AWJ is not ready for editing, and Blink is waiting for my CP and BRs to send back their comments. This leaves Spectacle - or Fear Itself, according to the new filename. Being my first book, I was a complete neophyte. It's chapters are huge, some of the wording is ungainly, and I have rampant unnecessary scenes. (Not that they weren't interesting, but they did little to drive the plot forward.)
So far, I've been tightening the wording, but yesterday I tackled the rechaptering. Not a big deal as tasks go. I have plenty of scene breaks mid-chapter where I can simply plug in a page break and chapter header. The real task lies in the quotes.
Each chapter in Spectacle begins with a quote relevant to the text in the coming chapter, and since I am adding chapters, I now have to find quotes to match. I have a huge quote database, thank goodness, and so far it's been sufficient for my purposes, but scanning through hundreds of quotes to find just the right one is a little time consuming. I spent an hour and a half last night and I'm only a third of the way through the rechaptering process.
In addition to rechaptering, I took out a whole scene I really enjoyed writing and so far, everyone's enjoyed reading. It wasn't pertinent though. (And for those of you reading this who've also read Spectacle, it was the tow-truck scene.) It was one of my daughter's favorite scenes, and she's going to kill me, but it had to be done. That's where the editing hurts. I didn't want to do it, and maybe someday after it becomes a bestseller, the book will be republished with the deleted scenes. Until then, however, it had to go. For the sake of the novel as a whole. *sigh*
Since I'm between writing right now, I'll be hitting Spectacle every night until after I move. I should be able to whip it into shape by this time next week, and then move forward with something else. Maybe a new book, or maybe by then I'll be ready to tackle Blink or AWJ again.
How are things going in your neck of the woods?
Saturday Reading Wrap-up 12/21/24
10 hours ago
7 comments:
Oooo, now there's an untapped market.
At least I've never seen an "Author's Cut" of a book as I have with a "Director's Cut" of a movie.
Or an appendix of deleted scenes.
I like that idea. Maybe someone will pick up on it.
What gave me the idea was Stephen King's The Stand. The original publication had a lot snipped out of it, and they went back and published the full version in the late '80s. =o)
Let me know if you want to read the snipped version of Spectacle. You were the second (after hubby) to read Spectacle, you can certainly have the honors. =oD
Good job on cutting what needs to be cut. I had about 26,000 words worth of cut scenes for novel #2 and I'll be cutting a whole bunch more. Some of it was some pretty cool stuff.
On the bright side, I find myself cutting a lot less for book #3.
You are obviously working really hard. Good for you and I am egging you on! Especially interested as I am trying to find quotes for my little chick lit book. I wanted to use record quotes but will have to check copyright etc.
What is your book about?
Fiona
Thanks for stopping by, Fiona. I use mainly quotes from those long-dead. You don't have to worry about infringing on anything that way. Stephen King uses a lot of music quotes, from what I remember, and I know he acknowledges the artists, but I don't know if he obtains permission prior to publication.
Oh, and I added a link to my previous posts where I talk about Spectacle. Enjoy! =o)
Google's having a brainfart. I can't get the darned links to post (and they look fine in the preview window, so it's not me). Try this:
Spectacle
But of course I want to read the snipped version :)
You've got plenty of time though. I've got to finish with the Count of Monte Cristo (gosh that's a long book), and with the assignment you gave me :)
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