Strikeout, Underline, Rewrite, and Arrows Pointing Every Which Way

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Welcome to the world of editing. Also, it's Wednesday, which means another check in at A Round of Words in 80 Days.

I've torn up and red penned (well, Pilot brown penned, actually) so much of my novel that I can hardly see the original type anymore. Only I don't get to print out a fresh copy until I've actually entered all these changes into the MS.

Meanwhile I've torn so many holes out of the middle bits that I feel like I'm peering through a l a c e curtain when what I want before me is tightlywoven tapestry.

It'll come... I can't wait till I'm done this round and I can take a few weeks off and return to research before I start rereading and editing from the beginning again.

How's your drafting/writing/editing going?

Don't forget to vote for your favourite awesome line at Disgruntled Bear's contest. Perhaps you might like mine...

And thank you to the wonderful Linda Gerber, author of the Death By... series - I just won a copy of her upcoming book Sass: The Finnish Line. Can't wait!

Comments

Jenny Maloney said…
Lace is pretty too...for a little while. Keep going! Weave and write! Write and weave!

(I wanted to play off the bob-and-weave boxing theory but, yeah, I don't think it worked. Off to revise....)
20 April 2011 at 09:20
Zan Marie said…
Ah, research, that lovely temptation. ; ) I'm refreshing my memory on all the ins and outs of foster parenting in Georgia. Unfortunately that includes stats that will curl your hair. Like 14,000 foster children, 3600 foster homes, and only 850 case managers in the whole state. Sigh. When I get my head wrapped around these numbers, the job of protecting the wounded children becomes immense.
20 April 2011 at 09:21
TL said…
You can do it!
20 April 2011 at 09:23
Carol Riggs said…
Glad to hear you're making progress on your novel! I am just about to embark on a major-ish revision project myself! Mulling the how-to's right now. I'll probably have to make index cards of key plot points and lay them out somewhere to see where I need to add scenes or details. I'm kinda visual that way. ;o) Happy Easter, Deniz!
20 April 2011 at 12:25
Nadja Notariani said…
Hi Deniz.
Editing sounds daunting, and I shiver a bit when I remember the task looms before me yet. My pages are full of edits already! I suppose it's got to be done, so all I can offer is some encouragement to "keep going"! Imagine your delight when you can recline at your desk and say, "It is done!".
Sorry I haven't emailed yet. It's been a busy week. Hopefully I will get it together before next week. ~ Nadja
20 April 2011 at 13:45
Theresa Milstein said…
I'm drafting! I have about four more scenes and I'm done. Why am I not writing now? Just got back from New York, so I'm too tired to be creative.

I hope your editing starts to tighten.

Congrats on winning the book!
20 April 2011 at 18:08
Deniz Bevan said…
Thanks Jenny! My metaphors are getting mixed up all over the place too.

I know how you feel ZanMarie - research really is tempting! You feel like you're doing something, yet it's not actually helping edit the story. Your research must be harrowing, I don't envy you that.

Thanks Tara!

Thanks Carol - I haven't ever done index cards but I've got lists and timelines galore.

Editing is very daunting, Nadja. But, it's kind of sad to say since I've written so many, for the very first time I feel like I have a story worth editing to the last drop.

Welcome back Theresa! I love New York! I've got shiny new ideas I'd love to be drafting for but I'm trying to ignore them...
20 April 2011 at 19:35
S.J. Noir said…
I'm still in the adorably naive phase where I can't wait until I have something to edit because it sounds like so much fun!

Feel free to point and laugh at me.

Sounds like you're doing really well on your progress though! Keep up the great work. :)
20 April 2011 at 23:09
Anonymous said…
I am so close to finishing my current WIP. So dang close. I tried very hard not to edit my first draft as I wrote it. That was not easy. I have the annoying habit of wanting to edit as I write and that kind of stifles the writing process for me.

Good luck with your edits!!
21 April 2011 at 09:49
Anonymous said…
Oh, yes, I'm familiar with the "I've written so many changes on my MS that it's hard to decipher them" syndrome.

Good luck with revisions and congrats on winning a book--so fun!
21 April 2011 at 09:57
KM Nalle said…
I feel your pain with the revisions. I'm in the midst of it myself. Good luck!
21 April 2011 at 19:49
Vicki Tremper said…
I also feel your pain. I'm revising now, too. It's coming along slower than usual for me. I just haven't hit my stride. But I'll keep plugging along, and soon enough I won't be able to stop.

Good luck!
21 April 2011 at 20:28
Anonymous said…
I haven't done much editing since March - left my manuscript with the notion that I should rewrite large parts of it to turn my wild talking ferret into a talking pet ferret. I think that the change will be good for her character.

I'm starting up a 'Critiquing Crusaders' program, where participants in the Second Crusade can find other writers to exchange critiques with or form critiquing circles. If you're interested, come by The Kelworth Files to check it out!
23 April 2011 at 06:21
Deniz Bevan said…
I wish I was at your happy stage with all my new ideas, S.J.!

I think you're lucky, Liz - I can never seem to edit as I write and am faced with all kinds of first draft dregs when I get to editing...

Thanks lb and Kari Marie!

Good luck to you too, Vicki! Hope we both hit our strides soon.

A pet ferret? Sounds intriguing, Chris!
24 April 2011 at 21:57
Unknown said…
I like your analogy of the lace curtain :-) My first draft writing is going the same as always... slower than I planned!
25 April 2011 at 06:14
Deniz Bevan said…
Thanks Rachel! My first drafts go more quickly now that I've returned to writing romance :-)
25 April 2011 at 21:07
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