2' but I don't go back and fix everything there and then, or I'll never get to the end.

Thank you, I suspected this might be the case. Sigh.

You'll love the keeping on going thing once you start, honestly.

You should join in with the NaNoWriMo thread for motivation and camaraderie.

It's very common.
Writers want the beginning to be 'right' before moving on.

It does work for some writers . Zadie Smith reworks endless drafts of her opening trying to find the tone.

She does this instead of planning.

However, many writers never get past this stage. Personally I never rewrite. I do a very very rough draft, moving quickly through the narrative. But I will have done my planning beforehand so will already have worked out the structure , tone, plot.

That's it really. I have the structure and plot but it's the voice I'm struggling with.

Tunip do you mean the thread on here? I will post there then.

Some good ways to nail the voice;

Spend a lot of time talking in that voice. Don't think about your narrative, imagine them describing what you're doing right now. Imagine their MN posts, their diary, their letters. Imagine them having an argument.

It's always good to drown yourself in examples of writing with incredibly distinctive voice; Money, Room, Catcher in the Rye, Beloved, Cloud Atlas, Lolita, Trainspotting...

Then start writing in the voice you've created. And keep going. Be aware that you might not be 100% convinced, but that's okay.

Thank you for taking the time to write that WordFactory. Truly appreciate it. I have so much to learn.