Insecure Writer’s Support Group (IWSG) is enjoying its monthly blog-fest invented by Alex J. Cavanaugh. IWSG is a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds.
The awesome co-hosts for our February 5th posting of the IWSG are: Joylene Nowell Butler, Louise Barbour, and Tyrean Martinson!
QUESTION: Is there a story or book you’ve written you want to/wish you could go back and change?
I’ve done this!
The first draft of The Edwards Investigations was written over a decade ago. Back then, it was called The Edwards Agency. I knew it held promise, but it just wasn’t there. I attempted several times to revise it, and I even started a second book, but I never made a commitment to the changes.
And I knew what the problem was. The book was ‘dated’ but wasn’t old enough to be historical. It just felt like it was something I’d pulled out of a box and presented to the world.
But it bugged me. I’d fallen in love with the characters, and didn’t want to abandon them.
So, I started over.
First thing I did was to pinpoint what years I wanted the book to be set in. That helped define the settings. I didn’t even open the old manuscript, except to verify the main characters’ names. But I didn’t need to. The story had taken up a permanent residence in the archives of my brain. And stayed there. It became no more than a background for the new plot.
Still, it took me over a year to complete the new and improved product. (Partly due to personal issues I won’t go into here.) But when I finished it, it came with a sense of accomplishment. I’d finally done justice to the original premise without replicating it.
Now, I’m working on a second book in the series. It’s slow going, but it’s going to take time to weave together the threads I envision.
That’s it for me. Hope you’ll check out some of the other authors who are part of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group
And as always, please stay safe until the next time.
Old MS – How to revise, especially now everything changes in a blink. Glad you made that old book work. Unless a best selling, book a year writer, how to keep up ?
For Northanger Abbey, Jane Austen didn’t get that chance, but, in her own words, ‘ lop’t and crop’t ‘ First Impressions to give the world Pride and Prejudice.
The book I revised was an exception to my normal work flow. The main characters wouldn’t leave me alone and I finally found the right story for them.
I love the cover. No doubt the rest is just as awesome. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
Thanks, Anna. I love my cover artist.
Well done, PJ! The cover is great. Is that a floppy disc I’m seeing? I remember when that was an exciting, new form of technology ~ lol. Happy IWSG Day!
Yes, that a floppy disc. The story is set around 1985- The dawn of personal computers.
I’m a slow writer, too (mostly because of life and a day job), but my first drafts are closer to publish-ready than those of faster writers. It all works out. Good luck with your sequel!
I’m slower than I used to be. But I’m ‘crafting’ the story rather than writing to get the story out of my head.
Well done! It’s so satisfying to solve the puzzle of a book problem, and I’m glad you solved yours! Happy IWSG Day!
The sense of accomplishment was almost equal to releasing my first book.
I wish I have the patience as you do. I like the idea of starting over because sometimes if you are attached to your writing, you can’t let go and that makes it harder to write. Starting over, I think, is actually a good way to let go of what doesn’t work.
Have a lovely day.
It was scary, starting over. But it was worth it!
Interesting. I hope you’re happier with the revision than you were with the original. @samanthabwriter from
Balancing Act
Much happier, The plot has more substance, and the characters are better developed.
That’s awesome! I did that with a really old manuscript – completely rewrote it. Became my first published book so definitely happy with it now.
It’s really satisfying to take an old story and polish it.