I'm deep in edits for Locked Within and it's hard to concentrate on much else, to be honest. Unfortunately I lost a chunk of last night's work because the file didn't save correctly for some reason. It's not an impossible setback to overcome, but it has doubled the amount of work I had left to do before I was going to move on to scene re-writes.
These re-writes have been burning in my head for weeks now. I'm really eager to get them done while they're strong in my mind and I have that enthusiasm to get them done. I may take a chance and just dive into them, leaving the last 40 pages of word-culling until I get back to them. The re-writes will be the most intensive part of the process, I think, and I already feel like it's taking too long to get them done. I really would like to have both the edits on Locked Within and the second draft of Silent Oath done by Christmas.
Have any of you ever felt such a strong desire to get re-writes done? Mine are going to have a really big impact on the course of the series and I'm so glad I had Silent Oath written before Locked Within came out so I could see what changes would be the best to make the ongoing story the best it can be.
Nov 21, 2011
Editing
Paul Anthony Shortt believes in magic and monsters. In ghosts and fairies. The creatures that lurk under the bed and inside the closet. The things that live in the dark, and the heroes who stand against them. Above all, he believes that stories have the power to change the world, and the most important stories are the ones which show that monsters can be beaten.
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I'm in this situation with my new book also, and if I didn't watch it I'd spend all my time on it. I pretty much stick to my schedule though and that keeps me balanced. Good luck with your rewrites!
ReplyDeleteOh no... sorry to hear about you losing a chunk of your work. That bites.
ReplyDeleteI hear you on rewrites! I always have burning desire to get them done.
Once I'm into rewriting, I become obsessive. Or rather, I have in the past. I'm forcing myself now to stick to a schedule. And I, too, have lost files. THAT is scary.
ReplyDeleteKeep that enthusiasm going!
Ann Best, Memoir Author
When Im excited about the rewrites- like you, when I know they'll really improve my story, I definitely jump right into them. Congrats on getting to this point! Sorry you lost some of your work. That always stinks.
ReplyDeleteKaren: Thanks! I should probably have a writing schedule, but it's hard to guarantee specific time when I can write, and I always feel like I should be writing whenever I can't, so I usually just write whenever I can.
ReplyDeleteTalli: I think I was more annoyed at the idea of delaying my re-writing stage than at the edits I lost. Besides, I've been stressing out over not having these re-writes done.
Ann: Will do! Just need to balance enthusiasm and sanity...
Creepy Query Girl: Thanks. :-) This part is really daunting.
I'm obsessive about everything when it comes to writing, including revising/rewriting, so I totally get this. I have a very strict, reliable writing schedule, and I know exactly how much I can write during that time, so that helps a bit in terms of planning! Good luck with meeting your goals before Christmas!
ReplyDeleteSarah: Thanks. I've decided I'm better off just introducing the new scenes I'm certain I want to include, and seeing where things stand once my editor has a chance to go over it again.
ReplyDeleteIt used to really make me feel like I was getting behind when I was doing both set-up stuff (brainstorming, research) and doing rewriting. But now I've decided that's all part of writing...I'm going a little easier on myself! Good luck with your goals. :)
ReplyDeleteElizabeth: I could learn a lesson from that, all right.
ReplyDeletesorry to hear that my friend
ReplyDelete