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| Leap off the deep end. www.morguefile.com |
Then I thought about it. And thought. And decided that the last 10k words were boring as hell. So I took a leap off the deep end and deleted them. Yep. Gawn.
I've rewritten most of them now adding pizzazz and excitement. I've just got the last chapter to write. What to do? Make it go out with a bang? Let it fizzle out like a damp squib? End it with a HEA cliché. *sigh*
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Wow, you were brave to press that delete button. I know I never have the guts to press delete. Best of luck with the last chapter. I know you will make it amazing. Enjoy.
ReplyDeleteThanks Murees! I know, it took some doing but I KEPT thinking, it's boring, it's boring. And I couldn't have that, could I? LOL
DeleteBoring is never good. I have several endings to choose from with mine. I always write more than one.
ReplyDeleteHugs and chocolate,
Shelly
Gosh, Shelly. I can't even come up with ONE ending - you have several!
DeleteThat deleting 10,000 words feeling? I empathize. I had to rewrite 1/2 a book recently.
ReplyDeleteif you feel they've gotta go, Brinda, then they've gotta go :-D
DeleteI've been deleting large sections of my story during my second pass through and I've been surprised by how good it makes me feel. The book was too long anyway. Glad you're back into the swing of IWSG.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ken. Glad the deleting's not been too traumatic
DeleteYikes. I'm glad you recognized boring and just went with finding amazing! I am in the middle of a complete rewrite of my 3rd book. My editor got the idea that my 3rd book should become my 2nd and should be completely turned around. She is a good salesperson because she sold me on the idea.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with reaching the end...and then send!!
doreenmcgettigan.com
I did have a beta reader (who is brilliant) read the first part at one time and she told me to get to the bl**dy point a bit quicker. So that was a lesson I never forgot - and now I'm beginning to recognize when I'm waffling. Thanks Doreen. Gosh, turning a third book into a second that's no easy task! Good luck!
Deletethanks again for your help over at beautiful chaos. rewrites seem to take forever. good luck.
ReplyDeleteOK, I admit it, I don't remember, I didn't even know you were IWSG, but I'm glad you are. It's an inspiration to here of someone deleting 10,000 words YIKES, but when it's gotta go I guess, it's gotta go.
ReplyDeleteI remember....lol! You are very brave and I know the hard work will be worth it. I can't wait to read what you have done :)
ReplyDeleteThat's a big chunk to delete. Congrats that that the rewrite came out much better.
ReplyDeletePleasure Michelle - you had a great post. Farawayeyes - that's alright I forgive you LOL - yep, when it's gotta go, it's gotta.
ReplyDeleteSiv - I think it was the second delete actually! I hope it has come out better Diane.
Boring is bad. I haven't dumped as much as 10K before, but I have dumped pages that were dull or just made me mad to read them because I knew they could be better. Sometimes it is best to toss out the bad stuff and go for it on writing some fresh ones.
ReplyDeleteAfter all that drama I hope the novel goes out with a bang now. :)
Whoa! That would be fifteen percent of my manuscript. I say go out with a bang.
ReplyDeleteAh ha! Lu - out with a bang it shall go then :-D
ReplyDeleteAlex too? Righty ho -
Bangs are good. But I usually find the right ending appears magically as you write your way towards it.
ReplyDeleteIf you thought it boring, no doubt the readers would also. Sometimes looking at something in a totally unique way leads to clarity
ReplyDeleteI think it will Annalisa, but the magic must be coming from Australia, 'cos it's taking its time!
DeleteThanks Sue - yes, it was boring :-)
I have to really distance myself from the story when I know there's hacking to do. It can be hard, but I've never regretted it afterwards.
ReplyDeleteEndings! I guess I've been lucky that endings are easy for me. It's beginnings that kill me. I rewrite the first chapter over and over and over...Every story in my head comes with characters and a closing scene. It's how they got there that I have to plot out and where to start is SO hard.
ReplyDeleteYes, Pk, distancing yourself is the best thing (and knowing I waffle also helps!)
DeleteCharity, it's funny, isn't it, how we're all so different. I quite like beginnings - even though I have an idea how it'll end, its the last chapter that kills me every time.
Ah. I, too, deleted over 10,000 words from my WIP when I realized it had taken a wrong turn. *sigh* that was really hard to do, but the story is SO MUCH better now! Good for you for taking on the task.
ReplyDeleteWell, good for you too Margo!!! It's not easy, although I must admit I did use SOME of those 10k words again (the good ones :-) )
DeleteGood for you. That's difficult to do, but worth it.
ReplyDeleteWelcome (back) to the group! :)
August co-host and IWSG #110
Thanks Melissa - and thanks for co-hosting!
ReplyDeleteJust stopping by from the IWSG :)
ReplyDeleteGood for you for deleting words. I know a lot of people who wouldn't be able to lol
Good luck with your ending, im useless at making decisions on how something will end ;)
xx
You are one brave woman! Where your characters upset when you changed their plot at that 10k line?
ReplyDelete