The Great Delete

I opened the Word file to refresh my brain. I hadn't worked on the story in awhile and that's a good way to drop the plot. So, I began to read. And I enjoyed myself until I reached chapter four. The more I read the more an unsettling feeling came over me.

I could so delete this.

In fact...I believe I need to.

Chapter Four is 20 pages.

Chapter Five also necessary to being deleted is currently at 19 pages.

Now I don't claim to be great at math but 39 pages to go is leaving me a bit breathless. That's 12, 377 words. Gone. Out of 26, 382. HALF of what I've written. I feel a little light-headed.

Why am I deleting almost 13k words? Because they don't move the story forward. In fact I think those 13k words are responsible for this book grinding to a halt because of the lack of forward motion. I knew one scene had to go in Chapter Five as it was so stupid it make my gag reflexes kick in but to discover half my written wordage...gak.

But if the words aren't working. If the story isn't flowing. Then something has to change. On the plus side...I've realized what scene I need to write next. Duh. How obvious.

Ah writing. How fun is this job.