"Revision Is My Friend"
I usually revise as I write, circling back to fix things along the way. But then, once the whole thing is on the page, I want to move on. I do a couple of quick runs through the manuscript, cleaning it up. Then, diligently, I force myself to get a few critiques from other published writers. I take in their feedback with immense gratitude that I held off on sending it to my agent. I make changes. I feel certain it's ready.
Any rejection, by agent or editor, leaves me feeling like the whole manuscript is worthless and I might as well shelve it and start on something new because obviously what I thought was amazing, well, sucks.
Confession: Revision terrifies me. I feel completely overwhelmed by it, can't imagine how I'll ever get it all right. Even though I've done it before and well and without it actually being all that scary. It's just the idea of it. The biggest problem for me is trying to figure out what isn't working. Then, there's trying to figure out how to make it work. Then it's actually getting down and doing the work, terrified all the while that it just won't hang together.
The fear can stop me in my tracks. So last week I was tired of feeling stuck. I reached out to an author friend and asked for a fresh-eyed critique. It made a huge difference for me. This friend showed me (in the kindest of ways) exactly what wasn't working --- and why it wasn't working. Wow! Where before I was feeling defensive and defeated, now I feel excited and engaged again. I haven't figured out the hows yet, but I'm actually looking forward to getting down to the work of it.
And the next obstacle is trying to not get discouraged along the way, to trust that it will come together, and also being patient! That part is so hard for me. But these things take time. And rushing never solves the problem. The more you let it sit, the better the brew.
Disappointment hovers, taunting, threatening. We have to withstand its pressure, not let it take the wind out of our sails before we even get going. Like my friend Lisa Schroeder said on her blog, "Revision is my friend."
And friends don't let friends drive drunk. Ok, just kidding, that's irrelevant, maybe it should be friends don't let friends send out manuscripts that arent' the best they can possibly be. Whatever, point is you gotta trust that your friends will lead you well. Onward!
Oh, one more thing -- I've been invited to join an awesome group of authors on a new blog called YA Outside the Lines : Authors of young adult fiction pushing the boundaries and writing from the heart. It's a fantastic group of authors and I'm really excited to be a part of it. The blog just started running on November 1st, and my first post there will be this coming Monday, the 15th. So try to remember to stop by and check out my post and leave me a comment so I don't feel too lonely 
Thanks and have a great weekend!
Hi Cheryl,
Revision is hard and scary! Okay, actually, I think it's more scary than anything.
When I got my editorial letter for my next MG novel back in August or September, it asked for some big changes. The whole beginning wasn't working. So, I did what I've never done before. I opened a new document and started from scratch. I wrote four new chapters before I could start cutting and pasting from the original manuscript. In the end, the finished book has probably 50% of that original MS and 50% new material.
I remember thinking - what if I make the book worse instead of better? I think THAT is our biggest fear when it comes to revision. We wonder how we can come up with new scenes, new characters, new sub-plots. But you know what? We do. And they are good and when we sit back, at the end, we wonder, how we could have possibly thought the book was good without those new scenes, new characters, new sub-plots.
You know I'm cheering for you!!
Lisa
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Thank you, Lisa! Your support means so much! And I know you're right. I know it'll be better in the long run. Just gotta keep those fears at bay! xo
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