'Books are not written, they are rewritten' - the 2013 revising and editing thread

[TunipTheVegedude]

Anyone who already has a draft (NaNo veterans and others?) want to join me for a rewriting thread?

I am working on my draft from NaNoWriMo 2012.

I've never successfully edited a novel before - I've written first drafts and attempted to edit them but never managed to either be ruthless enough, or to really understand what I had to do. This time is different because it's clear that it needs very major work at all levels; the NaNo draft feels like a zero draft rather than a first draft. I've been reading 'how to write' stuff manically over the last month (something I've never really done before) and have a lot to go on. Starting by plotting it again from the ground up, then will work through scene by scene using relevant bits from my first draft but basically starting with a blank page, which I hope means I will not be too attached to any of my previous words. My target for Easter is to get it to a stage where other people can read it and tell me how to change it so I can write it all over again

Getting scarily close to second round beta reading stage. Yikes.

How is everyone else getting on?

Mine is so close I can almost upload it. Passives all activated, "and" level massively reduced. Beta readers' notes acted on (beta readers thanked).
This weekend I'm going to read the book just to enjoy the story again, as all the editing has sucked the joy from it, and I want to regain the excitement.

Yay!
What are you going to do with it? Are you self-pubbing?

Self publishing with Smashwords and KDP, also sending off to a couple of publishers who deal with YA fantasy for print version.

Did you decide it was YA rather than middle grade?

It's consistently coming through the YA fiction analyser as "15-17 year olds", although 9yo DD has no trouble reading it (though she does have me for a mother so reads a lot). I'll see what the publishers say.

Yeah, it's more important to fit the subject matter to the readership, I think, and then the language can be tweaked accordingly.
Mine comes out at 13-15 in its current state. I don't know how reading ages relate to what actual teens read though. They're a blunt instrument.

I published the book today The Strangeling's Tale

Congratulations!!

I love your title, and your cover art. I hope you sell masses!

I looked at the sample and I do love your writing style - really elegant.

Thank you, I'm planning an entire week of no writing before starting the next book.

Mine is going off to second round beta readers tomorrow.
I don't know what I'm going to do with myself. Maybe even read some of the book I've got stacked up for the next one

'bookS I've got stacked up for the next one', that should be.

That seems to be the thing with books, The End is never the actual end, there are always more books to read or to write.
Lesson I've learned about Beta Readers: they give useful feedback, but only when given a defined "bit" to read and a deadline.

It's just as well though. I'm sure the only way to stay sane when you start submitting is to be absorbed in the next project.

I've just been emailing my 3rd draft out to second round beta readers, which is not half as scary as it was the first time.

Hello, popping back in. Have finished another draft (lost track now, 5th, 6th?) but inspired by your postings upthread I am now going to scrutinise the entire document for passive voice! Will also now start thinking about drafting the synopsis.

Hey, Bssh.
Glad you're still at it.
Mine is with second round beta readers so I'm having a break and actually reading which makes a change.
It's interesting looking at the way things are written in the light of all the work I've done on my writing style.
I've concluded I was right to fight the passives but I've been over-neurotic about adverbs.

I've got the book published with Smashwords and KDP, in the process of publishing with Google Books, and getting an author page with Goodreads.
I have sent the book to 3 publishers, not heard back yet.
I've sold 11 books in 2 weeks, not too bad for a first effort!

Make that 13 books, I just looked and saw 2 more sold.

Hello, can I join?

Congrats to everyone doing so well, publishing, persevering. It's bloody hard!

Right, well I am currently hard at work on the proofs of my first book, which is soon to be published with an indie press. I can't even begin to tell you how cold my feet are feeling and how scared I am about the whole thing. That said, so far I am quite happy with the galleys -- except for one section in particular. There are a few niggles in that section that are jumping out at me and keeping me awake at night.

Around now all of the marketing stuff is happening (the budget for same is extremely small, btw, so that might sound more impressive than it is!) and I find that stuff quite difficult to deal with. I know it has to be done, though.

Well, that's me. Time for coffee!

Ooh that's exciting, BitScary! Did you go through an agent or directly to the publishers? Is it an ebook or a regular book? What genre is it?

Oh wow, BitScary, congratulations on your first book! That's fabulous.

Is it a novel?

I am hearing good things about indie presses. I went on a 'how to get published' course recently and the tutor said they are becoming increasingly important.

Thanks! Genre is literary fiction, I guess, as wanky and all as that sounds. Don't want to be too specific (terrified of outing self) but no agent involved. The publishers had seen some of my work and approached me. That's interesting that your tutor said good things about indie presses, Turnip. I think particularly for lit fic they are almost the best bet these days.

It's a regular book but I think there'll be an e-version too. Not sure actually, need to check!

Love your cover art, InMySpareTime, I wish you all the best with it!

Wow, they approached you? That's everyone's dream. And literary fiction... I envy you.

Congratulations, BitScary! That's wonderful news, absolutely well done. Do keep us updated with progress.

And best of luck for your continuing sales, InMySpareTime. Have you received any reviews from 'real' readers yet?

I really popped on to thank Tunip for her wonderful recommendation of Donald Maas's book 'Writing the Breakout Novel'. It's been an absolute revelation - I've so much enjoyed it, it's transformed my thinking and I want to re-write my entire novel (in the most positive way possible). I'm not quite sure where I'm going to go from here, but I honestly think it's going to be a much better, clearer written and more appealing novel. It's also a book which I think I could only have fully appreciated having written and struggled with a solid draft - he's really tackled a lot of the problems that I was feeling around, in particular the issue of making the stakes matter. It's also - oddly enough - sent me running joyfully to my bookshelves to read old favourites.

As you can tell, I can't recommend it highly enough to people on here.

p.s. Tunip, you send me your book as a .doc file - can you send it as an .epub and a .mobi so I can take it on hols with me? I'm already full of thoughts about your work too, based on Donald Maas - including that it's no wonder that everyone likes Lord M best.