Revising

Hello Writerly Friends!

Sometimes in writing you get to the point where you finish a writing your novel, if you have may I extend my heartiest congratulations. I have gotten to that point about three times so far, twice with NaNo and once of my own doing. The books for NaNo aren't exactly considered novel length, mine were roughly 120 pages. My other novel Invisible Angels was 270 pages at the end of its course.

Once I finished Invisible Angels I wanted to someone to help me edit, and I happen to know someone who writes semi-professionally. The only problem is, she has five kids and not too much time on her hands. While her advice helped, I have come to the realization that it's not convenient for her to help me. So I'm pretty much on my own.

Because I had no idea where to go from there, I let my book sit for a long time. Just now I'm getting back to it and realizing what crap I wrote. I finished that book almost a year ago, I think and I believe I've come a long way. So now looking back on it, I have several more things I would add, take away, change and scrap.

My point is revising is tedious, but fun. It's like when your book has hit the teenage stage, it's figuring out what shape it will take once it's all done. While you're writing the rough draft, it's different, it's learning not to ride a bike without a helmet. It's experimenting with different clothing and figuring out what it's favorite color is, that's the basic childhood stuff.

When you're revising and it's in it's teenage years, it's changes and becoming more independent. It's taking the shape that it's going to have when it's an adult. It has opinions and taste and a brain and it's beginning to look more real.

If you get to the adult/publishing stage, your book has reached a huge high. Even thought you know there's always something you could change about it, it has reached a point where it's comfortable, knowledgeable and has no typos.

So revising can be tedious, tiring and exhilarating, just like teenage years, but in the end it's worth it.