When writing any story, there are bound to be changes during the first draft. That’s especially true for me during this NaNoWriMo since I am planning the novel while I write it. Even 27,000 words in, there are things that change.

Characterization

Characters can change more than their name or eye color. Their outlook on the world and other characters starts out vague and is more defined as you develop them. I already have several notes on things to change from earlier chapters.

In chapter 1, for example, Kel needs to be much more distrusting of magic and clerics. He needs to place in faith in technology, so that it is a change when he begins to trust magic to protect him and the Abni.

There are also several world building elements, such as the white diamonds on ships that mean they don’t need to pay an annual license fee, that need to be brought up earlier, so that Kel’s desire for it is understandable.

I’m also pushing my characters to the extreme. Rather than Ivy merely being bad at magic, I am making it so that she completely failed at it and is no longer allowed to practice it. Of course, Mellien still tries to teach her, which makes it more heroic as well as more dangerous.

Plot

There are also several major plot elements that have changed. I’ve made a note of those changes in Manuskript and then moved forward with the story as if those plot changes were always there. If I come back to edit this book, I’ll make the needed changes.

This prevents me from wasting time re-writing scenes that are already ‘drafted.’ Also, if I change the plot again in the future, I haven’t done even more work that needs to be re-written. I’ll merely change the editing notes and keep on writing forward.