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I finished writing my second novel, The Spectery in February. When I was revising, I knew I needed to do a lot, but I felt the draft was pretty good. The deeper I got into revising, the more I realized that so much needed to be done it might be a better idea to re-write most of it. So, I got out my notebook and went through the manuscript in Scrivener, highlighting which passages needed to be tweaked, and those that needed to be rewritten completely. I got about half-way through that when I realized that the story made better sense, but now it was lacking tension.
:cue hair-pulling:
Part of me wanted to just ditch the story and move on to the dystopian novel I can't wait to start writing, but I love the main characters in The Spectery so much that I don't want to ditch them. So, an idea came to me in the shower (where I get all my best ideas) for how to make the book better, while keeping some of the elements from previous drafts. I'm considering this my last stand, if I can't make it work, it'll be time to move on.
Have you completely re-written a novel before to make it better? Did it work for you?
I think you should create notes on what needs to be changed, then start writing your other work. I do editing and writing each day. I edit works in the am and write at night. I've been able to keep ideas fresh and do the best for my works that way. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteIf you believe in the story, I think it is worth any number of drafts to make it work. That's how you get where you want to be. Also, it's such an accomplishment to have finished in the first place.
ReplyDeleteI get all my best ideas in the shower too. :)
ReplyDeleteI've gone through this, too. I tried a huge overhaul of my very first novel. It actually was going well, but in the end, I let it go. I loved (and still love) the story and the characters, but I got to a point where I just knew I had to move on.
I think it's different for every writer and every story, but I think you can always tell when it's time to be done. I've considered moving on from my current WIP, but this time, I wasn't ready to let go. And I'm glad-- I was able to rewrite the story to a place where I'm happy with it.
Good luck, and whatever you do, I'm sure it'll be right for you and the story!
My first two books will need an entire re-write. I love the meat of the stories but the writer I am now knows they'll never pass muster.
ReplyDeleteSometimes you have to move on and write something else, or at the very least walk away for awhile. Only then can you see where you need work. I know I've gotten so close to my WIP, I wrote blind and unwilling to change things up.
My third book is the result of moving on and the best one I've written yet. You don't have to write off your WIP, write something else until the old one calls to you again. (Hugs)Indigo
I'm going to say something that a lot of people don't consider, because writing is supposed to be this art and we're not supposed to think about sales, etc, but... do you think, if you rewrote it, that it might sell? Does it have market appeal? Would agents be interested? Or would it be a better idea to move on to something else?
ReplyDeleteThis is assuming your goal is to get published, of course. Rewriting takes a LOT of time. If you feel in your gut like this is the ONE, then definitely rewrite it. If not, maybe spend the time on something else and chalk this one up to practice.
I rewrote my current book, and have rewritten some scenes like, 10 times, but I think it was worth it. Time will tell!
if you can't let the characters and the story die...if it is a story that is a part of you...rewrite it.
ReplyDeletehowever, i suggest taking a hiatus from it! move on to something else for awhile, take a break! then go back with a fresh outlook on it..much better editing eyes!
Thanks for your comments, everyone! :)
ReplyDelete@ Indigo: congrats on your third novel being the best so far! I think any novel we write, regardless of whether or not we publish it. Practice improves us as writers!
@ Liz: I think it would have market appeal if I re-wrote it, yes. I'm planning on taking a "ghost" story and turning it into a novel that's sort of a mash-up between a contemporary romance, but still has hints of the supernatural. I've never read anything like it. If I could pull it off, I think it's sellable.
@Lindsay: I have taken a few weeks away from it. I'm going to give myself until I finish the draft of my current project before I go back to it. I'm hoping inspiration will hit by then. :)