How to Avoid an Endless Revise

I'm crazy. I know I must be. Why else would I dust off the book I wrote over two years ago (and rewrote later that year) and decide that now was the time to polish it?

It's a good book. I love the characters, and it won't need that much work.

Uh-huh.

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.

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