Monday, September 27, 2010

KEEPING IT FRESH

I am currently working on a book I originally wrote in 1998. I polished it then to the best of my ability. I have read it several times. Time hasn’t given me objectivity; instead, I am more in love with the story than ever.

I am thankful for an honest critique partner, and she more or less hates it (she wouldn’t say so in so many words).

What’s the truth—a fairy tale romantic story or a dismal failure? Ultimately, my editor and my readers will decide.

But it brings up a problem many writers struggle with: how do we bring fresh eyes to a manuscript we’ve rewritten half a dozen times or more? Am I seeing this manuscript through the fond eyes of a mother or with a critical editor's eye?

I have no easy answers to that question, but here are a few ideas:
• Move on to another project if you have time.
• Leave this project alone between edits for as long as you can.
• If you have time and willing friends, give the manuscript to someone who has never seen it before.
• Read the manuscript aloud. Even better, have someone else read it aloud.
• Read the book from end to beginning.
• Dialogue with a trusted partner. What were you trying to do? How did it fail? (How) can it be fixed?
• Look at individual elements of the story, such as: character descriptions (consistent?); dialogue (each person unique?); timeline.

What ideas do the rest of you have? Do you struggle with this problem and if so, how do you handle it?

3 comments:

  1. This is really tough. The options you have given sound good. But even then we should be motivated enough to give it another stab.

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  2. I struggled with this BIG TIME with my first novel. I think I revamped the thing ten times. Seriously. It's still not published. sigh It did teach me a lot about the craft, but I also found I learned MORE when I started on a new book. Funny how that works. Putting together a new plot with fresh characters just brings out fresh ideas, and then, it opens your eyes to the craft in a fresh new way. Someday I still hope to publish that story, but it's just not time yet. And I've come to accept that. :-)

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  3. Thank you, Darlene, for an honest post that so many of us can relate to!

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