Tag Archives: Editing

The Sunguard edit has met with some success. The story nearly doubled in size, and maybe 100 words remains of the original story. The changes are definitely for the better. The ending took an odd turn, but I think it works. I’ve got it out to some readers now, so hopefully soon I’ll know if I’ve gone off the deep end or not. Happy reading, my friends. 🙂

I’ve been working on multiple things since Sunday, not really getting too far with any of them. On the other hand, I’ve managed to regain control over the day-job workflow, and I think that (and the two year old) have consumed most of my energy. Oh, and the growing one, too. (Pats tummy).

Something drastic has to happen to Sunguard. I’m playing with the different scenes, but I still don’t have the right combination. The story concept is right, the characters are right, even the viewpoint is right, but it’s the sequence of presenting the events that’s bothering me. Backstory is fine, but in a short story, an entire page of backstory is too much. I generally try to avoid flashbacks unless the story truly needs it. This story either needs the flashback (groan) or I need to start earlier. But that means dragging my readers through an event akin to a meteor shower and hitting those same people once a month for three to four months. I think that’ll kill the interest in the character. Those events, those changes, lead to what Ashelle is dealing with now. I think the event isn’t so much the “meteor shower” but Ashelle’s interpretation of it. I don’t like my options right now. I feel like there’s another option, but at the moment, I can’t identify it. I’ll keep playing with it, I guess. It’ll hit me eventually.

Something clicked or unblocked or woke up, not quite sure which one at the moment, but am half way through the Sunguard edit. Out of nowhere.

Maybe it’s my magic notebook? It told me to edit Sunguard tonight…

When is an edit not an edit? When it’s a complete rewrite. I think that’s my problem with Sunguard. I deleted the first three pages, wrote another two and a half, but I’m going to delete most of that. I’ll wait until I get the ending sorted out, then tie the beginning directly to that. In the meantime, I’m not happy with what I rewrote.

I’m right back at the original issue of viewpoint, too. Ashelle’s voice hits my fingers in the first person, and I’m forcing her back to third. (I type often before I realize what’s in my head). I don’t write first person well, but I don’t think Ashelle is giving me a choice this time.

I also think I’ve started the story in the wrong place. (Real interesting timing with the online advanced fiction course I’m taking through University of Madison. The first lesson is “Begin Someplace That Matters”.)

Since I’m rewriting this anyway, I’ll try the first person, see if I can’t do something decent with it. It may help to reread one of my viewpoint reference books. Maybe I’ll grab it on the way up to bed.

On the upside, I decided today I wanted to start sketching again. I don’t know where it came from, aside from sharing my beloved colored pencils with my two year old daughter.