I have always referred to the multiple manuscripts I have filed as ‘backburner’, however, I found this word, which seems to give a better explaination.

palimpsest

*A manuscript, or piece of writing material on which later writing has been superimposed on effaced earlier writing.

*Something reused or altered but still bearing visible traces of its earlier form.

We all have part (or even full) manuscripts, projects, or short stories etc. stored away. Like me, you probably return to them periodically thinking they may be worth a reworking, or could be revived in some way. Others are lost to timeand may never see the light of day again, but it is imperative we keep these jewels, if for no other purpose than to see how we have prgressed as writers.

This is what happened recently to one of mine. I began the story back in 2014 s a National Novel Writing challenge. I have returned to it periodically in 2015, 2019, 2024 and 2025. Then on a road trip last year out of the blue two new first chapters popped into my head. The first chapter revised the beginning of the story and its main character’s reaction to a circumstance and the second chapter introduced the secondary characterand their point of view.

Now, I am working through the whole manuscript again and looking at the points required to finally polish it for publication.

pROCESS

As I take a step back and assess the overall structure of my novel, I’ll ask myself questions like:

• Is the pacing consistent, or are there sections that feel rushed or too slow?
• Does the plot make sense from start to finish, or are there gaps or inconsistencies?
• Are all the subplots resolved by the end of the novel, or are some minor storylines left hanging?
• Are my character arcs fully developed, with clear motivations and growth?

This story follows a young man, who flees a dramatic accident and his mental and physical journey caused by his abandonment of normal life. The initial inspiration for this narrative was avtually three real news stories I came across by chance.

What are you working on?

What inspired the narrative?