First Day of Revisions

[jpskewedthrone]

Well, the first day of revisions is done. I think it was rather productive.

I started at around 9:30 and revised pretty much non-stop until 4:30. I take a short break every 2 hours or so, and of course took some time for lunch. But other than that. . . .

The first part didn't go as well, since I'm in a new space, new computer, haven't written in a while. So it took a while for me to get back into the writer headspace. I tried the music (I always write to music) in the CD player and that wasn't working: too removed. So I plugged in earbuds and that worked well. I got through chapter 1, but that wasn't a problem since there wasn't much to revise in chapter 1. Then I hit chapter 2. Here's where some serious revisions had to take place.

Or rather, some serious scenes had to be added. That's what alot of the revisions are going to require: new scenes. So the length of the book is growing. The main issue is making the first half of the book a little more active. Right now it's mainly setup for the end of the novel, so my editor had some suggests for things to add to make it more active. Note that the plot isn't changing at all, but all the scenes we discussed adding expand the current plot, make it more character-involved. Which I like, since I'm heavily character-oriented. So today I was expanding the Westen-Varis interaction. I also had to add another significant scene to explain some character motivation later in the book (I can't explain this further without possibly ruining some surprises). By the time I added these two scenes, the chapter was 6 or 8 pages longer.

But I'm essentially done with the revisions to chapter 2. And I've gotten a few things crossed off the list. Tomorrow I will have to reread chapters 1 and 2 to see if the revisions I made flowed well. I also know I need to mess with the ending of one of the new scenes, since I had to cut and run. There may be some small things I still need to change in chapter 2.

I feel good. I've gotten started, and I think I can get 3 chapters revised this weekend without staying up until 3am or anything. Will update again tomorrow.

Comments

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Looking forward to reading the first!

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

So you're saying you haven't read the first yet. Um hmm. I see. *grin*

Let me know what you think of the first when you get a chance!

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

I haven't--only because we've been so desperately strapped we had a book buying embargo. I have since gone full time at the schlepp job, and though ten bucks an hour doesn't exactly boost us into a higher tax bracket, if we can just get a couple more bills paid down, I get to have books again, and yours is right up there on the list--I did read the opening and thought it splendid.

(Plus we are editing for our DAW editors at the same time...I just launched chapter three, and am pausing here while my tea steeps before I tackle the rest of it!)

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

I'm totally teasing you. And I understand book buying embargoes. Before the job, I was in grad school, so it was always: soup for lunch, or buy a book and starve? The book won out more often than not.

So what's your deadline for DAW? Mine's mid-May (although you probably already know that). What's the release date? Any news on cover art?

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Oooh yeah, amen on grad school and getting the book...one could always graze the stale munchies at a faculty 'party' for a meal!

My deadline seems to be beginning of May at the absolute outside, and as for the book itself, here's the link:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0756402646/qid=1143339780/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/104-9098600-2559112?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

So you must be on the final copy edits, "last chance to change something, but you can only change small things." I'm in the "we like the book but here's all the things we think you should change so that we'll be happy and actually pay you the rest of the advance" stage. *grin*

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

So an I...you can imagine my white knuckles. Basically I have this one chance, or they'll yank it again. Goobers!

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

Oooo! You're worse off than I am then. I have a November release, and was told mid-May was the deadline. So they've moved the release date once already?

Good luck with the revisions! I've got to finish chapter 3 today, and hopefully get started on chapter 4 to be on schedule.

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

I saw your update--sounds to me like a good writing day.

I had to split my book into two (this one easy, only lop off part three, shift out one chap for an epilogue) but a bunch of fiddly fixes. I sailed through three to six yesterday, with only 354,462 interruptions (unlike the usual 475,786,280,673 interruptions on a slog day) but today I have double sets of relatives to squeeze the time again. So I'm here workin' like a bunny!