I'm editing my book!
Another month, another round of unsuccessful submissions. (I'm up to two rejections and a deafening silence so far, readers). I'm playing "Writers & Artists' Yearbook Bingo". If you submit your baby to every single address in this book, and get rejected by every single publisher and agent listed, you shout "bingo!" and stand up, waving your copy of the W&A around with all of the addresses crossed out.
I'm thinking of opening the Writers & artists' Yearbook Bingo competition up to other writers. Let me know if you want to join in, there's a prize at the end.
In summary, I've looked over my baby, now written and rewritten four times over the course of about [mumble mumble] years, and have decided that:
a. Some of it's a bit rubbish
and
b. It's about 20000 words too long.
So yet again - even though I deceived myself that I had already edited this book as much as I could - I'm in the process of editing it again. It needs to be slimmer, shorter, sexier, and more succinct. (Just like this blog entry in fact). Given that I'm already midway through working on another sizeable project, I don't want to spend overmuch time on the editing process, so I've come up with the following ideas:
a. Use the 'find and replace' function to get rid of all the small words (e.g. 'and', 'the', 'in', and 'on'.). The book will no longer make sense, but it will be much shorter, and perhaps I will be hailed as a revolutionary linguistic inventor of some kind.
b. Get rid of the first and last chapters. Ditto the point above in that the book will no longer make any sense, and be a much less satisfying read given that the beginning and end will be missing, but it will be a quick and easy way of streamlining.
c. Get rid of several major characters. Less sub plot, less characterisation, fewer words.... right?!!
...I'm accepting your editing suggestions below...!
Sarah x
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Louise Young says:
getting rid of articles
Sarah --
You won't believe this, but when I was working on my Master's thesis (in botany), my major professor went through my manuscript and deliberately editted out all of the articles (instead of "The area of the study" it then read "Area of study"). When I complained that this made the manuscript virtually unreadable, his only comment was, "What are you writing here, a novel?" (this was said with a disdainful sneer)
It might take a while to finish birthing your novel but keep the faith -- it will come together eventually! And keep in those articles -- you don't want it reading like a botany thesis!
Saludos!
Louise
sarah bradley says:
Louise, thanks! Ha, damn
Louise, thanks! Ha, damn those botany professors and their literary criticisms....
Thanks for the encouragement thought! I've been working on it every night after work the past few nights until bedtime, and feel like I'm making good progress - I removed 2500 words already, and they weren't all "the" and "of" !! ...so it's still readable... in fact, if I hazard a bit of self-congratulation, I'll say it's a bit more readable than it was before...
Ryoma Collia-Suzuki says:
Hi Sarah
What sort of feedback have you had from people who have read it, honest literary criticism?
Has comment been made about the wording or length of book? Just wondering. I don't want to over step any line here, so I suppose I am saying is it best to say the work is finished and look for ways to get yourself noticed and differentiate yourself to agents or publishers in some other way? Just a thought.
I wish you every success and am very excited on your behalf. If the fantastic energy that comes across in your blogs is even a tiny taster of what is in your book, then I have no doubt that you will be noticed soon.
Wishing you the very best.
sarah bradley says:
Hi Ryoma
The decision to edit the book down has come from me, after I read a piece of advice on the W&A website about novel length. Usually, I take generic writing advice with a pinch of salt, or ignore it altogether; but something about the novel length niggled me a bit, and motivated me to look the work over again.
This first novel has been a long time in the writing, going alongside working full-time and writing my Master's dissertation, so there was a lot to do in the re-writing & editing process in terms of tidying it up, correcting inaccuracies, tightening up the pacing etc. Every time I rewrite it it gets better, but I don't want to be like Brian Wilson completing "Smile" (the most recent Beach Boys album, approximately 34 years in the making), continually tinkering and tinkering with it. I have put a lot of effort into rewriting and editing it and it's much improved for it; the rewriting process is something that's taken about a year or so, concurrently with other stuff, and I'm really pleased with the results.
In terms of objective feedback, it's difficult. A few friends have seen it and I have had some very positive feedback about the pacing of the book, the story, and the characters, but I haven't had any specific feedback from any agents or publishers - and to be honest, I don't really expect it, given how busy most agents & publishers are.... But, I'm really pleased with my work, and I also endeavour to improve things through rewriting and editing - so I'm satisfied that I've produced something that is really good, and that I can be proud of.
Also, it's worth adding that I am quite patient, and I don't expect publishing to come quickly....! You're totally right in the comment you made on another of my blog entries that the publishing industry is likely to be cautious at the moment, particularly in these testing economic times... and I'm really grateful for your encouraging comments that I'll get noticed soon - I certainly hope so too! In the meantime, I just keep on working on my work, and trying to get better every day.
Ryoma Collia-Suzuki says:
Hi Sarah
Thanks for such a long and considered response! I didn't expect a response at all actually, I was really just wondering if someone had made comments that made you feel like editing your work. You are obviously very happy with what you have done and it sounds like you are really on top of everything!
I really am very excited for you and wish you the best possible luck in your endeavours. I am very passionate about seeing more new authors getting out there and making a difference! :)