Writing Through

[blairmacg]

To say I'm revising Sand isn't quite accurate.  I'm rewriting the novel, word by word.  Some sections will survive pretty much as they were in the earlier version, but that's the exception.  Major plot points remain intact.  Major motivations are different.  I altered pieces of worldbuilding just enough that the ripples were difficult to predict, or formed roadblocks to previously smooth parts.

I've reached the midpoint.  Finally, I feel settled in the new configuration.  The upside is the rewriting should be smoother from this point forward.  The downside is I can more clearly see what needs to be changed in the first half, and seeing it makes me want to fix it.  That would be a time-sink because I'm fairly certain I'll end up with yet another pile of needed changes once I hit the end of this revision round.  I won't know what those are until I hit the end.

It's like working from a detailed outline--with surprises along the way.

And it does make me wish I could write 80K novels.

Comments

[queenoftheskies.livejournal.com]

::nods:: Doing the same thing right now. When you change something major (MAJOR), does it take you time to adjust to the new feel to the novel?

[blairmacg.livejournal.com]

Sometimes lots of time. :)

I removed a major chunk of backstory from a primary character--a chunk that affected big things like her motives and the motives of those around her. That took some getting used to.