I just finished my latest (and final) revision of The Devil You Don't Know and shipped it off to my new book editor.
I rewrote the beginning completely, rewrote most of the middle, and tinkered with the ending until I was mostly satisfied. I'm now convinced I will never be completely satisfied with any book I write. I can accept that.
I added two brand new plot lines. I also found my theme and polished it until it emerged. I cut another five thousand words from the manuscript in the process. It was the latest of several cuts over the past few months.
Five thousand words. Think about that. More than two chapters, gone in five days.
So the book that stood at a whopping 145,000 words when I finished the first draft over a year ago now stands at a relatively svelte 107,000 words.
Now all I have to do is rewrite the query and write a new synopsis. Oh, and wait for the new editor to rip it to shreds.
Once those are done, I think I'm ready to take this baby to New York City.
Then I can get back to my new book, and do it all over again.
I rewrote the beginning completely, rewrote most of the middle, and tinkered with the ending until I was mostly satisfied. I'm now convinced I will never be completely satisfied with any book I write. I can accept that.
I added two brand new plot lines. I also found my theme and polished it until it emerged. I cut another five thousand words from the manuscript in the process. It was the latest of several cuts over the past few months.
Five thousand words. Think about that. More than two chapters, gone in five days.
So the book that stood at a whopping 145,000 words when I finished the first draft over a year ago now stands at a relatively svelte 107,000 words.
Now all I have to do is rewrite the query and write a new synopsis. Oh, and wait for the new editor to rip it to shreds.
Once those are done, I think I'm ready to take this baby to New York City.
Then I can get back to my new book, and do it all over again.
Well done, you.
ReplyDeleteI know how much blood, sweat and tears you have shed over this.
I hope New York City is ready :)
Congrats! Very exciting. And cutting that much? I know how hard that can be. Cheers to relatively svelte manuscripts and much publishing luck!!
ReplyDeleteWOO HOO!
ReplyDeleteYour book now sits in the sweet spot length-wise, and now it's all nice and shiny, too. Someone's going to pounce on it.
(I also see you're officially in the triple digits, follower-wise *tosses confetti*)
Congratulations on another milestone, passed. Likely felt like a kidney stone, passed.
ReplyDeleteWhen you say New York, do you mean the Writer's Digest Conference? If so, best of luck. I am envious.
I am so excited for you Terry. I know I haven't been very visible but I have been here rooting for you in the background. I know you and TDYDK will be a success. I hope you enjoy NYC and find everything you're looking for there.
ReplyDeleteAh, the writing life! Good luck in NYC!
ReplyDeleteYeah. Okay. Are you sure this time?
ReplyDeleteNot to mention, this post subject line would make a kick ass title for a sequel ;o)
ReplyDeleteI've stopped reading my Gemin Cursed. Every time I do I find more things I'd like to do to it and I'm convinced it could live forever as a changing entity if I let it. Plus it keeps losing words. It's down to 83,000 now. (My first draft clocked in at 156,000!)
Never say "final". I've learned over time that tweaking is hardly ever just over. I wonder sometimes if other writers who get their works published ever look back over them and see things they wish they could change. It seems that every time I go into my WIP there is always something to be done. I guess I'll just know when it's really done. That or when an agent threatens me with violence if I even open the doc. Either would be nice.
ReplyDeleteYay, Terry! Sounds like you're where you need to be.
ReplyDeleteAs far as satisfied: I never am either. I always see one more thing that needs fixing, one more thing that should be added, one more thing that needs to be taken out, one more...You get the picture. So you aren't the only one!