tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post6426361368400181702..comments2024-03-20T02:49:17.606-07:00Comments on Between Fact and Fiction: When To RewriteNatalie Whipplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09978251567306345129noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-85798531883736359242011-04-29T09:15:49.501-07:002011-04-29T09:15:49.501-07:00Tip of the hat to you. Wow, seriously, that sound...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.MaryKateLeahyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13622136392520833176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-71029155877690897712011-04-29T08:09:24.882-07:002011-04-29T08:09:24.882-07:00I'm impressed that you accomplished this. It ...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!Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-62650558904149463512011-04-27T07:33:20.961-07:002011-04-27T07:33:20.961-07:00This is such a timely post because that is exactly...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. :)Kathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04742911245060876005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-52708174744884108572011-04-27T04:40:09.200-07:002011-04-27T04:40:09.200-07:00Yes, I completely rewrote my now indie-published A...Yes, I completely rewrote my now indie-published <em>A Fistful of Fire</em> 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.<br /><br />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.Carradeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05431561739001270522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-81015516588338608552011-04-26T20:05:49.674-07:002011-04-26T20:05:49.674-07:00So glad I read this post before I decided to do so...So glad I read this post before I decided to do something stupid. :)Nataschahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15971236835645904189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-84482202451082953852011-04-26T18:40:18.370-07:002011-04-26T18:40:18.370-07:00A full rewrite is something I don't think I...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.Trishahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16927558937796802496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-50331536183897304612011-04-26T18:21:48.435-07:002011-04-26T18:21:48.435-07:00I understand the pain and the feeling of accomplis...I understand the pain and the feeling of accomplishment when you've rewritten a story you've bled over. You're inspiring. Great post.Kathi Oram Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11959149321213743448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-65058036741324825092011-04-26T18:06:56.990-07:002011-04-26T18:06:56.990-07:00I've re-written/revised my manuscript many tim...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.Natalie Aguirrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03756087804171246660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-26569356683770402092011-04-26T17:18:47.340-07:002011-04-26T17:18:47.340-07:00Agreed. I'm just doing revisions right now, an...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.<br /><br />Cheers to you--I don't think I could rewrite an entire book.Nancy Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00209727822644631003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-5772602865551945882011-04-26T17:11:49.949-07:002011-04-26T17:11:49.949-07:00I'm wasting so much time right now on things t...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.<br /><br />Thanks for taking YOUR time to post this.<br /><a href="http://annbest-jen.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"><i>Ann Best, Memoir Author</i></a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-75281949404125156372011-04-26T14:57:17.713-07:002011-04-26T14:57:17.713-07:00Ugh.
Very useful post, this one, but really...tru...Ugh.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />As in, rewrite. <br /><br />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.lora96https://www.blogger.com/profile/08171062741089674769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-41213368176632255862011-04-26T14:40:31.407-07:002011-04-26T14:40:31.407-07:00Haha this post is coming at a perfect time for me....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.Jordynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07544006301357995240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-91690957727809962022011-04-26T13:46:57.721-07:002011-04-26T13:46:57.721-07:00Thanks for that perspective on rewriting. Being on...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.Donna K. Weaverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17158114738303231773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-65427907919734346112011-04-26T13:45:18.437-07:002011-04-26T13:45:18.437-07:00Great post! Totally been there, and don't want...Great post! Totally been there, and don't want to go back. Except maybe on one story...maybe.Becky Wallacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02880501542510014819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-12050149888777250852011-04-26T12:57:46.163-07:002011-04-26T12:57:46.163-07:00Just finished a major rewrite myself... pretty muc...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.Joshua McCunehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17367262185912463258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-87582481225306954102011-04-26T12:36:14.100-07:002011-04-26T12:36:14.100-07:00"I'm talking love that would make Edward ..."I'm talking love that would make Edward and Bella's look normal."<br /><br />LAWLS.<br /><br />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...<br /><br />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.)Kristanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04771013578685419826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-20069614800682142972011-04-26T12:23:08.132-07:002011-04-26T12:23:08.132-07:00Wow, this post was really helpful for me. I had be...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.<br /><br />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...<br /><br />Thanks for sharing this!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16292787589249215890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-8930462156148588082011-04-26T12:11:54.997-07:002011-04-26T12:11:54.997-07:00I know that was an extremely hard thing for you to...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.Sara B. Larsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14213313028658810705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-48337966804629136902011-04-26T11:56:30.135-07:002011-04-26T11:56:30.135-07:00I have a rewrite story very similar to yours. I fi...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...Rebecca Christiansenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03635706076314669496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-77203964427153671382011-04-26T11:43:20.825-07:002011-04-26T11:43:20.825-07:00Thanks so much for this post. I've been decide...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. <br />I love your new blog look. It's awesome. :)Chantele Sedgwickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07920913211842919013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-72075873062328537952011-04-26T11:33:28.122-07:002011-04-26T11:33:28.122-07:00Wow, I didn't think the first one was botched,...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.Candicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13658962630981643176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-47196400310879603692011-04-26T11:31:14.124-07:002011-04-26T11:31:14.124-07:00I've been working on the same rewrite for over...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.Jessie Oliveroshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06232456334069794107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-34894275949957000972011-04-26T11:05:42.516-07:002011-04-26T11:05:42.516-07:00Just finished a complete rewrite. The characters a...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.Tarynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01014463110385943857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-53785195078215311222011-04-26T10:37:32.056-07:002011-04-26T10:37:32.056-07:00Right on. I'm doing a full revision right now,...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.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17034419617457525778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-92180007258412357622011-04-26T09:54:35.049-07:002011-04-26T09:54:35.049-07:00I'm revising Evangeline before it goes back on...I'm revising Evangeline before it goes back on sub pretty much from scratch, so I know how you feel!<br /><br />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.Tere Kirklandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13562750950130316280noreply@blogger.com