Advice needed for tackling old WIPs

[graychalk]

Hiya fellow writers! I'm looking for some thoughts / advice / suggestions regarding something I feel rather conflicted about (in that I keep swaying back and forth between what to do), and I'd really appreciate any opinion you may have on this.

Basically, I'm digging up a WIP from about 10 years ago as it's my intention to go back and hopefully finish the darn thing. In terms of where it was left off story-wise, I'd say it's roughly around midpoint. But what I have so far was also written so long ago that it not only has large areas that need major fixing, a character I'm likely taking out, another character I might insert, and several scenes I know are missing... but the tone and style has also evolved. Some of these changes require complete rewrites of certain chapters, others not as drastic.

So... the question I keep bouncing back and forth in my head is this:

Since it's been so long, would it be better for me to just start fresh and write the entire thing from the beginning again? Or would I be better off continuing the story and then coming back and heavily comb through and fix the first half?

I feel like the second option would be the "smarter" choice (however hard it might be for me psychologically because I know myself and I'd keep thinking about all those things I wanted/needed to do about the first half). I'd have to try to find a way for it to not distract me. On the other hand, while the first option of starting the whole draft fresh from the beginning sounds very appealing, I'm almost afraid that that way is a rabbit hole where I end up having a WIP that will never finish. What do you all do when you return to work on very old unfinished drafts?

Help? :\

Comments

[inevitableentresol]

This is a very relevant problem for me as well.

Practically speaking, I've found that only another, third option works for me - to accept that there will be huge stylistic changes, and only write from the point I left off at, even though I won't be able to even read the first half without wanting to shrivel up and die from how bad it is.

Once the whole thing is finished, I only then let myself go back and edit the start. But I have to finish first. Or else I'll be tinkering at the old part for ages, in circles.

The problem I have is that if it's a long piece of writing, by the time I've rewritten the first half again, my style will have changed yet once more. It will never end, and I'll be rewriting in circles. Eventually I'll just give up again and feel like a failure. I speak from sad experience. I had years of this before learning a few techniques to get over it. Number one - finish the whole first draft before allowing any editing. I have to be so strict. Each day, I save what I write and put it in another folder from my main WIP work. It's the only way that works for me.

[inkdust]

I think the right answer is different for each writer. I can tell you my solution would be completely rewriting, because I couldn't be sure my plans for the second half wouldn't change after I reworked the first half. However, in recent years I haven't had much trouble with finishing stories (starting them is a different matter). If stalling again halfway through is a heavy concern for you, it might be better for you to tackle the second half first and then do all your rewrites in one round (since your second half will also need rewrites in editing). It really depends on where you personally face the most challenges within your process.

[agilebrit]

If it was me, I would see where I was, then outline it from start to finish to see if the beginning is salvageable. If only parts of it are, then start a new doc and C&P in what you can use and discard the rest. That way it's not quite starting from scratch and isn't quite as daunting.

[splinteredstar]

*looks at the pile of projects that have been in stasis for, in some cases, several years* This, my dear, is an /excellent/ question.

I think what I tend to do is reread what I have so far, and decide if I hate it or not. If not, I pick up where I left off - if I do, I ax the whole thing. I don't know, I'm sort of stuck on that very issue with one - have to add a new character plot line, and I can't figure out if working it in would be more or less annoying than just starting over. (Slowly deciding on the "starting over" side)