Friday, January 8, 2010

Knuckling down to REVISIONS


Well, at least I've started. I've had a bit of time and distance from Bound to Love, but it was time to get back into it and thrash it into shape. I started by re-reading the thing, and on the whole I like it. But there are problems. Somehow the author has made very simple situations unbearably complicated, and revisions involve unwrapping the spagetti tangle and smoothing it all out. Silly author!
Chapter one was easy enough. Just a tweak here and there, some more descriptions of Tempest and Jude and their reactions to each other.
Chapter two was another kettle of fish. Lots of what I had there just didn't work. I took my editor's advice and rewrote the entire thing from Jude's point of view, and am amazed at the change. He's gone from stoic to alpha, from quiet to dangerous. He's sending little shivers up my spine, and Tempest is seeing him in a completely new light.
I'm going with the flow, starting into chapter three and hoping that he knows what he's doing. I'll keep you posted!
Posted by Sally Clements at 3:48 PM

9 comments:

  1. CarolineJanuary 8, 2010 at 5:20 PM

    Good to see the wip is shaping up! Take care. Caroline x

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  2. AnonymousJanuary 8, 2010 at 6:04 PM

    That's exciting when you get an emotional rise from your characters...I know when I'm not emotionally involved something's not quite there yet. Either that or I need a nap!

    I like your phrase "trash it into shape" Not sure if you meant thrash or not, but it's in interesting turn of the phrase. :)

    Always exciting to hear how your work's coming--Kristi

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  3. Sally ClementsJanuary 8, 2010 at 7:36 PM

    Thanks Caroline! hope you're surviving the weather, and thanks Kristi, oops, better edit it. Revisions!

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  4. Suzanne Ross JonesJanuary 8, 2010 at 9:56 PM

    Jude sounds like quite a hero. Can't wait to hear more.

    X

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  5. LorraineJanuary 8, 2010 at 10:09 PM

    Looking forward to a sneek preview sometime Sally :-) Well done for getting into it.

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  6. Lacey DevlinJanuary 9, 2010 at 4:14 AM

    It sounds fabulous Sally!

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  7. Joanne ColesJanuary 9, 2010 at 10:34 AM

    You're getting stuck in, which is always good. Edits make me want to run for the hills! Which, let me tell you, is not a pretty sight.

    If you need any help, you can always call on the Minxs.

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  8. Sally ClementsJanuary 9, 2010 at 12:15 PM

    Thanks for the support guys, revisions are difficult for me, but I'm trying to get it into shape re-write wise, then starting to edit the rewrites. I have a feeling I'm going to be posting a 'before' and 'after' chapters to the minxs in a couple of days to see if I've managed to do what the editor wants!
    We've problems with ice in our downpipes today, so lots of time going to be spent sorting that rather than writing. Our house was built in 1765, so we're seeing a whole new lot of ice related problems...off to put on my boots and carry wood in from the woodshed to start feeding wood burning stoves (4 of them!). urgh!

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  9. Maya BlakeJanuary 9, 2010 at 4:13 PM

    Sounds like you're on a roll, Sally. Shivers are good, especially during rewrites! I've had to abandon my chapter 1 and move to chapter 2 because I lost the shivers. Commiserations on the downpipes. Hope you get it sorted soon.

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