Revision Complete

[blairmacg]

Okay.  This draft is finished.  I will not tweak it again until feedback comes in from readers.

Is this draft an improvement?  Damn, I hope so.  I think I have much better control of the omni voice throughout, and that was one of my biggest concerns.  Knowing with absolute certainty who is narrating and why made a huge difference.  It gave me clear boundaries to work within, as well as a master guide.   If I had a question of whether to keep or toss a section, whether a scene shift was needed, or whose perspective needed to be shared, I asked what would tug at the narrator's heart, what he would have focused upon, what he would think critical to his purpose.

About 12K words fell victim to the delete key, primarily due to my new "If it's too hard to fix, I probably don't need it" philosophy.  I can't say the story is poorer for the cuts.  There were also little-fiddle changes to clarify underlying threats, punch up what was previously flat, set down a couple of props and ideas that can be picked up in the next book, and build a sturdier foundation for the narrator's driving purpose.

The shifting relationships between the three central characters gave me grief.  It's easy to write scenes between characters who like each other.  It's easy to write fight scenes--physical and verbal--between characters who don't.  What took much more consideration and word-weighing ended up being the scenes in between, scenes in which one or both tried to be kind or make amends, in which one must gain the approval of the other.  Scenes that would be so awkward in real life, most folks would avoid them altogether.  Scenes that built relationships without resolving conflicts.

I will tomorrow toss it out my virtual door and await feedback.

Then I need to decide if I should jump into the next fiction project or take care of a couple non-fiction pieces first.

Comments

[queenoftheskies.livejournal.com]

Congratulations!!!

It sounds like you already have your beta readers lined up, but if you ever need another, consider me a volunteer.

[blairmacg.livejournal.com]

I have a couple betas, but am more than happy to have a couple more! On the other hand, this is YOUR write-a-bunch month. I don't want to take away from that. If you don't think this will get in the way of your own project, your beta feedback would be most welcome. :-)

[queenoftheskies.livejournal.com]

I know this will sound strange, but beta reading actually encourages me to write by freeing up some of those brain cells that are focused on the worrying about what I'm writing.

Does that make sense?

I am definitely happy to read. :D

[blairmacg.livejournal.com]

Actually, that does make sense. And I'd love to hear your feedback. Could you drop me a message to let me know what email address you'd prefer I use?

[queenoftheskies.livejournal.com]

I'll do that now.

[marycatelli]

Progress!

[blairmacg.livejournal.com]

Yes!

[aanna-t.livejournal.com]

I do a Dance of Joy with you!

Really, hearing you get through your revisions has motivated me to go more quickly through my own. Thanks =)

[blairmacg.livejournal.com]

Oh, good!

And I love Dances of Joy. When you finish your revisions, I shall do one with you in return.