yes, i do.
i spent eight hours revising
the novel yesterday. nearly 4 hours
at starbucks (i had a quick lunch
there) and a few hours while the bubs
napped in the afternoon as well as
into the night.
and after at least six revisions,
i’ve found that i still love my characters,
my story and my world. i’m so glad.
if there’s one major piece of advice
i’d give to first time novelists, it’s to
truly be passionate about your story.
because to make it shine enough to
share with the world, you’ll be polishing
for quite some time.
i found myself falling into the novel
again while working with virginia’s
line edits. i’d start reading and keep
reading, then think, whoops, i’m revising.
it’s a love affair, indeed.
i got a very nice note from virginia
this week on what her goals
are with the edits: tightening, increasing
pace and tension in key scenes, show
don’t tell issues…
but that i should go with my instincts
if i don’t agree, because i am the author
and know my story best.
she’s reiterated this quite a few times,
in fact.
but honestly, there hasn’t been one
time where i thought, why did she do
that? or oh, i have to keep this. i’ve
been hacking back with much glee.
because i do see how it makes the story
flow so much better, how much cleaner
it is. how much shinier i’m making the
novel. i can’t wait to sit down and read
through the entire thing after i finish my
final set of edits which arrive on monday.
this will be my reward.
if writing a novel is magic,
then revising with a good editor
is the fireworks display after.
and don’t tell my novel, but i do
play favorites. these last sixty pages
to edit contain my favorite scenes in the
book–from my climax through the
day-noo-mont. 8) my antagonist
intrigues me. and i’m still in love with
my hero–those last scenes
between him and my heroine make me
all gooey.
virginia also showed me a possible
cover model i really really love, and i hope
we get her. she’s perfect as my heroine.
wow, am i really saying what
i’m saying? i’m still having a hard
time believing it’s real! hope everyone
had a wonderful weekend!!
*bunny foto for ty. i see both bunnies
every day now. and they are feeding
on organic carrots. i know, that’s what
the love said. but it was all the market
carried at the time.
16 Comments
That’s great!
Sounds like you and your editor really click and you are loving this (final?) revision!
woooo-hooo
i want to be just like virginia when i grow up!!!
You are so right about needing to love your story and characters deeply. I’m so glad you’re having a wonderful revision experience! And I know, it must be such a trip to think about cover models–giving a face to your heroine. Awesome!
Thanks for sharing your journey with us!
Must be quite a learning experience! I love the mentor relationship. It’s a godsend when it works well.
thanks angela! it’s my FIRST revision. haha! not sure how many rounds we’ll do–but i think this one is the most extensive.
moonie, you’re well on your way!!
angie, i wish you the same. and CONGRATS on nearly finishing (or finishing?) your second novel. that’s tremendous!
chris, thank you for reading. it is indeed a very unique relationship. i’m learning so much and truly enjoying the process.
Hey, tell the hubby that organic is NOT too good for the buns. Heck, we’ve got an AeroGarden, a small indoor organic garden machine-like thingy that sort of looks like a Dalek. It allows us to grow thyme, basil, mint and more indoors for ourselves and for the house buns.
About the post, Cindy, you hit a lot on the head. Passion has to be important. I’ve been working on short stories lately while awaiting for a certain something to happen with my trilogy (I can’t announce anything now, but hope to in the next month or so), and I’m finding I miss novel writing.
Short stories are like a one-night stand, kind of fun while they last, but not real fulfilling in the long run; with a novel, it’s like falling in true love (at least once that awkward first chapter is past). And the fun thing about sequels and trilogies is that it’s like falling in love all over again.
Cindy: I find this post fascinating reading. You make it sound so wonderful and I can only hope to be in your shoes one day – so, I guess when I grow up, I want to be like you. Thanks for sharing.
:-)
Oh my gosh, I’m even MORE looking forward to reading the book now.
I am fascinated by your descriptions of your revising process. They seem to involve no swearing or calling your manuscript mean names. Not that I am doing either of those things…
ty, nothing’s too good for your bunnies! and i’m excited to hear about your trilogy–i hope you can return to it soon?
kim, i want to grow up to be like you as far as motherhood and how wonderful your kiddies turned out! wishing you loads of success when you go on sub! so excited for you!!
tricia, thanks! i can’t seem to access your profile so i don’t know which tricia this is. =(
jacqui, haha! i actually quite like revisions. i’m weird like that. and doing them with your editor is a whole other experience. i’m so excited to get my novel read for the world!!
I’m just finishing up on my last revision before the proper editing process kicks off. I still enjoyed the process, but having now revised these 93K words six or seven times, it’s possibly not as fun as it used to be. But it’s not a chore either. I think it’ll more fun to come at it again with my editor’s input, rather than just my own tinkering.
cyn,
As for my trilogy, it’s done and edited multiple times, though I’m considering adding a couple of chapters to the last book to clear up some things. But all that is kind of out of my hands at the moment. I’ve been in talks with someone, but no contract just yet. So, I’ll wait and see.
Love the post! I always get such a funny look from my students 4 weeks into a graphic novel project, aiming for deadlines (so presumably a “little stressed!”), when I ask them: “Are you in love with your characters?”
BTW, thanks for the restaurant suggestions! Next year, I’m hanging out with you come dinner time!!!
:-D It takes a non-local to get locals to find the best spots!
stuart, wishing you luck on your revisions!!
ty, and i’m wishing you luck on some news on the trilogy. wOoT!
mac, you can’t go wrong hanging out and eating with the Rock Sugar Beets femmes! ;*) and yes, loving your characters is so important!
*sigh* Line edits…. to sleep, perchance to dream…
sheri, definitely do not give up on the dream. i never did.