Writer's Fallout Shelter

I am at the stage of beginning again now. The first several times I cut out, rephrased, and rearranged. Then I totally changed the beginning. After careful editing, I thought I was ready. I got the book into manuscript form and had someone who was already published read. That's when I rewrote the beginning. I researched query letters and wrote one. I submitted to two agents.
When I got the first normal rejection email , I read the email and thought - no wonder they didn't take it. Not only had I told everything but also the style was like a newspaper report. I reread the book and thought the same about it. The story was there, but the writing wasn't.
I printed out the first one hundread pages, which I keep by the keyboard, but so far I have not referred to them. Of course, I'm only to 1000 words. I started the book in Novermber of 2005. The story line is the same; I still love it. I am hoping that as I get further into the rewrite I can do some cut and paste from what I have. We'll see. I don't care how long it takes me. I just want it to be the best I can do. (And that gets better and better as I read here).
I have been a songwriter in the past and have written poetry and have kept a journal for years, but this is my first book. The structure is totally different .
PS: I know my posts are long, but I feel like I've finally found a group who knows what I mean. That kind of communication is not easy to find in "real" life.