Revision Hell

[Lost World]

About a minute ago I posted in another thread on Roundtable, telling an author who was near completing his novel but had stalled that he shouldn't worry. This advice seems logical to me at this time, because I have three short stories that are stalled. Oh, they're all completed--in first-draft rough form. But they all need to be revised, and two of them need to be drastically shortened in order to have any hope of getting published.

The latter problem really pisses me off. I know people's attention spans are short these days, but one would think online readers seeking good fiction would be willing to read through eight to ten thousand words. Yet there are hardly any ezines who will take work over 6K words. Brevity is great, but I think character and plot development suffer unbelievably in the modern short story.

But I digress; I was talking about revisions. I love writing, but revising the first draft has to be the most tedious part of the process. Later revisions, after the piece has been polished, are actually fun to do. Lately, I've only been able to sit on these works. They'll get done, but the procrastination still bothers me. And so I'm wondering how the rest of you handle your revisions and stay motivated through the process.

[Jersey Chick]

I take breaks between them and work on other things. I finish a draft and ignore it for a few weeks. That way I don't get burned out, or come to hate the story, and I keep my mind going on new ideas.

There's always something, in some stage of being written, on my desk, so to speak.

[ishtar'sgate]

I guess I'm lucky. I love the whole process. One thing. I put the manuscript away for a couple of months before beginning the revision process. Maybe that helps. Once I start revising I keep at it until I'm satisfied.

[scarletpeaches]

I revise fast. It's an intense process for me. I don't have time to get bored. I'm constantly excited by it and to be honest, editing is a hell of a lot easier than the first draft (although that is in itself a joy).

I know, I know. I'm a total Pollyanna when it comes to every step of the writing process. I hate it and I love it all at once.

[Salis]

I don't see how editing couldn't be immensely more easy/refreshing than the writing process itself, unless you're literally rewriting half the book in the process. The creative drain is so much less.

[vroth]

I know how you feel. Sometimes when you look at a draft you understand the incredible amount of work you have yet to do and it can be exhausting just thinking about it. I recently axed 40,000 words from a draft-- what a bad week. But I think what kept me motivated was looking at what I had done and realizing how much better it was. Continually remind yourself of why you're revising, and reread the stuff you fix to prove to yourself that revising is worthwhile-- that's what helps me, anyway.

[Wayne K]

I'm with SP and ishtar, I like revising.

[Linda Adams]

If necessary, I deal with only one thing at a time. That helps, particularly if the issue I'm correcting is particularly troublesome. One of the problems I'm having to correct is that the book is 20K too short. I try looking at the whole picture of the book to see where to add and feel instantly overwhelming. But if I focus only one thing, then it's much easier to deal with and far less overwhelming.

Right now, I'm adding chapters for a character I neglected. He's important to the story, but I just didn't do much with him. I worked out what I'd omitted on paper, and then wrote up a timeline just for him. Now I'm working on adding one chapter. If necessary, I'll write it in a separate file and then add it when I'm done.

[IdiotsRUs]

I have a motivation - currently it's called The Deadline :D

Normally though it's just take a deep breath and get on with it. If I don't then it won't get done, and I want people to read my stories. If I don't revise, they won't. Cos my first drafts are a mess.

Besides I looove to tinker. Tinker, tinker, tinker. I could do that all day long and not get bored. *sigh*

[Libbie]

I don't see how editing couldn't be immensely more easy/refreshing than the writing process itself, unless you're literally rewriting half the book in the process. The creative drain is so much less.

I rewrote the whole book in the last editing round. Except for one scene. I was able to keep that as it was.

I liked the book better the second time around, though, so I didn't mind.

[Salis]

I rewrote the whole book in the last editing round.


Yeah, well, you smell. So there!

[Libbie]

Yeah, well, you smell. So there!

SALIS IS TOUCHING ME! MOOMMMMM!!!

STOP IT! STAY ON YOUR SIDE OF THE CAR!