revision decisions

SO I read the aborted sequel--which really needs to be a stand-alone mystery--making notes, slashing out big sections of mind-numbing telling-not-showing scenes and in general getting really excited again about the whole story. In other words, having fun. Then I went through the draft again, putting all the major scenes on sticky notes in "shorthand". Next I cleared the all-purpose table of Christmas wrap, newspapers, the fruit basket, coffee cups, tape dispenser, stapler, scissors, etc., etc. and wiped it clean. The sticky notes got laid out in order so I could study them and then change the order of events if it seemed wise. It did, a little. Next came color coding. I got out my colored pencils, choose different colors for different characters and settings so I could see who came into the story where and add scenes when too big a lapse came, for example, between the appearances of a certain character or a certain setting. (This is really difficult to explain but I hope you're getting the idea.) My attempt was to externalize the whole process--take it out of my brain, which pops up scenes and ideas in any order it chooses, and see it in front of me. I'm tring to be objective about the whole thing. To see it as the reader would. Killed some real darlings in the process and they're staying dead. Now I need to write a whole new opening and feeling a little nervous about it. I'm putting it off by writing this, by checking my email, by sitting in silence and listening to the rain.