I also find prep helpful and it's even better when we win and can participate in the word sprints during NaNo. I am 100% sure that's why I did so well when I won in 2019. I also discovered that writing a scene several times on different days can yield some interesting results that can be mashed together for an even stronger scene! Though this probably only works if you have a bad memory and don't remember what you wrote last time very well. BTW, it really boosts word count. lol But I think it's legit because you will likely find you will use bits and pieces from each scene you've written so if you hadn't written all 3 (or whatever), you wouldn't have stumbled on those better bits to use. Plus, sometimes something is really great, but doesn't fit in with all the rest of the scenes you're putting together in the 1, but that part can be a wonderful addition to a future scene.

I struggled with my theme as well. I was like, "I don't have a theme. It's just a story about 2 guys on a farm trying to keep animals they know nothing about alive...lots of comedy ensues." I decided to google theme ideas and actually now have 2-3 themes. Turns out they were there. I just didn't recognize them without a good, thorough list. And now the themes are helping to flesh out some of the story as I expand on them. Huh. Who knew writing worked like that?

I'm glad you were open to the idea of reordering chapters and have found an even stronger story with that decision. I also have a 2nd story in mind after this. I think my last couple of lines and/or paragraphs will be the 1st ones of the next story...perhaps next year's NaNo project. Don't worry about getting ahead of yourself because I have a trilogy now planned...and without much, if any, idea of what will happen in book 2. That's a future me problem.

I love the ending of your post, Adherennium Plotting something! Great inspiration! THANK YOU!