There are revisions and then there are revisions. I’m in the middle of two different kinds of revision right now.
On MAGE STORM, I’m starting the second pass through of the second draft. Technically, that’s a revision, although what I expect to look for and correct in this draft has already resulted in more than 10,000 new words. It’s at least as much new writing as it is revision of what’s already written. I think I may add as much as 5,000 more in this pass. In fact, this pass is the first in which I’m really going to look at what’s already there, because I have some critiques on the first three chapters. Other than that, I’ll be looking for places where I tell what should be shown or where I need to add to the descriptions or provide more internal monologue.
On DREAMER’S ROSE, I’m working through the revisions from an ongoing chapter exchange. DREAMER’S ROSE is actually in a very odd place right now. I’m working on the chapter exchange and the suggestions are improving the story immensely. I did six chapters this week, which filled a couple of plot holes and fixed a couple of places where I just didn’t make the characters work hard enough. I actually did add one scene and beef up some world-building description, but it’s often as much about what I delete as what I add.
On the other hand, these chapter revisions have also shown me that this one is going to need a much heavier revision, especially in the early chapters. I’ve all but decided to make this YA. It’s really close anyway. Most of the story only needs a few tweaks. The beginning, which needs the heaviest revision anyway, is the part that will have to change the most, because the novel currently starts with an older character, not the YA character. Part of me is starting to get really excited about those changes. I’m getting the itch to start, but I’m going to hold off until the chapter exchange is complete.
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