It's a good book. I love the characters, and it won't need that much work.
Uh-huh.
Photo by puliarfanita
I conveniently forgot that my writing has grown--a lot--since I last opened the file. Yes, the characters and setting are fabulous, but the story needed an overhaul. The quick revision I pictured has turned into a rewrite. Again.
In order to avoid spending six months on this project, I've had to employ a tough-love strategy. I can't afford an endless revise.
If you revisit a writing project in need of major renovations, here are a few tips to keep it moving.
1. Read through the entire book and analyze it for:
* plot weaknesses
* vague character goals, motivations, and conflicts
* slow or choppy pacing
* gaping breaks in logic
2. Spend a day or two brainstorming ways to fix the problem areas. Nail the story goal and the character goals, motivations and conflicts. Determine where extra chapters are needed or which chapters need to be cut.
3. Fix the big problems. This might involve scrapping 75% of the first chapters or writing completely new chapters. That's okay. Do it and move on. The bulk of your time will be spent here.
*This is the slow as molasses portion of the project. Aim for a minimum of 5-10 pages each session. Any fewer and this revision will never end.
4. When all of the big problems have been fixed, you should have a new rough draft. Starting from page one, begin your regular revising process. If you don't have a regular process, feel free to print out my revision checklist.
Some of you may jump with joy at rewriting and revising an old book, but if you're anything like me, you'll stare at it and dream up ways to procrastinate. Forge ahead, my friends. Chip away at it each day and you'll be holding a sparkling gem in your hands before you know it!
Have you ever found yourself in an endless revise? How did you get through it?
Join me on Friday for a frank discussion on why social media helps sell books.
45 comments:
I was working on an old YA I wrote. I eventually came to the conclusion I would be rewriting the majority of the story. Like you, I loved the characters. The rest of the book had problems. My schedule filled up with other writing projects. I may go back to it some day...or maybe not. :)
Timely post! I just blew the dust off one of my older manuscripts and began revising. Thanks for the tips!
I don't know if I could do that. I like starting fresh!
Awesome post and very timely. And I LOVE the checklist! I'm printing it out and putting in my editing binder!
I try my hardest to stay away from old manuscripts because they usually need new vision and a new rewrite! But they are tempting at times.
I know what you mean - it takes A LOT of self-discipline to wade through a really rough draft. But it's so worth it when it's finished and polished! And thanks for your list of revision tips!
I tried recently and I just couldn't quite bring myself to it. But I will take your tips to heart when I try again:)
Good morning!
Julie: This book just wouldn't let me go, so I'm glad I'm making it the book I always thought it could be. But would I do it again? I hope not--too much work!
Jessica: Brave soul! If you want to whine, e-mail me!
Terri: I do too. I got this great idea a few weeks ago and would love to drop everything and start it! Not going to happen. :(
Sherrinda: Thanks! I'm glad you found it useful!
Laura: New vision and rewrite says it all. Oh, let's add two more words--time suck. :)
Lauren: Welcome! I hope it ends up being worth it. I had doubts at the beginning!
Kara: Don't do it! Just kidding! I wouldn't revisit an old book unless you're beyond passionate about it.
Thanks so much for stopping by!
I think it's worth doing if your heart is really in it ... Even if you only take the guts of it and rewrite the rest, why not? Good luck!
I spent 11 months revising a manuscript last year. I got through it because I loved the premise and the characters and felt it was well worth my time. I have no regrets.
May sound crazy, but my current WIP is barely there, so I'm eager to have some solid material to revise. When I do, I'll revisit this post. Thanks for sharing!
This may sound crazy, but given that my current WIP is barely there, I'm eager to get to the point where it needs revising. When I do, I'll return to this post (esp. revising tips.) Thanks.
My first novel will never be revised. It's fated to stay the same as it is now. Why? Because I've grown so much as a writer that I've actually grown OUT of the story. And I'm completely ok with that. *grin*
Thanks for the tips, Jill, great advice as always! I really hope the just-finished-wip *isn't* an endless revise...but I won't know for a little while. It's locked away for a couple more weeks. :)
I have 1 manuscript, one of the first I finished, that I love...but I can't bear the thought of reading through it. Because I know it's bad. I was soooo green. Maybe someday...
Jill, I think it's neat that you've chosen to revise one of your earlier stories. What was it about this one that made you feel like it was worth the effort? I ask because so often we hear the counsel to leave our older works alone and use our improved skills creating new ones.
As a writer whose agent just sold one of my early stories that has undergone three major revisions and a massive rewrite (I'm talking ditching 3/4 of the story my agent said wasn't working and starting over), I know it's possible to revisit one of our first efforts, incorporate all we've learned, and see that story contracted.
In my case, I believe the effort was worth it. I know I have more revisions ahead of me once I hear from my editor, but I'm OK with that. After all, I've learned that I'm not really a writer; I'm re-writer. =)
Joanne: My heart is really in this one, so it's definitely worth it!
Susan M: It's so good to hear that. Writing and revising aren't for the faint of hear, that's for sure, so I'm glad you stuck with the ms.
Patrice: I DO know what you mean! I spent the summer working on new material, so revising this one was a welcome change.
Melissa: I hear you. I have a few stories I've grown out of too. Then I still have a few I could see myself going back to--but not any time soon!
Kristi: This one was one of my middle novels, so it wasn't throw-up-all-over-yourself-bad, but still, how many dialogue tags could a girl use?? And don't get me started on the GMC's--pathetic!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
working on revisions now...kind of arduous...but there is light at the end of the tunnel..or at least i hope!!!
I got stuck in a never-ending revise recently, and I had to force myself to just keep on moving!
Last summer I finished a total rewrite of a story that I'd been revising for a couple years. All the revisions weren't fixing the underlying structural weakness, but when I finally acknowledged the problem, I had to decide to either abandon it or rewrite. I chose the latter and knew it was the right decision when all the pieces went together smoothly. The breakthrough felt like emerging from a long underwater swim.
Does it ever end? I've heard pub'd authors say even when their book is printed, they'd still revise. There ought to be a "slap" handle on your computer for when you're revising too long, it'll engage to slap you back to your senses.
Amber J: Hooray for light at the end of the tunnel! Good luck!
Heather: Sometimes that's all we can do. Just keep moving!
Carol: Wow, love the imagery--"emerging from a long underwater swim." That sums up a rewrite/revision. Nice!
Em: Will you invent the "slap" button, please? :)
Thanks so much for stopping by!
I began to grow sick to my stomach of the first chapter of one of my books. And about 500 pairs of eyes had been on it. Great tips here.
You know the verse at the bottom of your screen? Just spoke to me!
~ Wendy
I have to tell you, I cannot stop editing. In fact there is one book I wont share with my agent probably ever because I can't foresee me ever finishing it. Thank God for other WIPS who know how to behave.
*Cyber hug*
Jill, I was looking for this kind of relief with my current project. I can't begin to think of abandoning these characters until I get their story right!
I'm going to try your way- starting today! I think I was just too afraid to really cut where I know I needed to.
I'm always in endless revise mode! Wish I could just get it right and move on.
I am going through an endless revision but because it is my first book and I have made a lot of mistakes. But my main mistake, as of late, is not setting enough time to edit. I gave myself time to write, but I haven't done the same thing for editing. A few pages here and there and soon I have been at it for months. Doesn't help that I need to cut 75,000 words. But that is another story.
Wendy: I know that feeling well, my friend. There are a few books NO one will ever look at. In fact, I might never look at them again!
T. Anne: My first four books were so awful--wow, I'm gagging! But they were great learning tools. Maybe they didn't have basic craft issues ironed out, but they taught me how to write a complete story.
Tamika: I know! I couldn't let these go, either. I don't know if this book will ever be published, but I couldn't let it sit there without getting it right. If you need to whine, e-mail me!
Jill: I hear you! I wish I could write it correctly in the first place. Yeah, right, I know!
EarthsDivide: Welcome! It takes me longer to revise a book than it does to edit it, but I'm a fast writer and I don't edit as I go. I agree with you 100% we have to allot a big chunk of time for editing or it will never get done.
Thanks so much for stopping by!
How exciting to re-visit an old project. If the idea is a great one, I think it's definitely worth doing. I've thought about doing this to a previous project, but I'm not quite ready. These are great tips, thanks. Oh, and I'm printing your checklist!
Just found you via a link from Jody Hedlund (in case you wondered). I am adding your tips to my notebook- because wow is it timely and needed. I'm in the middle of what I like to call editing, but if you promise not to tell anyone, it's a major rewrite. I think most would just let this kind of revision just slip into computer file oblivion and let it be, but this is a story that shouts at me all the time, begging to be told. So I can't let it go.
Thanks again :)
Julie: It's good to let it simmer, then you really know if it's worth going back to!
D.L.: Welcome! I'm so glad you found my blog--Jody is wonderful! Yeah, I know the whole rewrite thing. I've scrapped so much of this book, but it still feels the same. Just better. It's hard to explain! I'm so glad you're sticking with yours. Good luck!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
I just found your blog and this really helpful post. Thanks.
I did 7 major rewrites of Lethal Inheritance (YA fantasy. For a while the rewrtites did seem endless. Now I have the big stuff done, I'm working on getting the language really good. My agent told me to do some more work on it.
I've learned that letting it sit unread for a while is the best tool for helping you see the problems.
Tahlia: Welcome! Wow, you're dedicated. I'm impressed! You bring up two very good points--outside eyes and time. I like to let my books breathe before I revise, and I always send them to my cp's.
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Great revision checklist! There isn't enough out there for people on HOW to revise as much as just encouraging them to do it.
Lisa: I agree. One of the best purchases I ever made was a book by Renni Browne and Dave King called Self-Editing for Fiction Writers. I highly recommend it!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Jill, thanks so much for these handy revision tips! I've bookmarked them so I can go back and look at them in April, when revision time comes for me :)
Julie: You're very welcome! Even if one or two of the points helps, it's worth it. Good luck!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Hi Jill -
I wish I had this advice when I first started revisions. I cut my writer teeth on my first manuscript. As a non-fiction writer, I didn't have a clue on how to produce fiction.
Thanks for the tips.
Blessings,
Susan :)
Susan JR: I wish I would have had it too. I made the list after my third book because I needed a system!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
In old books there's always a chance you would want to cut whole chapters or most of one. Sometimes chapters are so stuck in you wonder what you were thinking.
To be honest, when I go back to something I wrote too long ago, I usually find it's better to scrap the whole thing. You're right...when we've been at this a while and grown in our writing, we look at those old works with a different eye.
I feel like I revise more than I write. I've picked apart a story I've been working on for a long time and struggle with being satisfied with it all. True story.
Love the Revision Checklist!
Nancy: I've cut chapters, absolutely! Don't know why they were there in the first place!
Steph: Yes, through horrified, incredulous eyes! Ha! No, I love the ideas behind all my books, but not all of them are salvagable. :)
CMOM: I revise to the point I never want to see the book again. Then I'm done!
Shonna: Welcome! I'm glad you found it useful!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
I erased every file pertaining to my first novel. I know these characters. My sister knows these characters because I talk about them like they're our neighbors. But I kept getting caught up in plot holes and confusing motivations. I started all over from a detached perspective. What do I want my readers to know? How do I want them to feel? I made a new outline with this in mind. I feel like being a little more clinical about the work is keeping me moving forward.
Oh, boy, I seem to be in this phase right now, too. Not fun. And I know what you mean about rewrites dragging on way too long. Discipline, that's what I need!!
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