Monday, June 4, 2012

Mechanics on Monday...Revisions!


Last week I turned in my third book to Entangled. It was the first book I’ve actually had a deadline for. Was I worried? Nope, not me! You see, I thought this was going to be a fairly ‘easy’ book to write. Why did I make that ridiculous assumption? Well, because about three years ago I had finished this book, and despite it being rejected by my current agent, and an editor, it had received really nice feedback. I still loved the characters, the story, the message. I genuinely thought, how hard could it be to revise an old manuscript based on what I know now?
Turns out, it was the most difficult book I’ve written.

I thought more than once while writing it that I really had no idea what I was doing. I was a sham, an imposter, an idiot.  I didn’t think I would ever get it done.  I’ve been to hell and back with this manuscript. Believe me, I’ve whined and complained and cried about this manuscript. Poor fellow Hot Pink Sister, Olivia Miles, had to endure many emails filled with my endless speculations as to why I just wasn’t getting it. I consumed more bags of Kettle Chips while re-writing this book than I have during my entire life (I believe I even wrote them into a scene). I think my DH even asked, one night when he ventured into my office, looked at my desk filled with empty coffee mugs, sheets of scribbled notes, and an empty glass of wine, if I was re-writing WAR AND PEACE. Obviously, that comment wasn’t well received. :-)

Well, here I am, a few months later, book turned in, still alive. Barely. It seemed like every day I had a new epiphany, a new idea as to what needed to be done.  I’ve concluded that sometimes, it’s just easier to scrap the entire darn thing and start over. That is what I essentially did. I just wished I had known that was the path that I needed to take right from the beginning. Most of the scenes were the same, the characters, the setting-all the same. But I had to re-write. Based on my voice, on how I’ve evolved as a writer, I just had to do it.

So, I’ve put together a little list. Maybe you’ve got an old manuscript out there that you just can’t seem to leave tucked away in a drawer. Maybe you have characters that are so vivid, that you can’t help but want to revisit them. Here’s hoping this list can help you save time...and sanity as you revise an old manuscript:

1) Delete: Seriously. Scrap it. Be ruthless, be brave. The delete key is your best friend. If I could count all the hours I spent staring at dialogue and description that just didn’t ‘feel’ right, I’d be weeping. I would look at chunks of this book and wonder what it was about certain scenes that just weren’t working. So, I’d try and tweak. And it still didn’t work. What worked? Chucking the darn thing and re-writing it. In my voice. Now.

2) Face the Heat: Take all the comments you received on the manuscript (if it was previously rejected) and figure out how you can incorporate that feedback. I knew right away what needed to be done to my heroine. Her motives were contrived in the previous manuscript, so I needed to figure out (before I started revising) what I was going to change in order to make her more true to herself. And I did. And the conflict is that much stronger.

3) It doesn’t have to be goodbye forever: I know, it hurts to say goodbye to the words you worked so hard to write. Even if they were a while ago. It’s still painful. So, I started a separate file where all my precious deleted words could go to. It stung a little less. I’ll let you know the whopping total deleted words at the end of this little post.

4) Dig Deeper: Now, maybe this doesn’t apply to you. But when I look at my earlier work, I see more surface writing. The characters were not three-dimensional. In my head, they may have been, but it didn’t really translate onto paper. I think writing deep pain and hurt made me...uncomfortable. It still does. But I’ve learned that it needs to be done. I still have issues writing love scenes, because usually the love scene has deep emotion attached to it. I need to turn off the inner-editor and let the emotion seep onto the page. Usually wine helps me with this :-)

5) Step away from the manuscript: I know, I know, if you’ve got a deadline, you can’t take time away from writing! But, I spent so much time staring at my manuscript blankly that I might as well have been sleeping. Taking some time away from it can lead to interesting solutions when you’re busy doing mundane things like groceries or laundry. I had so much dialogue bouncing around in my brain after leaving my manuscript that when it was time to get back to my keyboard, the words just flowed.

Okay, so that’s it! My little list of the things I’ve learned. I’m by nooooooo means an expert, but having just gone through this painful process, thought I’d share. The book’s been submitted, so now I wait to hear what my editor thinks of it...hmmm...perhaps a post on waiting should be next?  Do you have any tips or tricks you'd like to share?

Oh, and what was the final deleted word count? 43,409. Ouch.

16 comments:

  1. I have an ms like this one! It was rejected by M&B after two sets of revisions because it wasn't emotional enough (sob). Since then it has gathered dust, but I still love it. I've definitely evolved as a writer since then so I have no doubt it would need a major overhaul if it were ever to see the light of day. Congrats on coming out the other side, and loads of luck with it!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Charlotte! Isn't it funny how we just can't let go of some characters? I'm sure you'll revisit it one day. Thanks!

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  2. Great advice! Hugs on the deleted wd cnt. When I first started to write seriously, I rewrote and rewrote. It was a great learning tool. Now I totally understand why editors sometimes suggest you set aside a ms and work on a new one. Rewriting can be overwhelming. So glad to rewrite worked out for you. Hope your editor loves it!!!

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    1. Thanks, Jennifer! It really is a great learning tool, you're right. I believe you may have been on the receiving end of a few of my whining emails as well :-)

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  3. I adore the photo, Victoria! LOL. Your advice is spot on...and hmm, I might have put about 4 out of 5 of these points into my WIP this weekend and it's better for it:-) Rewriting is usually worse than fresh writing, but so worth it when the project comes out like yours did - your editor (and everyone else) is going to love it! (I mean it everyone, I read her book in two days over the weekend and didn't want it to end!)

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    1. LOL-glad you liked the photo, I thought you would ;-) Thanks for the support! And I can't wait to read your next WIP :-)

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  4. Hugs, Victoria! What a wonderful post. I had to laugh about the kettle chips. I reach for pistachios when I'm stressed out, but so far they haven't made a WIP. ;-) I am neck deep in a rewrite, and it's grueling. It's hard (and scary and painful) to take the plunge and hit 'delete', but I couldn't agree more that sometimes it's the best option. I'm sure your editor will love your manuscript, and I can't wait to read it myself.

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    1. LOL, thanks Natalie! Pistachios, eh? Good luck with your revisions, I'm sure you'll nail them. But it is brutual isn't it? Hope you get through them quickly :-)

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  5. Hugs for the deleted word count, but I agree. Sometimes its just easier to write again, from scratch. I re-wrote my first manuscript and only kept one scene from the original (which also happened to be the first love scene - you're right, wine helps lol).

    I hope all your hard work pays off and edits are light. Keep us posted x

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  6. Hi Aimee,
    Thanks for stopping by! Way easier to just write from scratch, but so hard to accept! Sounds like we had a similar experience with the re-write! Thanks and will do :-)

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  7. Victoria, hugs on the chopped word count! I hope your editor loves the new improved version!

    This is soooo timely for me, as I'm just about to start working on a rewrite of an old story from 3 years ago with characters and a situation that just won't let me go. I know it needs a lot fixing, but I was tempted to try the tweaking route to make sure I keep what bits ARE good about it.

    Maybe I should be brave and just dive straight into a total rewrite, forget wasting time revising it.

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    1. Hi, Autumn thanks for stopping by! Good luck with tackling that manuscript, I feel your pain, LOL!! Be brave...:-)

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  8. Great post, Victoria. I related so much to what you said here having just completed a big rewrite myself (self-inflicted - does that make it worse?). I hope your editor loves what you've done. Linds :-)

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    1. Hi Lindsay, thanks! Wow, self-inflicted rewrites? You are a brave woman! :-)

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  9. Victoria, thank you so much! This blog post got me through a recent revision. I opened a new document and dumped my deleted words into the document, and it eased the blow. They were gone, but not really. :) It helps to know other writers understand what I'm feeling.

    Elley

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  10. Hey Elley, I'm so glad you found it helpful! It does ease the blow, knowing those words aren't gone forever, doesn't it ;-) Good luck with that revision!

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