First of all, I get it. You'll finish a chapter and finish another and then another but then after a month, you decide to read your own work and realize you could have done so much better. This is actually a good sign that you can notice this. This means that you've grown as a writer and reader.
In writing, you will never be 100% happy with your work. It is only the best version of itself in your mind and that's okay. You use what you have and work with it.
It takes multiples of drafts to create something acceptable. You write a plan, make a draft, reread it and edit, edit your edits, realize you don't like a certain part and when you finally make something satisfactory, you publish and do the cycle again. The thing that keeps us going is our own mind. Stay positive, write for yourself, do not force yourself to make anything perfect because that's impossible.
Who cares if you don't get likes or readers or subs, you had fun and that's what matters.
Now that that's out of the way, here's what you can do.
1) Take a break, your mind and heart need it. That doesn't mean you can completely forget about your story. It means to step away from your work area and while you're away, to keep yourself motivated, think about scenes you want to correct and how to go about it. Think of future scenes you want to write, think about scenes that made you happiest. And when you step back into your work area, well rested and with a healthy mind, you'll make amazing work.
2) Be ready to scrap your idea. This is scary and sad but it is what must be done. Gratefully that isn't the last step in this whole process. DO NOT DELETE YOUR PROGRESS!! Keep it as a reference for when you revise your old story. Yes you will scrap it but you won't give up on it. The biggest reason why people give up on a story is because they hadn't planned it thorough enough. Keep note of what you liked in your old story, what you hated, where it went wrong and why, how to make it better, what you would do THIS time to improve it. This will help you prepare for step two.
2) Make a solid plan this time but don't be afraid to change it or add on as you go. The more changes, the better. Changes mean you were able to recognize where to improve and that means you know how. GOOD!
For this part, ill be using my story as an example. 'Past Life Lovers' is basically broken into many levels.
EXPOSITION, RISING ACTION, CLIMAX, FALLING ACTION, AND RESOLUTION and their MAIN IDEAS. Then I finally move on to my broken-down chapters and notes.
I suggest you make a very broad plotline of your story. This will be easier since you have already done this process once before. The difference this time is that you'll know what you need to improve and where.
Once you've finished you're final plotline draft, note where each part will begin (exposition, rising, climax, falling, resolution.) They usually will after the main idea of the first part changes. For example,
Exposition: In the castle, there was a princess and her guard who she loved. There was also an evil wizard who wanted to marry her, he threatened to kidnap her.
Rising: While the guard had been to the battle field of another conflict, the wizard strikes and steals the princess away from the castle. The guard must save her. He travels far and wide until he is met with the front of the wizard's evil tower.
Climax: The wizard sends his dragon and monsters to stop the guard but nothing breaks his determination. The guard finally makes it to the wizard's battle field and wins.
Falling: The guard finds the princess in her jail and releases her. They return to the castle.
Resolution: With the princess safe and the guard a hero, the story ends with a happy marriage. The end.
In my web-novel, 'Past Life Lovers', I finally only began to plan each chapter after I did the above. My plan looked something like this:
Exposition (main idea): Characters Jayden and Kou are rivals with a bad relationship, but when Kou gets into a life-threatening accident and wakes from his coma, he changes.
Then chapter details:
Chapter 1:
Main idea: Jayden and Kou finish up their volleyball match. Kou got hurt in the process. They make plans to go to waterpark.
Purpose of Chapter: Introduce the characters to the readers. Make Kou seem unfriendly. Show that Jayden still tries to get along with the other. They make plans to go to the waterpark before school starts.
Plans:
- Jayden and Kou finish up the last match of the night.
-Jayden wins
- Jayden notices that Kou got hurt.
-Tries to ask if he's alright.
-Kou refuses to be friendly
-Kou pretends he's okay but he's not
- They go to MCD and plan with their friends to go to the waterpark.
-Jayden manages to get Kou to go too by challenging his ego
Notes: Kou is very weak to instigation. He is very competitive and this causes him to be unable to make up with Jayden.
And boom, you're done with planning after you do this twenty or so more times until you have a finished plot line. It is just easy riding from here!
You purposefully want to be broad in this stage so you can make room to innovate more scenes in the chapter. That keeps writing fun and helps you develope the story.
Although planning can be somewhat boring for most, I enjoy it. I'm still learning how I want to plan my stories but I'm having fun while doing it. Don't think too hard in this stage.
3) After scrapping your old story and planning from the beginning again, you can finally begin writing.
FYI! Completely finish writing the exposition of your story before beginning to upload it on platforms like TAPAS. This allows you to have a head start with your publishing schedule. Also, TAPAS recommends you write filler episodes just in case you take a hiatus and can't write. This saves you time and keeps your audience interested while you take a vacation.
Writing. I'm sure you know how to. This time however, create mental notes (or physical) about what will be different this time. Whether this is plot-wise or writing-wise, know what needed to improve. This will definitely be hard but you will succeed! I believe in you!
Writing goes like this:
Have your chapter plans in front of you (I suggest knowing what the next chapter will contain just so you know how you want to transition into the next) and write accordingly. You should be able to see one main point of the chapter and then write down what comes to mind. This is what makes writing fun. You just wing it from here.
Oh, Jessie transfers schools? Okay, she packs her boxes into her family's red pick up truck and drives for three hours to their new home.
Just like that.
Although I don't know the details of what went wrong in your last story, adjust the steps to your case accordingly.
By the time you know it, you're on step four.
4) Celebrate because you did it! You managed to continue with your story by scrapping it and starting over. Starting over is upsetting but also exciting. You get to plan an amazing idea all over again and this comes with the satisfactory feeling of accomplishment. the feeling you haven't felt in a long while. Take this from someone with similar experiences, albeit, short. I've had to replan my story well over three times now and it does not resemble my first draft at all, but I am happier with it.
It is okay to start over. Keep your past chapters and plans and save them for when you feel like looking back on your old work. I guarantee you'll laugh at your mistakes, we are all still learning. Your readers won't get upset, and if some do, remember that you write for yourself and not for others. you create work you get to be proud of. Take down what you have published and within a few weeks, you'll be uploading brilliant chapters!
Do not scrap your idea, do not give up on your story. It is good and interesting! You know it! Just start over and stay positive! Have fun and take a break. Stay motivated and most of all, good luck fellow writer!!
P.S
I'm guessing you already know your story and its characters so this whole process should be quick!
Kudos,
Beppobear <3
