I'm a firm believer that there are certain lessons that we, as humans, were put on earth to learn.
One of mine is patience.
After I finished my first MS, against the advice of my CP, I thought, "Hey, what the heck. I'm going to wait ONE DAY and start the second draft."
For me, this was a mistake.
I'm gradually learning. Hey, I waited a week to revise the second MS. And I'm still working on it....
I just finished my third MS. I took what I like to think of as a "vacation." I read four novels, lounged around the house, got caught up on things I'd let go to the wayside, like eating, drinking, taking care of my kids (haha).
So, here I am, three weeks later....
I'm in the middle of what I call "the read-through." This is where I throw my red pen in the garbage and just read the MS. I think I'll take a week after and then begin the first draft of revisions. Then the second, third, fourth, hundreth. You get the picture.
There are several reputable sources who claim that waiting weeks is best. But, as aforementioned, patience is NOT my virtue.
How do you ladies go about your revisions?
6 comments:
Revisions. Mmmm, what a timely subject. I dashed my first draft off in about three months. Then came the second. That took another two or three months. Then the third draft, which probably took another four. Anyway, 9 months total. And I say now that I'm done, which I am, mostly. I'm still doing that read through, only with red pen in hand. I call it the final polish. But the book is there, down, revised. Any changes past this point are minor: a few sentences here and there, a word, a punctuation mark. So, I am comfortable to start sending off queries and partials. And if I get a request for a full, I'll be ready for that too.
Congrats on getting so much done so quickly. Hope you enjoyed your vacation.
Revisions are the hardest, longest, but also the most satisfying part of the process for me.
First, I finish the WIP. Hahahahahaaha.
Okay, assuming that ever happens (it's taken two acts of god, and it's looking like it may take another round of divine intervention for WIP #3), I like to take a little time off. Outline new book, start something else, etc.
Then, I do it stages. I look at the big picture, then get progressively more narrow with each pass through.WIP #1 went through about 4 complete rounds, but I'm planning to completely overhaul it AGAIN, possibly this fall. WIP #2 also went through about 3-4 rounds.
My biggest lesson to learn from revisions: a strong stomach. I'm great with fixing details, but when it comes to axing whole subplots, scenes, and chapters, I'm still learning to summon the necessary courage. It DOES get easier with each revision though. I have no doubt that eventually I'll be able to slash and burn without feeling queasy!
I'm going to go against the grain and say it doesn't get easier. Personally, I think it gets harder. The more you learn, the more you write, the more complex your plots and characters become, the harder revisions - and writing - become. If you're doing all this right, then you're striving to be a better writer with each book, which means you push yourself, test your limits and ultimately write better.
My revision process seems to change with each manuscript as I write more and grow as a writer. Usually I'm a revise-as-I-go-writer, but this wip has been completely different. The plot is more complex, the characters more diverse and deep. I'm closing in on the 3/4 mark and while I am revising as I go, I know I'm going to have some major big pic issues to revise when all is said and done. It's going to lengthen out my writing time and I'll probably miss my goal of having this puppy finished before nationals, but you know what? That's okay. I'm not on an external deadline right now, and I know this is challenging me to be a better writer and create a better book.
Good points, Eli! I like to tell my students to raise the stakes if editing feels too easy. If it feels too easy, then that's a clue that you have more work to do!
Sheesh Wavy! Thanks a lot! It means I have a lot more revising to do! LOL
I don't tend to cut scenes, I tend to add them because I write sparingly. I get the big picture down and then go back in and add the color, more emotion, and hopefully enhance the story.
The only time there's a vacation from a story is if it hasn't sold and I've shelved it then decided to rework it when I'm in between something else, or decided there's a market for it and pulled it back out and reworked it.
I usually keep right one plugging away at something until I feel it's perfected. (Then Danita comes along and cracks the whip, making me perfect more) (Then Lori comes along and gives me some insight and wah lah- I'm back to revisions- again!
But the one thing I will tell you- Writing the first draft is a whole lot more fun than revisions!!
With the WIP right now, I've found my writing is coming out more fluid, and I'm doing more revisions in my head as I go. Which is a very good thing!:) Especially when I HATE revisions!
Interesting Blog, Jen.
Ah, revisions, my favorite phase of writing a book. Seriously. I just love it because that's when I can mold the rough clay into something real. Very, very satisfying. I'm a revise-as-I-go writer, but after typing "The End" I always go back through about 3 more times before I call it done. I also work with my critique group of 8 other writers, so their feedback is immensely helpful during the revision stage. I feed them chapters as I write, so I collect their comments in a separate folder to use later when I'm revising.
I'm a very patient person, so letting a book rest 3 to 6 months is no problem for me. I've learned from experience that I often find problems with the story long after the first draft is done. I need that distance to help me be objective when I revise. If the book's still too fresh, I miss all kinds of stuff. I've embarrassed myself too many times in the past by jumping the gun. It's best to get your story clean and error-free before sending it out into the world, IMO.
Good topic, Jen. Thanks!
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