H/T to Paperback Writer

There comes a time in any writer’s life when they confront the dreaded beast.

Revision.

I’ve been plugging away at my novel for so long, making slow and (sometimes) steady progress, that I haven’t really confronted this issue yet.

That time came with my entry into the American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis contest.

I had written my opening chapters years ago. I had edited them many times when trying to get unstuck, but I had never really revised them. I knew with entering the contest that I had some fatal flaws. The generic weather opening? Check. The first character has nothing to do with the main story? Check.

Since I’ve heard how horrible it is to revise, I didn’t look forward to it, but a handy thing called a deadline forced my hand.

I sat down, hands at the keys.

It flowed.

It wasn’t bad at all! In fact, I rather enjoyed it. It took me a few days to do the first two chapters, but because I had a framework to build off of, I could adjust weak links, build up strong points, and overall tighten things up and make my characters jump out more (I hope).

I guess some of it is I’ve learned so much in the last several years that I can see what didn’t work with my initial thrust, but I could identify the kernel that did click in the writing.

I don’t know if this will be true through the whole novel. I still need to finish it, so I went back to my new work. I really wanted to keep revising, because I felt a sense of accomplishment and improvement. I know that I need to get the skeleton laid down though, and come back to help put the muscles and skin on later.

Hopefully it won’t be long until I get back to revising again. Does that make me strange?

Don’t answer that…

P.S. In an attempt to be a little more helpful, here is a link that talks about revision.

P.P.S. You can actually buy the towel above here. You’re welcome.
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