Not the A to Z challenge this time, but editing. I reach this point several times during a novel/edit, once early on, at around 20,000 words, when I’m past the opening scenes, and the enthusiasm that comes with starting a new story, and then again around the middle, when it starts to seem like I’m never going to finish!
I’m at that point right now with Reckless Rebellion. I’ve edited close to 50,000 words, and I’m reaching the middle bit that needs a fair bit of work. I’ve discovered two new chapters I need to write, but I only have half ideas what I want them to achieve, not how to achieve it. The middle probably also needs a bit of waffle (where I wasn’t exactly sure where I was going) that needs to be cut out, but I’m not sure exactly what yet.
And looking ahead, I know I still have to figure out the ending, which isn’t written at all yet. So instead of writing, I’m finding other things I ‘need’ to do. I haven’t written/edited in a couple of days now, and I know that the longer I leave it, the harder it will get. I also have a busy day tomorrow, taking my daughter to a 3 hour science workshop. (Of course, by the time this goes live, that will be finished!)
Thursday and Friday should be better, my husband will be taking our daughter to trampolining and art, and I should have a few hours uninterupted (something that’s been surely lacking lately), and hopefully I will be able to jump in, and knock over at least some of this horrible middle section.
And just so this post isn’t totally negative, I have some tips for dealing with these writing/editing difficulties here. (Technically it’s about procrsatination, but I think the tips are applicable to ‘over ititis’ too.)
How about you? What points do you find hard to write? The beginning, middle or end?
All this month I’m participating in the A-Z blogging challenge, writing a blog post for each letter of the alphabet, on every day of the month except Sundays. Check back regularly to see what else I have in store for you.
Hi Rinelle, if you’ve not met.. can I introduce you to Kern.. http://www.oddparticle.com/ She’s having a great semi-procrastination Atoz you might like..
These days I don’t give myself such a hard time of not editing as I’ve worked out how I like to do it.. an hour at a time with fairycake cases and lots of fab highlighter pens!
Thanks Lynne! That page is cool. 🙂
I edit on the computer. I just can’t face doing it on paper and then having to type all the corrections in! Besides, I usually can’t read my own handwriting…
Thanks, Lynne! I’m so pleased that you pointed Rinelle in my direction, because that pointed me in her direction. Hopefully my posts on procrastinating won’t tempt her away from the editing and writing for too long…
No, just the perfect amount of procrastinating! Sometimes you need to take a break, right? 🙂
Middles are the hardest part for me, more so on the first draft than on the revisions. I actually enjoy revision somewhat, since I (usually) feel like I’m making the story better. Also, I generally have an idea where the story is going to end once I start, so endings and beginnings aren’t all that bad. But the middle … man, that’s tough.
I like revision, but again, middles. It’s not even so much knowing where the story is going, as feeling like I’m treading water, not making any progress. Once I get past that middle bit, it usually improves. (Until really near the end, then I’m just over it too.)
I’m interested in your editing process. You said you’ve gone back and edited 50,000 words, but you don’t have an ending yet. Do you edit when you hit a wall or get writer’s block?
John at The Bathroom Monologues
Usually I finish the first draft before editing, but in this case, I had about 70% of the novel written, then because of changes I made with the first book, I needed to make some substantial changes to the first half, thus I’m going through (relatively quickly) to make sure I have the story straight before I write the ending, because I want to be sure it fits together.
I always have trouble knowing where to start. The middle and end come easy.
Interesting. I love the way we’re all so different! The beginning is usually the easiest for me. The rest always has it’s ups and downs.
I am yet to reach the end of my first draft for my novel, but when I do (emphasis on when – I’m trying to be positive) I plan to print it out. I know – it’s terrible for the environment, but I’ll recycle it at some point, honest.
This is because I kept reading it worked better to edit a hard copy and was cynical until I tried it for my short stories . . . and I have to say, it’s brilliant! I’m not sure what the scientific reason is for why it works, but honestly, it does. Nothing feels as satisfying as brandishing a lovely red pen (or pencil) and hacking away at a manuscript. It’s just much easier to get a sense of the actual shape of the story and . . . well, give it another go with the next chapter you edit and see if you have any more joy.
Try to look at what you have already achieved – rather than the perceived mountain you have to climb. Good luck!
Kelly’s Eye – Writing, Music, Life
I’ve tried it a couple of times, and while it’s good for cutting bits out, whenever I have to add something (which I usually do, even if it’s just a few sentences, having to write it in pen just slows me down. I’m not a handwriter at all!
That, and having to transcribe the edits later… ugh. I do usually do a final edit on my kindle, and I think I might try that earlier with this book (as I found SO many things I wanted to change in my final pass!), but I doubt I’m going to print it out.
I understand the feeling completely! I feel this way about book 2 in my series, which has been in edits for…longer than I’d like to admit. Cheering for you!
Thanks Sarah. This one’s a book 2 too. Maybe it’s something about second books in a series? Good luck with yours too.
You might be on to something…perhaps its that book 1 was always such a labor of love…you just want it to measure up.
/Could be. I also find that I have to keep looking back to book 1 to make sure things are spelled correctly, and that it all makes sense. So not only do I need internal consistency, but also series consistency.
It’s never over until the fat lady sings. It’s awful – never ever over until .. but good luck Rinelle, you’ll get there!
LOL Susan. I hear you. I think it’s doubly hard right now because even once I finish this go through, I’m still really only at the beginning. Ugh. Not even going to think about it!
I am at the point I am finally started to edit a bit more on my novel, but I wrote it in over two and a half years. I need to spend more time editing, so I commend writers who are prolific and quick. I am not even onto the submission process, but I feel like I might edit my novel a couple more times before I even start to consider it. I enjoyed reading about your editing process.
I’m so not prolific or quick! 🙂 I started this book (along with the first one, I wrote them in one big conglomeration) about 2 years ago, maybe more.
It’s a good idea to edit at least a couple of times before handing it over to someone else. It’s amazing how you peel back one layer, only to find another one beneath it.
Middles are the hardest for me, too. I think it’s partly because by the time I arrive at the middle, I can identify all sorts of things I’m going to need to change in the beginning. Ideally, I’d forget about that and just keep plugging through to the end, but it’s definitely a slog once I hit mid-point.
Hope you make it through the rough bit soon and are able to sail into that ending.
Hmm, yes, that identifying things you need to change in the beginning can be a problem too. I’m mostly good at writing myself a note and continuing on, but sometimes I just HAVE to go back and change the beginning again.
I struggle with all the parts of writing – beginning, middle and end. It’s an interesting phenomenon though, because I suffer from the same thing in my art. I will get halfway through a drawing and get tired of it and maybe a little discouraged. I have to put it away out of sight for a while and work on something else. Later, I take a fresh look and become remotivated to finish the piece. Some of my best work has followed that process. Maybe this short break is what you need to reenergize yourself and get back on track.
That’s true. I have several stories that I work on in this kind of tag team method. When I get tired of one, I move onto the next etc.
I’m not sure it would work during the editing stage though? I find that so much harder than the initial write through. And of course, I really want to get this book out there an published, and not to keep fans (any that I might have!) waiting for the sequel.