I might be exaggerating a wee bit, but it certainly feels like I've been revising FOREVER. When I finished the first draft back in October, I thought I'd be ready to query by January. Right.
Then I thought I'd jump into querying at the end of April, which is the same point at which I got another round of feedback from my fabulous beta readers. I got some great suggestions/ideas to think about from these readers (two of which are my amazing Sisters). However, some of the ideas made me think "but jeez, if I did that, I'd have to practically re-write the entire book." Yeah.
But I liked one idea so much that I've spent the last few weeks doing just that. I've heavily revised (borderline re-written) the whole thing. And you know what? I like the book so much better - and I liked it a lot before. Every revision has made my book better which makes me a little hesitant to stop revising! I feel almost ready to take the leap. I have no idea what will happen, but at least I'll be able to say I gave it my all.
How many revisions did you do before taking the leap? Did you know the book was ready? Did you know you were?
I was at a writing conference this weekend where YA writer Lisa Graff (Umbrella Summer) said she revised the book 14 times!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by - that gives me hope!
ReplyDeleteIt's tough to say, because revision can be light or can be rewrites, like you say. But it dawned on me yesterday that I finished a book two years ago and though it's on sub, it's not where I thought it would be by now. Kind of depressed me, but I guess the road for every book (just like every author) is different.
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
With FATED, I've been revising since March 2009 and I still don't think it's ready for submission! Like you, I think I can fix it, but I'd have to rewrite the entire thing. I started doing just that the other day and I got about 500 words and called it quits, lol!
ReplyDeleteYou've got a real gem and it will get out there! It might take longer than you want(even yesterday would probably be too long, right?), but it'll happen.
Aw, thanks Lacey. I'm hoping there's an agent out there that will feel that way too when they see it! :)
ReplyDeleteJackee - good luck with the sub process. This definitely isn't a profession where things happen quickly. :)
I know how you feel Kristi! But it is nice when you put that work in and then you feel that it's better than it was before. You know I'm dying to know what idea you're referring to!
ReplyDeleteIt's so hard to know when to stop. Every time I look over something I've revised, I see ways to fix it even more!
I wish I knew when an MS is done. I'm going through another edit at the moment. I'm hoping that I'll get a gut feeling and know when it's ready. :) But I agree with you that each edit makes it stronger.
ReplyDeleteI'm in the same boat with you, girl. I thought I'd be ready to query as a birthday present to myself, but my bday is a couple weeks away and I'm still in the middle of my revisions and I honestly think it needs another run through after I finish this one!!!
ReplyDeleteAnyways, best of luck wrapping up your revisions :)
Lindsay and Olleymae - good luck w/ your revisions!
ReplyDeleteValerie - you'll be seeing the whole thing again soon enough! :)
I'm a revising junkie. It's hard to stop when I see such positive changes. So, yup, totally relate to this post! I finally submitted to a prospective agent when I was changing stuff just for the sake of changing.
ReplyDeleteSamantha - glad to know there's a fellow junkie out there. :)
ReplyDelete