Tuesday, April 26, 2011

When To Rewrite

It's no secret that I have a lot of novels stuffed in my drawer of Things That Didn't Quite Work. House of Ivy and Sorrow is my 13th novel (I kind of love that it's #13 because it's all about witches and unpleasant magic and sad things. It seems so serendipitous and appropriate), and that's just the completed ones. With so many novels just hanging out in my hard drive, I often get asked, "Do you ever think about revamping one of those old ideas?"

The short answer: Yes, I do.

The long answer: Yes, I do, and then I remember how freaking hard it was to rewrite Transparent. If you didn't know, I spent the majority of last year completely re-imagining, re-plotting, and re-writing that book. My agent didn't like it—yes, it happens and it's hard but you get over it because they're right—and I had to make the decision to either put it away or redo it all.

It was a hard decision! It took me about a month to decide. I would essentially be throwing away a year's worth of work. This was NOT an oh-I-can-save-a-lot-of-this kind of situation. I am talking blank document, starting all the way over, I might be lucky if 3% of what I wrote makes it into this version kind of rewrite.

That is not an easy thing, and sometimes I still can't believe I made the choice to do it. And I especially can't believe I finished it. Again. Of everything I've been through on this writing journey, that was, by far, the hardest thing I've done. First, having to admit that I botched the story—botched it so badly that I had to toss most everything. Then having to wade through the mess and figure out what the real story was. Then having to actually type it all out, not knowing if any of it would be worth it.

It was mentally and emotionally exhausting. And I took it on at a time that was already stressful—during my first time on submission. But I made it through, and I am proud of the work I did and how the story turned out. Though sometimes I get stressed just thinking about that book, it is better. I know that.

And because I know that, I can't ignore the potential of a full rewrite, despite how difficult it is.


Things To Consider Before Rewriting
The thing is, you can't just rewrite every idea you've ever had. Well, you could, but you know what I mean. I have a ton of old books, and I have thought of going back to some of them now that I have more skill. I know where I failed them. I know how I could make those ideas shine. But I also know it would be freaking hard.

The pros have to outweigh the cons when you're thinking about embarking on a rewrite. Honestly, it's much easier to write a fresh idea than to battle a full rewrite that will be difficult and, well, pure, boring work much of the time.

The idea has to have particular merit, something about it that you think is worth the work. Maybe it's super marketable, or the hook is unique, or, like me, your agent believes in the elements of the story and wants to sell it.

But more than that, you also have to love the story. I'm not talking regular love, either. I'm talking, passionate, devoted, undying obsession. I'm talking love that would make Edward and Bella's look normal. You have to love this story enough to suffer. I know that sounds awful, but if you've ever done a full rewrite you know exactly what I'm talking about.

Sometimes, okay, most of the time, that stubborn love will be the only thing that keeps you working. You'll hate everything about it, but somewhere in there you also know you love the story and it deserves to be told properly. I know, it's totally messed up and crazy.

Of all my stories, I have maybe two besides Transparent that I could put in that category. I do think about rewriting them someday, but I have a feeling it won't be anytime soon. I'm still recovering from the last rewrite.

So if you are thinking about redoing a novel, really think about it. And if you decide to embark on the rather unpleasant journey, I wish you luck and perseverance.

It is worth it. Barely;P

30 comments:

  1. Hey, I really appreciated this! I waste more time trying to decide which project to work on next (old or new)! Thanks for sharing your experience.

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  2. Props on your perseverance. Writing a novel in the first place takes so much discipline...

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  3. I have a novella that I churned out last November that ended up being completely different from what I had expected--and I know that I'm going to pretty much have to do a complete rewrite of it. I might be able to keep a few things. Maybe. I do plan on doing it, but I'm working on some other things and preparing myself for it. I have a feeling it might be longer than a novella if I can do it properly, but we'll see. ;)

    You described the love-hate-no-really-love relationship of a writer and story PERFECTLY. My hat is off to you for the immense work you put into your rewrite!

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  4. I got about halfway on my first and only attempt at a rewrite. I'm wondering if rewriting isn't my style though. Kinda like Stephanie Perkins wh owrites a zero draft as a jumping point.

    I think I'm going to rewrite the last WIP though. After I've finished my quake novel. Wish me luck!

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  5. What a great post. This is something a lot of writers face, but most of us don't talk about.

    I've got that drawer full of novels, too. Every so often somebody who was in a critique group or read an early draft says, "what happened? I loved that book." Or worse, "that was the best thing you've ever written. Much better than your published books." But I know the book has flaws that can't be fixed without a total rewrite. I've tried one novel so many times, I've had to give up. The others...I still don't know. You're right: it's painful to re-write. But composing a new book is joyful. I think of maybe taking some of the characters in the failed book and writing something new about them, but that's a bit painful, too.

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  6. I'm revising Evangeline before it goes back on sub pretty much from scratch, so I know how you feel!

    I've been thinking of revising an old novel from scratch, keeping the characters and the main plot, but seeing what new directions I can take it in. In this case I think it might be worth it, and knowing what I already did wring might help me figure out how to do it right.

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  7. Right on. I'm doing a full revision right now, and MAN it's rough. Some parts of my story were salvageable, but I'm pretty much starting from the ground up with brand new scenes, new developments, different characters, and a complete POV shift. But I love this story and I'm determined to see it made into something wonderful, so I keep plugging away at it.

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  8. Just finished a complete rewrite. The characters and their interactions are similar, but the entire plot (and POV and genre) are different. Still has the same hook though.

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  9. I've been working on the same rewrite for over a year now, and every once in awhile (now for instance) feel so burned that I start a new project. I don't think I'm ready to turn my back on it forever. Maybe I'm just stubborn.

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  10. Wow, I didn't think the first one was botched, but the new one must be fantastic! I can't wait to read it! After I finish my WiP I'm really trying to decided whether or not to rewrite my first book. It would be a big undertaking, but i love the story so much. You've given me a lot to think about.

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  11. Thanks so much for this post. I've been decided whether or not to rewrite one of my old ideas, and I'll definitely have to think about it now. I love my first book. I love the story, it's just going back into it and starting from scratch that scares me.
    I love your new blog look. It's awesome. :)

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  12. I have a rewrite story very similar to yours. I first wrote the thing when I was 14, and in the five years since then it's gone through about ten thousand different rewrites... some of them minor, some of them complete overhauls (bringing certain characters back to life, changing entire backstories, etc). I haven't touched it in about a year now, but I still think about reworking it again. Don't know if I will...

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  13. I know that was an extremely hard thing for you to do, but wow what an accomplishment. And I'm sure you're very happy you did it now! ;) This is also great advice on when to tackle a rewrite. It really is a very hard thing to do, having done a couple myself. But it can definitely be worth it in the end if all the right elements are there, like you said.

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  14. Wow, this post was really helpful for me. I had been kind of stressed (well, a lot stressed) with my writing and I wonder if this is why: my main project has been a rewrite. But the thing is, I DO love it so much and I DO so badly want to finish. It's just... I don't know. It's so hard.

    However, I've also thought of a new idea that I want to work on more, so who knows what'll happen to the first one...

    Thanks for sharing this!

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  15. "I'm talking love that would make Edward and Bella's look normal."

    LAWLS.

    I don't have 13 finished mss under my belt, but I do have 2, and 1 of them will definitely be getting a full rewrite. The scary thing was, I realized that about 2/3 of the way through the first draft. I was tempted not to finish, but it became a mental thing: I HAD to. Perhaps it was that crazy love of which you spoke...

    Anyway, I needed time and "sharper tools" (going off your earlier post) to be able to rewrite that book. And now I feel ready. But now I've got other ideas I'm working on too... So who knows when it will actually happen. (But it WILL. It's one of the most important stories of my life, I think.)

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  16. Just finished a major rewrite myself... pretty much the last half of the book. I absolutely loved the concept and the first half... but it's one of those stories that I couldn't figure out how to resolve (stupid resolutions)... the rewrite left it more open-ended than I was comfortable with, had less action-action than I was used to, but, hey, at least I didn't leave too many dangling prepositions :). Ultimately, I'm much happier with it, but damn, if it wasn't a royal PITA getting there.

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  17. Great post! Totally been there, and don't want to go back. Except maybe on one story...maybe.

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  18. Thanks for that perspective on rewriting. Being on the editing treadmill and starting to thinking of my other WIPs, it's a good think I really love this one.

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  19. Haha this post is coming at a perfect time for me. I'm in the midst of a total re-vamp, rewrite for one of the first novels I ever wrote. It's a split POV and when I first wrote it I did NOT have the skill to tackle that. Picking it up again years later means rewriting the entire thing (I kept zero of the original words... even the names changed). It's so different now that I don't even really consider it the same novel.

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  20. Ugh.

    Very useful post, this one, but really...true. I wrote a YA fantasy novel just because I wanted to try it. Eventually I got tired of it, slapped an ending on it and thought "oh I can revise it later". It needs massive quadruple bypass style fixing.

    As in, rewrite.

    As in, even very polite betas didn't think it made a heck of a lot of sense. The tone is uneven, and while I suspect there is a plot I don't know if I care enough to dig for it.

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  21. I'm wasting so much time right now on things that really aren't important so this post comes at a timely moment for me. It does take enormous energy to write a book, so you do have to think through all the possibilities and what you really want to write, and if you feel like it's worth it.

    Thanks for taking YOUR time to post this.
    Ann Best, Memoir Author

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  22. Agreed. I'm just doing revisions right now, and that's bad enough. The few chapters that have required a total rewrite have taken all my fortitude to get through. It would be so easy just to gloss over the problems, but I want my book to shine and that means doing the hard work.

    Cheers to you--I don't think I could rewrite an entire book.

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  23. I've re-written/revised my manuscript many times and I'm seeing it get better. So I guess for me it's been worth it. But I'm recognizing that I'm getting to the enough is enough point.

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  24. I understand the pain and the feeling of accomplishment when you've rewritten a story you've bled over. You're inspiring. Great post.

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  25. A full rewrite is something I don't think I've ever done, except that maybe I have. Maybe that's what I just did with my previous revision. And yet I never started completely fresh with a new document. I worked from what was already there.

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  26. So glad I read this post before I decided to do something stupid. :)

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  27. Yes, I completely rewrote my now indie-published A Fistful of Fire at least once. I have another project that keeps getting restarted (it's disturbing and difficult and I don't think I have the skill to write it yet), but lately I've been looking at it and thinking that my first draft's approach might've been the way to go. Hard to say.

    I started a complete rewrite of my first drafted novel (which was tossed for a reason), and I think the rewrite is worth finishing, but I'm not sure I ever will. I have all sorts of other projects that appeal to me more. I kinda hope I get a chance to do it someday, though.

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  28. This is such a timely post because that is exactly what I'm debating. I've been working on a particular story for quite a while, and now I'm to that point that I think a complete rewrite may be what the story needs. The bones are good, but the way i went about telling it just has too many holes and inconsistencies, or I think it does. So I'm trying to decide. And this post helped a bit. So thank you for that. :)

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  29. I'm impressed that you accomplished this. It sounds like it was difficult, but I would imagine you're glad you put in the hard work. Good luck with it!

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  30. Tip of the hat to you. Wow, seriously, that sounds so painful. But you finished it and rescued a set of characters from literary oblivion! I've rewritten chunks before, but never the whole thing.

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