Cheerful Revisions by Leigh Riker

Years ago, when I lived in Connecticut and belonged to the oh-so-wonderful RWA chapter there, one of my writer friends called me “the queen of cheerful revision.” I still love that term, but maybe I was just good at hiding my other reactions.


I don’t know about you, but my favorite part of writing is the first draft. For a little while, that book is all mine, and I get to find out what happens next to my new characters before anyone can call my “baby” ugly. But this isolation can produce some silly mistakes in first drafts, and I’ve gone completely off the rails at times, so it’s more than good another professional is there at the next step to get me back on track. We can all use help—and another clear, objective look at what we’ve written.

This is not to say I don’t sometimes resist (does this sound familiar?) and, when reading an editor’s comments for the first time, even weep. I’m suddenly the reverse of Sally Field long ago when she won an Oscar saying, “You like me. You really like me!” More recently, one of my writer pals got her revision letter and wondered if there’d been anything to like about her new novel. Still, after I’ve had a chance to look over any editorial comments again, I’m okay. I’m certain my friend will be too.

We writers have tender egos, but it’s not about ego; it’s about putting out the very best book possible. And after a brief indulgence in the classic stages of (fictional) grief, what do you know? The editor was right! I go back to work, and pretty soon I’m happily finding ever more chances to deepen and enhance my story. Nuances in the conflicts make themselves known. If I'm lucky, I may—best case scenario—even surprise myself with some nifty plot twist.

For instance: Slight Spoiler Alert here. When I was writing Cowboy On Call (Book #3 of my Kansas Cowboys series for Heartwarming, November 2017), my doctor hero felt responsible for a young boy’s death in a far-away fictional country high in the Himalayas. The child had a name but that was about all—until out of the blue, while deep in revisions, I had a sudden epiphany, and thus a much more personal, and heart wrenching, connection for these two than I’d thought.


Revision gives us an opportunity to put our best foot forward, to deliver the story that might have been hiding somewhere inside that first, rough draft—waiting to be revealed.

A big thank-you to my editor for her brilliant suggestions. They’re going to make Book #4 of my series, Wannabe Cowboy (working title), sooo much better than it was. I didn’t cry at all.

How do you feel about revisions? Love them or not?


Comments

  1. I love revisions and edits. They get all the wrinkles out--even the ones I didn't know were there. But I've sniffled a few times, too, and may have even had a minor tantrum--thank goodness I'm alone in here!

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  2. Yay, Liz! It is an amazing experience to discover the gems that were buried in a rough draft. Which is what I hope to do today. 😊

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  3. All that you write here, Leigh, is so painfully familiar! :). But you’re so right when you say that revisions do bring out the full potential of the original manuscript. In a way, we all work in a vacuum, don’t we? So it’s especially encouraging for us to know this happens to all. Thanks for the reminder and all the best with the revising!

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    1. Thank you, Janice! So true, we do write in a vacuum--until an editor joins the process to make things better. As Liz said, we're not really alone.

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  4. I think of the first draft as sort of unfettered "yin," expansive and an exploration and such, and then the revisions and edits are the "yang" of writing, focused and mindful of structure and rhythm--and surprises that come through. Both processes are fun in their special ways.

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    1. Good point, Virginia. The two are very different, for sure. I like your yin/yang take on this. I'd never thought of it that way.

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  5. I can honestly say that I've never had revisions that didn't make my book better and stronger. Editors see things we, the writer, miss or read past. Not all are easy, but I feel lucky to have had a series of really good editors for my work.

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    1. Absolutely, Roz. It's fascinating what an editor sees that has gone right past me.

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  6. A painful but necessary process :) then we feel so much better with the end result!


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  7. When I got my revisions for my first book, I was shocked. First, I had no idea how much went into producing a book and second, I kept saying to myself, "If there is this much wrong, why did they buy my book?" Now I see that those revision will just make my book so much better and look forward to them. Although I'm probably not the queen of cheerful revisions, yet! Can't wait to read your story!

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    1. Thanks, LeAnne! I'm in the throes of revision today but having fun with them.

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  8. I love writing the first draft. It's like meeting new friends who love you. Even when they disagree with you and want to go their own way, it's exciting to find out what happens. I'm a plotter, so I think I know what happens, but the character take over and I go with them. I'm in the process now. I have a book due this month and I'm on a chapter from the end. Then edits (mine) and mail.

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    1. Best of luck with that last chapter, Shirley. Love your "meeting new friends" and they remain friends long after the book comes out, don't they? I still feel like I know the very first hero I wrote.

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    2. Me too. I know my first hero from the first published book. I also know the hero from the first book that's still under the bed.

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  9. While I don't do many while I'm writing (I edit as I go), yeah, I love getting those notes from my editor about tweaking and improving. Like Roz said, I know it's going to make the story better. By my process is so wacky from most other people, LOL. But it works so far! Great post, Leigh!

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    1. Thanks, blog buddy. Everyone's process is different. In fact, mine has been different with this book.

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  10. Revisions on my first book were a little scary, because we ended up cutting out a part that set up much of the conflict, so it took some major thought to rewrite. I love the polishing part of writing. I push through the first draft so that I can have fun moving things around, rewording dialogue, and adding and removing details. Yet it's still a shock to discover I've used the word "little" (or whatever) two hundred times. Great post. Now back to editing.

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    1. I'm redoing conflict right now! And moving all the blocks around to make them fit in a better place. Cut a bunch of stuff too. My word this time seems to be "even." Ha. It's always something. Best to you with your editing, Beth.

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  11. Great attitude about revisions, Leigh. Your comment about Sally Field had me curious... I've always heard people say that, "You like me, you really like me!" but I didn't quite know why. I knew that it was Sally's quote but didn't quite know the backstory so I googled it and came across this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCnPEwvtwmY Would you believe that this is up for heated debate on the internet? She actually says, "You like me, you like me!" but there are people who insist that it's the Mandela effect and she did say "really" and those of who believe she didn't are living in an alternate universe. What a way to go down the rabbit hole this morning! Anyway, congratulations on the book! I hope "Wannabe Cowboy" isn't just a working title... I like it!

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    1. Oops, it's actually "You like me, right now, you like me!"

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    2. Wow, that is good to know. I was always embarrassed for her that she said that--like the ultimate insecurity in this huge public arena--but I'm sure she was simply carried away by the moment. My favorite scene of hers is the one in Steel Magnolias at her daughter's funeral. Perfect. Thanks, Krissie. I'm glad you like my title. So do I.

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    3. I agree, it definitely sounds like a "caught up in the moment" utterance. I wonder how she feels about the fact that so many people remember her saying to this day. I loved Steel Magnolias. I named our family dog Shelby after Julia Roberts' character. Both amazing actresses. :-)

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    4. Oh, how sweet. Shelby's a great name for your dog. Now I have to watch the movie again.

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  12. Once I get past the disappointment that my rough work isn't perfect, and get through the sometimes brain hurting process of fixing that work, it's a better book. In general, I like revising. After a couple of hours of tweaking, I'm usually in a good mood.

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    1. Yes, me too. Once you get started, the new ideas start coming and the revisions really get rolling. I do wish the book would end up perfect, but that's only a dream. Sigh. Feeling satisfied in the end has to be enough.

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  13. My mantra while writing the first draft: You can't edit what you haven't written. :-) So I guess you're not surprised that I'd rather edit than write that first draft. lol Great post!

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