Every month, the Insecure Writers Support Group hosts a blog hop with an optional question meant to inspire and encourage other writers. Special thanks to Alex Cavanaugh and to this month’s co-hosts, Kate Larkindale, Diane Burton, Janet Alcorn, and Shannon Lawrence.
This month's question:
Have you ever written something that afterwards, you felt conflicted about? If so, did you let it stay how it was, take it out, or rewrite it?
Have you ever written something that afterwards, you felt conflicted about? If so, did you let it stay how it was, take it out, or rewrite it?
Creating believable fiction is tricky. There's the idea stage (everthing's shiny and new!), the first draft stage (how to tell this?) and the revision stage (how to tell this better?). Unfortunately, not every good concept can fit within a single story.
I've written novel drafts where I try to cram in Many Important Things. It's hard for me to admit that *maybe* a particular topic doesn't mesh well with other themes I'm exploring. Can I make it work?
Not every time.
The good news is that time spent away from a manuscript, followed by rereading with fresh eyes, can often provide insight. What am I trying to say? What am I *really* trying to say? Am I achieving that? How can I improve these efforts? And then the next revision begins....
I've written novel drafts where I try to cram in Many Important Things. It's hard for me to admit that *maybe* a particular topic doesn't mesh well with other themes I'm exploring. Can I make it work?
Not every time.
The good news is that time spent away from a manuscript, followed by rereading with fresh eyes, can often provide insight. What am I trying to say? What am I *really* trying to say? Am I achieving that? How can I improve these efforts? And then the next revision begins....
Free Revision Resource
I recently taught a revision workshop at NJ SCBWI's Annual Conference. If you want a free downloadable copy of my handout, I'm including it on my home page for a limited time. (It's listed about four paragraphs down.) I hope my notes help your own revision efforts!
One last thing....
My adult short story "Justice for Jaynie" was selected for inclusion in Black Beacon's Second Book of Mystery. You can read the anthology for free through Kindle Unlimited or purchase a copy through Amazon.
Here's a description of the collection: The Second Black Beacon Book of Mystery is even more challenging than the first. Our cast of intrepid investigators needs your puzzle-solving talent again, for these aren't merely stories, but fair-play mysteries. In this anthology, you'll be faced with impossible crimes. You'll find frightful amounts of poison...don't invite these authors over for dinner! There are clues to be collected and alibis to be checked, and your general knowledge and attention to detail will be put to the test. Does that sound like your cup of tea? Ah, best not drink that! Will you take the case? Great! We're counting on you!
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