Just when you think you're finished, you end up being fooled.
Such is the case with FID. I thought I was finished.
Then an author friend of mine (Thanks Nancy!) pointed out some issues. So, I'm back into it once again.
Unfortunately, this means I get to put my other WIPs on the back burner. It never ends.
Thanks to all those who gave me comments and votes over at Gather.com. I imagine that it's not going to be high enough to garner a second round attempt.
But with this new input, I'll probably be busy for a while reworking some of those issues. So, it all works out in the end, I suppose.
After that, it'll be off to the majors with some queries.
Oh I know this feeling! I am there right now, myself. The rethinking is good, the editing is good, the improvements are magnificent, but the next book is waiting in the wings, its foot impatiently tapping and tapping and tapping and the sound getting louder and louder and louder.
ReplyDeleteI think this is the worst part of writing ... thinking you're there and being satisfied, and then having someone point something out and just *knowing* they're right. *Sigh* Good luck with it.
ReplyDeleteThe worst part is the "knowing" they're right...and wondering why you didn't see it before (or how you thought you could get away with ignoring it before, as was the case here... :-D )
ReplyDeleteYou know the old saw (attributed to Faulker), to the effect that a novel is never really finished, only abandoned?
ReplyDeleteThen again, Robert Heinlein's 3rd Rule of Writing is 'You must refrain from re-writing, except to editorial order'. Otherwise you could just tinker with the blasted thing forever.
So I split the difference: I rewrite as I go. The first third or so of each writing session is clean-up of the previous session's work. Then another once-over after finishing a chapter, and ditto after finishing the book.
This works for me, as does having a few beta readers read the chapters as I go. I know this wouldn't work for some other writers; we all have our Processes, don't we?
All writers are at least a half bubble off plumb...
Oh, the revising is never finished, even after you've been published. You write it, you revise it, you send it to the editors. She (or he) says it's great, but . . . And your off to revisions again. Aftera grueling few weeks or months (if you're lucky) it's back to the editor, who says great. You then get the copy edits and/or galleys. So one or two more revisions (although at this point they're only minor fixes). Then it's published. . . .
ReplyDeleteAnd when you read it after that, when you can't change anything anymore, you immediately say to yourself, "Well that sucks. I need to revise that again." But of course it's too late.
All I can say is that if you feel something significant needs to be changed, then change it. If you're only doing minor fixes here and there, then it's time to send it out. Your editor, if you find one, is going to want changes as well, so you have plenty of opportunity to fix major things later. But you'll never get there unless an editor SEES it.
I'm in the middle of revisions myself, so you have my total understanding and sympathies. *grin*
"Just when I thought I was out..." Eh, you know the quote. :) Manuscripts have a way of always wanting to be tinkered with. My biggest difficulty is getting the WIP to shut up while I deal with editing.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with yours.
Like Zonk, I'm one of those rewrite as I go, only not in quite as structured a way as Zonk describes. I reread my pages periodically to see if I can spot inconsistencies, in timeline, characters, etc and to make sure that I'm keeping on track with holding the story within the basic plot line that I've mapped out.
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned that you've had to put your other WIP on the back burner. Why not take one or two days a week and give them to your new stuff. By breaking it up... you'll come to each stage of work with a fresh outlook and you won't feel so much like you're trapped in revision pergatory.
I attempted to do that a while back...work on different WIPs at the same time. All it did was make me completely useless on all of them. As with Zonk and Susan, I too am one who rewrites as I go along. I also have this tendency to run back through past pages and find places that need to be rewritten. When one splits up the time between three or four pieces (all of mine are novels), that tends to keep you from actually getting into new material, what with my lack of available free time.
ReplyDeleteZonk: "Then again, Robert Heinlein's 3rd Rule of Writing is 'You must refrain from re-writing, except to editorial order'. Otherwise you could just tinker with the blasted thing forever."
ReplyDeleteDoes it seem as a creative person of any sort, it is never ourself that decided when a project is done, but something outside or beyond us: Deadline, Publisher, Client, life, etc.
I like to have multiple projects so that I can switch to another one when things start getting frustrating and stale. Then I can return the former project with new sight and/or energy.
I think that's one good part about sticking to books within a series. You never get distracted by another WIP.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't go that far...I have three of my WIP which are in a series. I definitely get distracted by the two I'm NOT editing at this point...
ReplyDelete"Just a few minutes...I could get some new words down on paper. Really, I could..."