Sometimes, when we are still unpublished, we think that if only we could get The Call, everything would be easier. We'd have an editor and our books would be on the shelves. And, yes, while this is true and it is a most wonderful thing, there is still work to be done. The kind of work that when you get it as an unpublished writer, you are discouraged and think you'll never get there.
But I have to tell you that part of your life as a published author is rewriting. Successfully, regularly, and when asked. I have recently done a lot of rewriting. And right now, I'm rewriting the novella that's due in two weeks. Why? Because my editor wanted my internal conflicts to be better. I thought they were pretty good in the 25 pages I sent to her, but she was right as always and they could be better.
So I chucked those 25 pages and started again. Now, I have only days until it's due and a lot of pages still to write. Which means I will be scarce, but I'll check in and report on my progress when I can.
Remember, if you've recently gotten a rejection with a suggestion for massive rewrites, don't be discouraged. Published writers have to do it too. And so will you, so get used to it now and get busy. 🙂
(And can you believe that tomorrow is December already? OMG!)
I just blogged about this process as well. I feel as an unpublished author, it is very important for me to work on the process of revision. I KNOW I will be asked to do it when I get the Call. And I had better learn how to do it fast.
It’s hard to see the flaws when we are looking at our own work. I’m reading my VA CP’s work right now (so good–she’s worked so hard) and there are still bits of polishing work to do. Minor bits, but she’s learned to revise and chunk whole bits of work because of bigger issues.
Good luck and I know you’ll get finished! Happy Holidays!!
Thanks, Christine! Good luck with your revisions too! Trust me, it’s hard to see the flaws even when your editor points them out. 🙂 But I do, and then I work.
First I want to congratulate you on a wonderful couple of years! I’ve followed your blog since your Presents win and plundered your archives and found terrific lessons and insights on your road to publication and beyond. Today’s post had me coming out of lurkdom. to thank you for keeping it real. Hugs from the graduating class.
Hi, Eve! Thanks so much. I’m glad if anything you’ve found here has helped you at all. 🙂 Best of luck with your own journey!
Good luck getting your rewrites done, Lynn!
I just sent in the revisions I made to one of my previous submissions and got a request for those revisions this morning. Yay!
Thanks, Kathy! And WOOHOO on your request!
Oops, I need to revise my comment. I meant to say, I got a request for the revisions I did and sent them in this morning. Whew! I don’t know how you do it. 😳
We all must have revisions on the brain because I just blogged about it last week. I just got a request for a partial today, so I had to run back through my MS for some last-minute tweaks.
Anyway, it’s always nice to hear about the realities of a published author’s life. Good luck with your novella rewrites and enjoy the holidays! 😀
Gwen, congrats on the partial request and good luck!! 😛
Great news, Gwen! Good luck with that request!
Thanks Lynn and Kathy. And, Lynn, I can’t believe tomorrow is December already, either. I think I missed November completely!
Hi, Jo! I hear you, believe me. And when I was unpublished, I really loved it when an author told me the real story. Because you read a published book and you wonder if they wrote it that way perfectly to start, or what.
I always invite those who think that romance is easy to write their own. And then I tell them to get back to me when they get that multi-book mega deal. 😈 They never will, of course.