tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post7747635563140904560..comments2024-02-21T03:32:15.577-05:00Comments on Jill Kemerer: How to Avoid an Endless ReviseJill Kemererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-79072545740656241272011-02-10T08:33:52.229-05:002011-02-10T08:33:52.229-05:00Oh, boy, I seem to be in this phase right now, too...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!!Eileen Astels Watsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11098531184044931737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-45493381570827695192011-01-30T23:25:49.408-05:002011-01-30T23:25:49.408-05:00I erased every file pertaining to my first novel. ...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.Shannon J.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03256636447774274839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-64327125902586448222011-01-28T15:12:32.018-05:002011-01-28T15:12:32.018-05:00Nancy: I've cut chapters, absolutely! Don'...Nancy: I've cut chapters, absolutely! Don't know why they were there in the first place!<br /><br />Steph: Yes, through horrified, incredulous eyes! Ha! No, I love the ideas behind all my books, but not all of them are salvagable. :)<br /><br />CMOM: I revise to the point I never want to see the book again. Then I'm done! <br /><br />Shonna: Welcome! I'm glad you found it useful!<br /><br />Thanks so much for stopping by!Jill Kemererhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-40064542664769171282011-01-28T12:27:56.961-05:002011-01-28T12:27:56.961-05:00Love the Revision Checklist!Love the Revision Checklist!Shonna Slaytonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06154121948860197286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-36258610170373398152011-01-27T22:00:18.599-05:002011-01-27T22:00:18.599-05:00I feel like I revise more than I write. I've ...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.CMOM Productionshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04595915747223847421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-59362571852870512862011-01-27T20:10:14.090-05:002011-01-27T20:10:14.090-05:00To be honest, when I go back to something I wrote ...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.Stephanie Farishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10461865229341760836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-86306663341436392912011-01-27T18:52:41.463-05:002011-01-27T18:52:41.463-05:00In old books there's always a chance you would...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.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15163662759281341381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-24244475882355820922011-01-27T16:24:08.867-05:002011-01-27T16:24:08.867-05:00Susan JR: I wish I would have had it too. I made t...Susan JR: I wish I would have had it too. I made the list after my third book because I needed a system!<br /><br />Thanks so much for stopping by!Jill Kemererhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-34722265654026159042011-01-27T15:25:59.147-05:002011-01-27T15:25:59.147-05:00Hi Jill -
I wish I had this advice when I first s...Hi Jill -<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Thanks for the tips.<br /><br />Blessings,<br />Susan :)Susan J. Reinhardthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07461276857852409546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-78064001000251430402011-01-27T13:48:53.031-05:002011-01-27T13:48:53.031-05:00Julie: You're very welcome! Even if one or two...Julie: You're very welcome! Even if one or two of the points helps, it's worth it. Good luck!<br /><br />Thanks so much for stopping by!Jill Kemererhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-69906266360180839112011-01-27T12:40:18.075-05:002011-01-27T12:40:18.075-05:00Jill, thanks so much for these handy revision tips...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 Daohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13814052162359300933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-77223228904858056332011-01-27T12:30:12.575-05:002011-01-27T12:30:12.575-05:00Lisa: I agree. One of the best purchases I ever ma...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!<br /><br />Thanks so much for stopping by!Jill Kemererhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-80371956935866514302011-01-27T12:06:25.835-05:002011-01-27T12:06:25.835-05:00Great revision checklist! There isn't enough ...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 Gail Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03648323153868702165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-84890962855087463412011-01-27T08:25:13.926-05:002011-01-27T08:25:13.926-05:00Tahlia: Welcome! Wow, you're dedicated. I'...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.<br /><br />Thanks so much for stopping by!Jill Kemererhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-15895432887455856432011-01-26T20:50:11.006-05:002011-01-26T20:50:11.006-05:00I just found your blog and this really helpful pos...I just found your blog and this really helpful post. Thanks. <br /><br />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.<br /><br />I've learned that letting it sit unread for a while is the best tool for helping you see the problems.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-5793871240968713312011-01-26T20:14:01.601-05:002011-01-26T20:14:01.601-05:00Julie: It's good to let it simmer, then you re...Julie: It's good to let it simmer, then you really know if it's worth going back to!<br /><br />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!<br /><br />Thanks so much for stopping by!Jill Kemererhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-55212731703501286862011-01-26T19:32:04.401-05:002011-01-26T19:32:04.401-05:00Just found you via a link from Jody Hedlund (in ca...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. <br /><br />Thanks again :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16460233068336598559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-39808083060799495012011-01-26T18:58:54.921-05:002011-01-26T18:58:54.921-05:00How exciting to re-visit an old project. If the i...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!Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-74642346681198566422011-01-26T17:13:08.670-05:002011-01-26T17:13:08.670-05:00Wendy: I know that feeling well, my friend. There ...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!<br /><br />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. <br /><br />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!<br /><br />Jill: I hear you! I wish I could write it correctly in the first place. Yeah, right, I know!<br /><br />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. <br /><br />Thanks so much for stopping by!Jill Kemererhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-72878886476156856612011-01-26T16:21:17.834-05:002011-01-26T16:21:17.834-05:00I am going through an endless revision but because...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.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-36461511317068345692011-01-26T16:08:00.720-05:002011-01-26T16:08:00.720-05:00I'm always in endless revise mode! Wish I cou...I'm always in endless revise mode! Wish I could just get it right and move on.Jillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05536293384635588296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-54080993460754352512011-01-26T15:21:02.712-05:002011-01-26T15:21:02.712-05:00*Cyber hug*
Jill, I was looking for this kind of ...*Cyber hug*<br /><br />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!<br /><br />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.Tamika:https://www.blogger.com/profile/04874834971492028558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-87684858170277031112011-01-26T15:19:08.283-05:002011-01-26T15:19:08.283-05:00I have to tell you, I cannot stop editing. In fact...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.Tanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10518718614911804428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-52100956912190162902011-01-26T14:34:29.828-05:002011-01-26T14:34:29.828-05:00I began to grow sick to my stomach of the first ch...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.<br /><br />You know the verse at the bottom of your screen? Just spoke to me!<br /><br />~ WendyWendy Paine Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15136235074351188350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-52807302567947035612011-01-26T14:28:31.887-05:002011-01-26T14:28:31.887-05:00Amber J: Hooray for light at the end of the tunnel...Amber J: Hooray for light at the end of the tunnel! Good luck!<br /><br />Heather: Sometimes that's all we can do. Just keep moving!<br /><br />Carol: Wow, love the imagery--"emerging from a long underwater swim." That sums up a rewrite/revision. Nice!<br /><br />Em: Will you invent the "slap" button, please? :)<br /><br />Thanks so much for stopping by!Jill Kemererhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.com