Writing method/order advice

[Flopsy145]

Hi all, so I wrote almost half a book and then got busy with life and have since come back to it and realised I want to change a few details. Initially I'd just been writing chapter by chapter with not really any idea of where it was going and how I was going to end it haha. I obviously reached a stumbling block where I then lost the motivation.
Since coming back to it I've set out a very loose chapter structure and know how it ends.
Should I detail the chapter structure more before properly writing, or should I just go for it and go chapter by chapter? I'm finding it a bit hard to cut the bits I want from the 180 odd pages I wrote so I think that is also confusing me!

I think it's a bit of a learning curve finding your best method and it's quite personal and depends on the book too.

I have found that I write quite organically so I prefer pen and notebooks for the first draft and any planning, research etc

I have a notebook with blank pages that I use for notes, ideas, bits of writing that might fit at another point in the novel and work things out in there. I do a mixture of timelines, flow charts, diagrams, questions I ask myself (on behalf of my reader)and jottings. Move between this and my lined notebook. In the lined notebook I write a rough initial draft on alternate lines and use the margin for annotations.

I find it's much easier to write when I have a good idea of the purpose of the scene I'm writing so I am tightening up my planning in my other notebook as I go. I work as though it's a puzzle with clues and I keep a check on whether it is working as I go along. However, if I feel stuck I do write the continuing story in the lined book even though I know it's not the best of writing it will be changed later but often doing that frees up my thinking.

So I am working on two time periods and ask myself questions. Such as (made up example) I want Kevin (main character) to meet Sue at the isolated farm, where they last met 20 years ago. But why would he go there now after all this time?

I do this brainstorming part in my notebook with my diagrams, thoughts, on motives, character and then when I'm happy or sort of happy I carry on with writing Kevin dropping everything and rushing off to the farm to see Sue comfortable in the knowledge that he has a motive for it that I think is plausible and suits his character and the story.

I doubt this is helpful and probably doesn't answer your question. I think more people use tech to help so that might be something to consider.

Try a bit of everything until you feel you are motivated and back on track. Also reading similar books to yours is a good way to feel a new buzz and inspiration. Good luck! It sounds like you have lots of material already.

The great Pantster V Plotter debate! Amongst authors there are those who fly by the seat of their pants and just start with a vague idea of an ending. There are those who have a chapter by chapter plan and they plot it all. And there are those in between who do a little bit of planning and then dive in.

There's no right or wrong way it's just what suits people's personalities. I worked in project management and I love a plan so I'm definitely a planner and I know exactly what I need to write next when I sit down at the computer every day, but lots of very successful authors just dive in and start.