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? :\

Anyone else doing Camp NaNoWriMo/JulNoWriMo?

[ljwrites]

I was originally going to write my first draft in August as discussed with sarillia, but I had a change of plans when I learned my best friend whom I plan to vacation with can only get vacation time in the last week of August. Besides, July makes a lot of sense for me. It's when everyone else (including my boss) is on vacation, meaning things will be slow at work, and it will leave me August to recover and prepare for next semester. It's not ideal, but no month is going to be ideal.

Is anyone else doing this in July, or thinking of doing so? It would be great to have someone to commiserate/compete with. :)

Update: I've created a private comm, go_nano, for off-site chatter between participants. Ask by comment or PM, and ye shall be invited.