I'm currently rewriting my novel and I've hit a big wall. I find myself making any excuse not to even look at the damn thing and I can't seem to get out of this rut!

I know what I've written at the moment is pretty naff but I need to keep the essence of it because it's needed for the plot. I'm dreading rewriting in case I come up with something even worse than what I have now.

Any tips/advice?

Thanks
kitkat

A long walk, or a long bus journey. Monotonous housework without tele or radio playing... allow your mind to relax and wander.

I feel your pain. In the same situation myself. Reading great writing works for me because it makes me feel inspired.S

Thank you both.
I like the sound of giving myself some alone time and relaxing a little - bit difficult at the moment though!

It's also been a while since I sat down with a good book and just read something worthwhile so that's also on my to do list.

Thanks again,
kitkat

Funny , i just posted up a thing in the lounge about brickwalls too. you might want to read the thread. I think sometimes going away from a thing and coming back, you suddenly see things you were blind to when stumbling about in the middle so to speak. I decided to take a week where I was not allowed to write and did reading and thinking about character motivations instead. When I went back I suddenly saw the key to something I'd been very stuck on, which was a huge relief. I recommend that. Not sure if taking a total break of doing other stuff entirely is good for me though - I still did something work-related so it kept ticking over. Hope it gets better. Good luck.

Just to add as you are in the editing stage it might be you are pressurising yourself as it gets closer to completion. My only tip for this is to trick yourself. Cheat your brain into getting into it. Say I am going to look at this for half an hour only before I have to do such-and-such. Often you find you get into it because you don't have the pressure of thinking you'll be looking at it for very long. Many times you end up getting into it without realising and thinking stuff to the other plan/arrangement you were going to do.

Hi Snowbell,

I've just read your thread in the lounge and I must say I felt strangley comforted at the thought of so many of us banging our heads on this wall!!

One of the comments really hit home for me. The fact that I know I have to do these rewrites, but there's an awful sense of loss for all the work I've put into the chapters that aren't up to scratch! And what if I rewrite them and they're even worse - eek!

Anyway, I've already had more than enough time off by making excuses so now I really have to get back to work.

Thanks for your help.

kitkat

I'm with Shika. If I read something and it moves or excites me, I'll take that energy and want to turn it into something new.

I have a brick wall problem at the moment. I'm halfway through editing TA, but stopped, because all I want to do is write ED. It's so hard not to be distracted by one's own imagination, but long walks certainly help, yes, and beer.

JB