Friday, November 18, 2016

Revising Old Manuscripts

Ever since I had a R and R (revise and resubmit) offer from an editor last month, I have been on cloud nine. With that editor’s insightful and helpful feedback, I have attacked my manuscript with gusto and am revising it with a whole lot of enthusiasm. When you know what exactly to fix in your story, revisions become a cakewalk.

Infact, after that particular editor’s comments on one manuscript, I’m rewriting all my stories from the past one month. You can even say that I’m on a revising old manuscripts road trip. I’ve literally pulled out all my earlier written work:  be it middle grade or picture books, and am tweaking them slowly, chapter by chapter. The result is pretty decent (atleast I think so).

I feel that it’s not just important for writers to write more and more, but also to go back, atleast once, and rework/rewrite previously written stories. As the more we write and read other people’s books, the more we can see the faults in our own work. With this new writing wisdom, it becomes easier to tackle and revamp older manuscripts which now occupy space inside our laptops.

I tweaked two picture books a couple of days back and sent it to an editor and hopefully the middle grade manuscript too will leave my computer by the end of the month.

Do you revisit your previously written stories? Or do you forget about them and move on to the newer ones?



12 comments:

  1. I went back to a really old manuscript once. I'd say it worked out.
    Obviously what that editor suggested was just the item you needed to fix many stories! When you know what to do, it's awesome.

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  2. I've worked on my first manuscript many times. Congrats on getting a revise and resubmit request from an editor.

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  3. The ms I'm working on for NaNo is one I've picked up and put down a number of times. Hopefully, this draft will be the one I can really revise and build on.

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  4. How great to get that kind of feedback. I'm so happy for you. I have occasionally gone back and revised an old manuscript.

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  5. I do a lot of revisions of previous stories. I got a Revise and Resubmit request as well which I'm working on after NaNoWriMo. XD

    storitorigrace.blogspot.com

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  6. I wish I could go back and revise just once. Instead I go back 20 times. Never satisfied. Glad your editor was a help, Rachna.

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  7. I've rewritten old manuscripts before. and I always learn so much from it. The book always gets better, too. :)

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  8. I revisit them, but I haven't been successful at a revision yet. Best wishes on yours!

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  9. When cleaning my office recently, I came across several stories I'd like to revise and resubmit. Thanks for lending extra inspiration. Cheering you on in the journey! :)

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  10. Writing is rewriting, for sure. Glad that you're feeling inspired in the editing department! :)

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  11. That's great that you had a R&R. Get cracking and do it.

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