Samhain Publishing

With the new year—and all those resolutions—I decided I needed to finally tackle a project I’ve been putting off for, well I’m ashamed to admit this, but for two years. I have a book I need to rewrite (cleaning, tightening, cutting out all the boring bits which I let creep in). And while I agreed in theory that this book needed all this work, I’ve been making excuses not to look at it for awhile now. Yes, having a baby is a good excuse, but Destructo is not the reason I was avoiding these edits.

The real problem was that the work would be hard and I was afraid I’d be unhappy with the changes. This is a story I LOVE. The heroine is wonderful and awkward. The hero is sexy and strong. Even the bad guys are interesting. And there’s a lot of science in the story—my kind of science. Here’s where I went astray. I got carried away with the biology, evolution, and genetics and tended to…run off at the fictional mouth when it came to those aspects of the book. All this rhapsodizing slowed the first half of the book way too much.

But I LIKED it! I didn’t want to change it. (Hear the child throwing a tantrum here?) I knew it would be a better book with the edits. But knowing that and being able to face the changes were two different things.

Finally, with my new year’s resolution to face my fears, I started thinking about one of the big changes—the first chapter. I needed to cut most of it and the little I’m keeping has to be seriously chopped back. Remember, I haven’t read the book, haven’t even looked at it, in well over two years. While taking a shower (where I get all my good ideas), I decided on a way to do the scene. Later that day, I opened the file—hoorah!—and started typing. I didn’t even read the scene as it originally stood except to make sure I got a few details correct.

And surprise of surprises, it was easy! I mean, the changes were really easy! They were so much BETTER! How did I not realize this before? Why didn’t I see how slow and monotonous the chapter was as it originally stood?

Well, I’ve learned my lessons. Lesson 1—always listen to smart editors whom you trust! Lesson 2—time (a lot of time in this case!) between the point of creation and the edits does allow for a more clear view of a story. Writers don’t always have the luxury of so much time before tackling the hard work of rewriting. But the time and distance were a blessing for me on this book. I’m a better writer now than when I originally wrote it. I’m also a better self editor. And most importantly, I can very clearly see what my super smart editor meant when she asked for all the changes!

Now I just have to finish those edits. Here’s to a productive new year!

So is anyone else tackling a much procrastinated on project this year? Facing a fear in order to meet your resolution?