The revisions continue. I slogged through Chapter 9 today. Only nineteen more to go!
I think the reason it took me so long to get through only one chapter today is because I made the mistake of starting at the beginning of the manuscript and reading it. I guess I just wanted to blow through it, since I've done so many revisions that I worry about typos and all that stuff that I thought I had cleaned up months ago.
I usually don't do this, because I always read what I had revised the previous day before I start tackling today's work. That way, I can proof read for any errors I might have added. It also puts me back into the narrative, making the revising I'm about to do a bit easier.
But today, for some weird reason, I started reading from the beginning (I think it was because I got started early and felt I had the time), and that turned into hours of more revisions and rewriting on chapters I had finished days ago! And, you know, it's not like I haven't read the thing a bazillion times!
I just need to quit it and keep plugging along. Moving forward, you know.
Anyway, I got caught up and made it through Chapter 9. Slooowwwlllyyy.
But I'm getting there. So, how is your work coming?
I think the reason it took me so long to get through only one chapter today is because I made the mistake of starting at the beginning of the manuscript and reading it. I guess I just wanted to blow through it, since I've done so many revisions that I worry about typos and all that stuff that I thought I had cleaned up months ago.
I usually don't do this, because I always read what I had revised the previous day before I start tackling today's work. That way, I can proof read for any errors I might have added. It also puts me back into the narrative, making the revising I'm about to do a bit easier.
But today, for some weird reason, I started reading from the beginning (I think it was because I got started early and felt I had the time), and that turned into hours of more revisions and rewriting on chapters I had finished days ago! And, you know, it's not like I haven't read the thing a bazillion times!
I just need to quit it and keep plugging along. Moving forward, you know.
Anyway, I got caught up and made it through Chapter 9. Slooowwwlllyyy.
But I'm getting there. So, how is your work coming?
Well, this whole revising thing just makes me second-guess every plot decision I've made, the POV, my writing style, my ENGLISH... you name it. Janet Reid told a query poster to go through hers and take out all the unnecessary 'that' uses, and that has really helped me. I think I've trimmed off a couple hundred words and I'm only a third of the way through the manuscript.
ReplyDeleteLOL, been there.
ReplyDeleteGeorge Lucas isn't the best writer out there (I know... blasphemy) but he gave some great advice: Write something all the way through, and don't revise until you're done, otherwise you'll never finish.
I guess that goes for revisions too, otherwise we get stuck in an endless loop. Someday I'll get back to my revisions, and I'll try to heed his advice.