From: seawasp@sgeinc.invalid.com

On 8/19/14 7:07 AM, Nicky wrote:
>
> I have revised obviously, but I am really dreadful at it. I will do it quite
quickly under contract but with speculative work I struggle to do it all.
> My approach:
> I do a diagram of my old chapters then plan a new arrangement, marking in
changes of voice etc. Then I open the old file have a second file called
offcuts and dump everything I don't think works in the offcuts file.
> Problems:
> 1. I think the chief one is it takes longer than writing the novel in the
first place and is less fun.
> ( my lit writer friends would die of apoplexy at this point because all
proper writing is rewriting)
> 2. I tend to kill whatever it was that I liked about in the first place. I
lose faith in the project entirely and convince myself a new idea is better.
> These are all the same point really - essentially I lose interest hence the
number of finished but need revising mss knocking around the house.
>
> Any helpful hints beyond 'Get over yourself, Nicky ?'
>
> Nicky
>


	Probably not, I'm afraid. I revise if it's been long enough that the
world I'm writing in changed in my head (generally 5+ years) or if an
editor tells me "this needs to be changed" and I (A) agree, and (B) can
see a good way to do the change that doesn't damage the book otherwise.

	In the latter case, of course, "how" isn't really an issue; I know what
has to be changed, I know how the change fits into the book, I write it.

	In the former case, it's usually a fairly comprehensive rewrite, not
just revision.

--
                      Sea Wasp
                        /^\
                        ;;;	
Website: http://www.grandcentralarena.com  Blog:
http://seawasp.livejournal.com

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