My self-confidence took a big hit. I felt sure that this draft was well nigh unto publishable as it was, and that I would wrap it up by year's end. Instead, it's apparently in no better shape than any first *submission* draft I've ever turned in. It's not the worst first pass--that honor falls to the CI initial submission. The difference is that I knew the CI submission was in horrible shape--I warned agent and editor via email that it wasn't ready to be read and that I was only turning it in because I had to turn in something at that point. I felt that the ENDGAME story was solid, and what doubts I had could be fixed with minor tweaking.
Well, no.
It's not a ground-floor rewrite, but there will be some major structural changes. One entire POV is going to be pitched, and that is going to require some major retooling in places. In a way, it will be returning to the book I originally envisioned years ago. But some work will be required to get it to that place.
I should say that editor did tell me she "really likes this". What's shaken me is my apparent lack of ability to figure out on my own what isn't working. Maybe that's not the awful thing I fear it is. Maybe that's why God Made Editors. But I always seem to insert these major pieces that just don't work, and someone else always seems to have to break the news. I may sense that these pieces aren't as strong as they need to be, but I don't consider that they're unfixable. Even when they are.
Every time I think I would like to make my living, or even part of my living, at this, something happens to drive home the point that I really should reconsider. I really admire the folks who can hit their marks the first time, but damn, I am not that kind of writer and it seems to be getting worse as I age.
no subject
Well, no.
It's not a ground-floor rewrite, but there will be some major structural changes. One entire POV is going to be pitched, and that is going to require some major retooling in places. In a way, it will be returning to the book I originally envisioned years ago. But some work will be required to get it to that place.
I should say that editor did tell me she "really likes this". What's shaken me is my apparent lack of ability to figure out on my own what isn't working. Maybe that's not the awful thing I fear it is. Maybe that's why God Made Editors. But I always seem to insert these major pieces that just don't work, and someone else always seems to have to break the news. I may sense that these pieces aren't as strong as they need to be, but I don't consider that they're unfixable. Even when they are.
Every time I think I would like to make my living, or even part of my living, at this, something happens to drive home the point that I really should reconsider. I really admire the folks who can hit their marks the first time, but damn, I am not that kind of writer and it seems to be getting worse as I age.