It took three weeks, but my read aloud of my current WIP is finally
done. I made a note every time I found something that needed fixing and…well,
it’s not pretty. There are 853 of them. Or, on average, eight per page.
Eep.
Of course it’s an important thing to be able to, you know,
make the book readable, but man, is it daunting. Half of them are me yelling at
myself for not using enough description or ordering me to get rid of dialogue
tags (I can get very bossy in my notes to myself). It’s just plain a mess, but
it might be good someday.
So what’s next on my writing to do list? Fixing all those
notes, obviously. But I also wrote out the timeline for it to make sure there
are no continuity snarls and improve the pacing, so I’m going to do that first,
and since that will involve a lot of moving chapters around, I’m probably going
to need more notes to fix all the problems shifting things around will cause.
Eep. Again.
But through it all, I really feel excited. I have a plan! I
know how to fix (most of) the problems! MALICE is turning into a real book!
Although this doesn’t mean those of you who follow me on Twitter won’t be
seeing a lot of whining about edits. Complaining is my muse.
So that’s my writing update this week. What are you up to
with your WIP? What do you do when you start revisions? Do share!
You can do it. Just don't misplace those side notes.
ReplyDeleteOn my current manuscript, I went back and added a lot of scenes and adjusted the wording in the first few passes. Now I'm on a seek and destroy mission with certain words. I hate pet words...
Hi Jeanne .. good luck - at least you're being thorough and that sure must ease the next necessary part of the process ...
ReplyDeleteLove Alex' approach .. and I'm sure you'll be doing similar .. and that's great Malice is turning into a proper real book!!
Cheers - Hilary
Those side notes are crucial!
ReplyDeleteWhen I get back into final revisions for mine, one change I have to make is a switchover for a sequence involving a military fighter jet from one type to another. I have serious doubts the F-35 will ever actually see military service anywhere.
I just saw an article in io9 (I think) about outlining after you've finished a draft to make sure your novel is working. I thought that was fascinating.
ReplyDeleteAs for me, I haven't touched my novel in a while. My life went and got stressful, and I can't focus on writing right now. Hopefully soon.
I revise fast and make multiple passes through the manuscript. I LOVE revising and editing. It's writing the first draft that kills me.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of that ... I haven't written anything in over a week. I think I can be excused, what with wrapping up a 25 year career in teaching after all. It's been emotionally and physically draining. And I might not be up to facing my WIP tomorrow -- my first free day -- or Thursday -- the day of my cover reveal -- but by Friday FER SURE, I'm going to sit down and add some words.
Probably bad ones, but like I said, I love to revise.
I actually enjoy revisions, love going through writing with pens and highlighters - all pretty colours of course lol! I use those extra sticky postit's for a timeline and cover the study wall!
ReplyDeleteSuzanne @ Suzannes-Tribe
x
Timelines are very helpful. Good for you.
ReplyDeleteIt's not an easy process. Hang in there. It'll look great once it's all polished up.
It's better that you find and fix them than an editor finding them and thinking it's too much work for them. A good polish requires lots of rubbing. Elbow grease, ahoy! :)
ReplyDeleteIt may be a lot but it's better that you find them than your readers! I'm excited to see what MALICE will be! Good luck on it.
ReplyDeleteI'm in the middle of my revisions too. I don't know how many notes I have. I'm only about a third of the way through it and I might have more than you! I'll just keep slogging away. :)
853?? You COUNTED? I'm impressed. It's a ton of notes, and I'd be overwhelmed, too, but just think how much easier fixing those will be compared to generating brand new stuff. That's what I tell myself to make myself feel better ;)
ReplyDelete