Nov 21, 2011

Editing

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.

10 comments:

  1. 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!

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  2. Oh no... sorry to hear about you losing a chunk of your work. That bites.

    I hear you on rewrites! I always have burning desire to get them done.

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  3. 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.

    Keep that enthusiasm going!
    Ann Best, Memoir Author

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  4. 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.

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  5. Karen: 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.

    Talli: 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.

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  6. 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!

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  7. Sarah: 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.

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  8. It 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. :)

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  9. Elizabeth: I could learn a lesson from that, all right.

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  10. sorry to hear that my friend

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