How do you people do it? I'm sorry if I sound like I'm whining or anything, but seriously.
This is my first real foray into the realm of revising/editing. Sure, I gave chapters to my 12th grade English teacher to read and comment on. Edited those chapters to death based on feedback from him. But since I never got past those chapters before I'm not really counting that. (What I did was more akin to vying for the procrastination queen crown.)
I am struggling to figure out where to start. (Aside from the massive wordage cuts.)
It's so daunting, so intimidating, so scary.
And so necessary. This book sucks, you guys. I'm not sure that any amount of revision will save this. At some point I'm probably going to have to cross the "abandon this work forever" bridge in regards to Oracles Promise. And it makes me sad to think that.
But oh well. For now I'll continue to press onward through the revision trenches and hope to come out on the peaks of shininess.
Revisions are tough. Believe me...I've been living with them for months now. I will tell you this: keep pressing on because every change you make puts you that much closer. I'm pleased with the results of my work, so it's worth it in the end. Best of luck!
ReplyDeleteI find the revisions a lot tougher than the writing. There are so many approaches to take. When I'm stuck I usually google revision tips or troll through blogs and try new approaches... Lots of good info, the hard part is finding techniques that work for you. Good luck and hang in there!!
ReplyDeleteI needed others to critique it for me before I could see anything to edit! All the words just jumbled up in my mind I'd read it so much.
ReplyDeleteLet me know if you want me to look at it! aubriedionne (at) yahoo.com
Maybe I'm just weird, but I find the writing much harder than the revising. I had a ball revising my first novel, but then I hadn't looked at it in ten years, so that probably helped. Maybe I have more editor in me than I think.
ReplyDeleteEven if this book never sees the light of day, completing the revisions is a great writing excercise. It'll help you a lot on your next work.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe that the book sucks. I revised my novel twenty times at least before I completely rewrote it, and I'm really glad I did. It took a long time, but it's a much, much better story. I really enjoy your blog, and I posted an award for you this morning.
ReplyDeleteNote Step 4: http://www.lackadaisycats.com/makingacomic.php
ReplyDeleteI believe it's true for anyone doing something creative. If you feel 100% confident your work is perfect, then you probably are a hack. Self-doubt is a good thing here.
While I've only ever helped others edit, I think once the work is written, it's good to step back and go at it in a very mechanical way. The writing was the art part, the editing is the craft. While some people make outlines before they start writing, I think outlines after the first draft is done are much more helpful. Outline the major arc; outline each subplot; outline each character arc, making sure any character of significance changes somehow; outline each scene even, to ensure that it truly moves the plot forward at that things have changed from the beginning of the scene to the end. In this process, you will generally find the holes that need filling and bulky bits that need chopping. I also find that being so straight-forward gives my creative brain a break so that eventually while I outline things, I'll be struck by inspiration about what needs changing.
It's like painting a 50-foot portrait. Sometimes you need to stop the wild painting, grab a ladder, and look at the picture as a whole to see which areas need shifting and erasing.
Revisions are so tough!! Don't give up on your novel though! Set it aside for awhile when it seems too much to handle and then come back to it later. Good luck, hon! *hugs*
ReplyDeleteI know your hard work will pay off and Oracles will fairly gleam by the time you're through!
ReplyDeleteI don't even want to think about revisions. Yikes! I get all twitter-patted just getting my CP's crits back. LOL Can't imagine my distress over edits. Better have tons of chocolate on hand. Ha! I see a trend . . . cutting words= death by chocolate OD!!
Your website is lovely! I really like the colors and the way you've got it laid out. That first pic of you shows a saucy side! :)
Thanks, everyone!
ReplyDeleteUgh I kind of feel the same about this WIP that I should be revising right now. Getting started seems to be the hardest part, because I know what I have to do - just have to buckle down and do it. Good luck, Stephanie!
ReplyDeleteEveryone feels like this. But there must be something that made you fall in love with the idea in the first place. Remind yourself of that (if you have some original notes they might be hidden in there). Then you need to disentangle yourself from the detail and look at the big picture to plan how you will recise - what you will delete, what you will reorder and what you will add. At the risk of seeming cheeky, hop over to my site and search for 'beat sheet' - it'll help you do just that and get back in control. There is a way to carry on and finish, honest!
ReplyDeleteI can't find it now but I read a quote just recently that helped me. It was a published author saying that when he wrote he just made sure that he created lots and lots of manure, then in the editing process he would use it to grow something worth keeping :)
ReplyDeleteYour first draft (or two) is supposed to be messy - it's the story that counts. Don't let the editing discourage you - the best writing is good editing.
Best of luck!
Three words: Print it up.
ReplyDeleteThen grab a red pen. It's amazing how much it helps to see it on the page.
Best of luck!
Hi - I've got an award for you over at my blog!
ReplyDeleteThe first revision is the worst! That's when I seriously doubt my abilities as a writer. But each revision gets easier!
ReplyDelete