From: seawasp@sgeinc.invalid.com   
      
   On 8/19/14 7:07 AM, Nicky wrote:   
   >   
   > I have revised obviously, but I am really dreadful at it. I will do it quite   
   quickly under contract but with speculative work I struggle to do it all.   
   > My approach:   
   > I do a diagram of my old chapters then plan a new arrangement, marking in   
   changes of voice etc. Then I open the old file have a second file called   
   offcuts and dump everything I don't think works in the offcuts file.   
   > Problems:   
   > 1. I think the chief one is it takes longer than writing the novel in the   
   first place and is less fun.   
   > ( my lit writer friends would die of apoplexy at this point because all   
   proper writing is rewriting)   
   > 2. I tend to kill whatever it was that I liked about in the first place. I   
   lose faith in the project entirely and convince myself a new idea is better.   
   > These are all the same point really - essentially I lose interest hence the   
   number of finished but need revising mss knocking around the house.   
   >   
   > Any helpful hints beyond 'Get over yourself, Nicky ?'   
   >   
   > Nicky   
   >   
      
      
   	Probably not, I'm afraid. I revise if it's been long enough that the   
   world I'm writing in changed in my head (generally 5+ years) or if an   
   editor tells me "this needs to be changed" and I (A) agree, and (B) can   
   see a good way to do the change that doesn't damage the book otherwise.   
      
   	In the latter case, of course, "how" isn't really an issue; I know what   
   has to be changed, I know how the change fits into the book, I write it.   
      
   	In the former case, it's usually a fairly comprehensive rewrite, not   
   just revision.   
      
   --   
                         Sea Wasp   
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