[Writing] Starting From Scratch...Again?
Jan. 30th, 2012 12:37 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jon_chaissonIt's times like this when I wish I was back at home, settled in Spare Oom, and writing.
One of the things that came up in conversation with![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
dancinghorse and her critique of the Prologue/Chapter 1 revision of A Division of Souls was the dreaded "almost there" feeling a writer gets when they're doing major revision to a novel they're working on. It wasn't said in exactly those words, of course, but it's how I'm viewing the critique on a writing level. For the past few runs through this novel, I've always had that feeling that I had some great ideas for the trilogy, but the delivery still wasn't quite up to the level it needed to be. There's still a lot of "murbling" (as she calls it)--a lot of words in there that might tell the story, but don't really give it all that much oomph...or more to the point, a lot of weak prose.
I know that the biggest problem is my emotional connection to the trilogy. I'm quite attached to it. How could I not be? It's a created world that's been around in some form since around 1997--that's nearly fifteen years. I have fond memories of writing it in the Belfry, listening to certain albums, talking about it with friends and coworkers, and writing some damn fun scenes. And yet, even though I've pulled and edited and deleted and rewrote all sorts of scenes and dialogue in concerted attempts to tighten it up, I don't seem to be getting any closer. I think this emotional attachment might be part of the reason why. I may be mistaking the emotional and physical mindset and the memories they contain with what truly drives the story. I've caught myself many times trying to "get into the mood of the story" in an almost Method Acting kind of way, in order to tell it.
Perhaps that's not the best way to go.
I've been contemplating over the last few months whether or not I should start the trilogy all over from stratch. Not a completely new story, mind you, but a complete rewrite like I did back in 2000 or so when I rewrote The Phoenix Effect as A Division of Souls. That major revision did two things: it expanded the prose from short amateurish paragraphs to full-blown scenes, and it expanded my prose, period. I went from half-assed writing to pretty-damn-good-at-the-time writing.
I've tried the Complete Rewrite in the past--most notably my failed attempt for NaNo '10, but that was a trial rather than a concerted effort. At this point I'm ready to start over and try again. As I'd mentioned to Judy, the prologue itself is pretty much the same as it's been since about 1999 when I created a new opening for it. The scene is exactly the same--sometimes down to the word level--so maybe it's time to create a tighter and better opening. As it stands, it feels more like I'm a storyteller saying "HEY! Dude, this is an Important Story and this scene hinges on EVERYTHING, so PAY ATTENTION!" And that is soooo 90s Hollywood. ;)
So.
As it stands, this looks to be the Big Project going forward (Walk in Silence being the Other Big Project). I'd like to get as much of it done this year as I can, and get it out there as soon as I can.
Of course, this is three books we're talking about, not one, so this may take awhile. I know The Persistence of Memories was actually pretty good, but most likely still needs an overhaul...and The Process of Belief DEFINITELY needs more work. I'm in it for the long haul, though. I'm committed to telling this story and telling it right, and I'm looking forward to it. Who knows...maybe this might even help me build up the further books in the Eden Cycle world in the process.
Goddess...I really don't know when to quit, do I? *sigh* Such is the job of a writer. :)
One of the things that came up in conversation with
dancinghorse and her critique of the Prologue/Chapter 1 revision of A Division of Souls was the dreaded "almost there" feeling a writer gets when they're doing major revision to a novel they're working on. It wasn't said in exactly those words, of course, but it's how I'm viewing the critique on a writing level. For the past few runs through this novel, I've always had that feeling that I had some great ideas for the trilogy, but the delivery still wasn't quite up to the level it needed to be. There's still a lot of "murbling" (as she calls it)--a lot of words in there that might tell the story, but don't really give it all that much oomph...or more to the point, a lot of weak prose.I know that the biggest problem is my emotional connection to the trilogy. I'm quite attached to it. How could I not be? It's a created world that's been around in some form since around 1997--that's nearly fifteen years. I have fond memories of writing it in the Belfry, listening to certain albums, talking about it with friends and coworkers, and writing some damn fun scenes. And yet, even though I've pulled and edited and deleted and rewrote all sorts of scenes and dialogue in concerted attempts to tighten it up, I don't seem to be getting any closer. I think this emotional attachment might be part of the reason why. I may be mistaking the emotional and physical mindset and the memories they contain with what truly drives the story. I've caught myself many times trying to "get into the mood of the story" in an almost Method Acting kind of way, in order to tell it.
Perhaps that's not the best way to go.
I've been contemplating over the last few months whether or not I should start the trilogy all over from stratch. Not a completely new story, mind you, but a complete rewrite like I did back in 2000 or so when I rewrote The Phoenix Effect as A Division of Souls. That major revision did two things: it expanded the prose from short amateurish paragraphs to full-blown scenes, and it expanded my prose, period. I went from half-assed writing to pretty-damn-good-at-the-time writing.
I've tried the Complete Rewrite in the past--most notably my failed attempt for NaNo '10, but that was a trial rather than a concerted effort. At this point I'm ready to start over and try again. As I'd mentioned to Judy, the prologue itself is pretty much the same as it's been since about 1999 when I created a new opening for it. The scene is exactly the same--sometimes down to the word level--so maybe it's time to create a tighter and better opening. As it stands, it feels more like I'm a storyteller saying "HEY! Dude, this is an Important Story and this scene hinges on EVERYTHING, so PAY ATTENTION!" And that is soooo 90s Hollywood. ;)
So.
As it stands, this looks to be the Big Project going forward (Walk in Silence being the Other Big Project). I'd like to get as much of it done this year as I can, and get it out there as soon as I can.
Of course, this is three books we're talking about, not one, so this may take awhile. I know The Persistence of Memories was actually pretty good, but most likely still needs an overhaul...and The Process of Belief DEFINITELY needs more work. I'm in it for the long haul, though. I'm committed to telling this story and telling it right, and I'm looking forward to it. Who knows...maybe this might even help me build up the further books in the Eden Cycle world in the process.
Goddess...I really don't know when to quit, do I? *sigh* Such is the job of a writer. :)
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no subject
Date: 2012-01-30 10:07 pm (UTC)I know what you mean about getting invested. I have things sometimes I know I should probably change but just can't because the emotion is too strong for me.
no subject
Date: 2012-01-30 10:35 pm (UTC)