Wednesday, September 3, 2014
IWSG: Editing and Writing Friends
This post is for the Insecure Writer's Support Group, which posts every first Wednesday of the month!
I have finished the fourth and last draft of my WIP, The Keegans of Banner's Edge. I have a query draft that was read by my writing group and is now ripe for a revision. I have several literary agents in mind and am putting my list together.
But first, I am editing up my manuscript. Making sure things are as tight as I want them to be. Making sure things make sense (see Translating from the Rei for the truly wacko things I found in a past revision). Formatting so that each chapter begins on a new page.
Also, I'm cutting out a character. It probably seems like I'm cutting out this darling awfully late in the process, but--well--I mean, it's not gone out into the world yet, so it's not late at all. He's a minor character who has been in the story since at least draft two and he's one of my MC's few true friends, which seemed like a reason to keep him, but actually, between nailing down his American Quaker "plain speech" and figuring out that I couldn't find an effective way to use him in the later parts of the story, he had to go. I have too many characters whose time in the story effectively ends when the family moves to England already.
Editing might be one of my favorite parts of the writing process, making everything read nicely. It's kind of like the calm after the storm of getting the draft done and calm before the storm of sending the thing out.
I was in chat with a few members of my writing group. One of them is in the query trenches already, the other two sent in applications for PitchWars and are preparing to query as well. I feel like it's good peer pressure to be in their company. They even read my query and chapter one, which got the ball rolling on my editing process. There is really nothing like a great group of writers to make a writer feel more secure.
I want to thank Karla for sending me Daily Life in a Victorian House for the next story.
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It sounds like things are moving along, nicely! Yay for peer pressure. (The good kind) ^_^
ReplyDeleteThe last rounds of editing definitely have a double calm thing going on. That is a great way to look at it! I look forward to it so much. And I'm so excited. I can't wait to celebrate the finishing of this story with you! Virtual Cake is tow, of course. ^_^
I'm a such a nerd. Yesterday, the word count went down for an hour or so to 98,900 words and I got very excited. Then it went back up to 99K lol.
DeleteYummy--virtual cake :-)
I wish I loved the edits. Getting the first draft onto the page, the whirl of creativity before reason and logic storm into to grind all the fun out of it.--that's my favourite bit. :) I also envy you your writing group. Other than the online resources, which are indispensable, I have no support. So hurrah for your... and best of luck in the trenches.
ReplyDeleteHere for #IWSG
shahwharton.com
X :)
I think every stage has something fun about it. I'm trying to keep the fun of a first draft but trying to outline something out logically for the next story. I do not want another four-draft mess on my hands next time.
DeleteMy writing group came about because we all read each other's blogs. We're virtual because we all live in different places, but it's been lovely.
Editing can be frustrating . . .and wonderful. It is definitely a different critter than writing that first draft. Glad you're enjoying it. Mostly, I do, too.
ReplyDeleteIt takes a different skill set and lots of patience.
DeleteWhooo! Nice job Michelle! So pumped for you!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteI love editing and revising, particularly my oldest books, which need much more significant revisions than the books I wrote entirely in adulthood. It's like getting to write them twice or even thrice, and go on that journey with the characters all over again.
ReplyDeleteI permanently shelved the first series I wrote with my Atlantic City characters, and decided to leave some of the characters in that series behind and not bring them into my other series with the characters. They served no purpose, other than as the requisite new friends the existing characters make in 8th and 9th grade. I only kept the new friends who serve a purpose and carry storylines.
I kept the friend in this draft, thinking he could be made useful with a particular storyline, but nope. So out he goes.
DeleteOh how fun! I wish you lots and lots of luck as you embark on this next stage of your journey.
ReplyDeleteThank you Julie!
DeleteSounds like you're on a roll! And you seem to be enjoying yourself too...
ReplyDeleteWell done!
Thank you Michelle!
DeleteEditing is by far my favorite part - making everything so pretty it shines :)
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see you dive into the query trenches! (Then I can dig out my pompoms and start cheering ;) )
I enjoy editing...it's certainly not as torturous as actually writing it all!
DeleteFinish line up ahead!
ReplyDeleteAnd you're so welcome! I think you were the perfect new owner! :)
Now I know what a bustle looks like lol
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