I’m about done with a first draft of a book I started the first of November. I’m quite satisfied with having written 76k words in six weeks, but I have a few more to go before writing The End.

Then, I’ll start all over. The story needs a lot of  sanding and polishing. But I like what I have so far.

Usually, about 2/3rds through the first draft, I make a major discovery that sort of brings the whole story together for me. I’ll stop writing forward and go back to the beginning and rewrite. The process usually goes quickly because I know what I’m doing.

But this time, I’m not stopping. I’ve made some major character discoveries. I’m even changing a major character’s setting. But that’s okay. I’m not going back to the beginning to start my rewrites.

I want to go all the way to The End to see what’s there.

So much of a story is discovered as you write it, no matter how much you’ve planned and plotted. I dare say, if you’re not discovering character and plot layers as you write, you  might not be thinking deep enough.

It’s easy to stay with the plan. The writing is fast and relatively easy. But is that the best story the plot and characters can tell?

Stick with the story. Write to The End. Then begin rewriting. It’s a valuable lesson I’m learning this time around.

Here’s another big tip. Stay with the same story. Don’t jump to another idea. It’s so easy to get bored with what you’re writing and want to do something else. Stick it out.

Make it your New Year’s resolution to write to The End before starting over or moving to another project.