Comments on: Revision Is a State of Mind http://kidlit.com/2009/12/02/revision-is-a-state-of-mind/ A place for people who love, read and write children's literature. Tue, 22 May 2012 02:20:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.3 By: Susan James http://kidlit.com/2009/12/02/revision-is-a-state-of-mind/comment-page-1/#comment-2296 Susan James Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:03:55 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=944#comment-2296 Have any of you read Jonathon Strange and Mr. Norrell? I'm like Norrell; he can't ever publish anything because he constantly feels its not ready. I can't stop rewriting my opening chapters. I started very moody. Then, I cut out the first 5 chapters. I made it funnier. Now, edgier. I just can't stop. New opening scenes come into my mind. I try really hard to ignore them. I write other stories. Go out of town. Volunteer for my kids' fieldtrips. But the new ideas won't go away. I wish I had an agent and editor, somebody wise who would just say- this is it: you've got it. Stop now. Have any of you read Jonathon Strange and Mr. Norrell? I’m like Norrell; he can’t ever publish anything because he constantly feels its not ready. I can’t stop rewriting my opening chapters. I started very moody. Then, I cut out the first 5 chapters. I made it funnier. Now, edgier. I just can’t stop. New opening scenes come into my mind. I try really hard to ignore them. I write other stories. Go out of town. Volunteer for my kids’ fieldtrips. But the new ideas won’t go away. I wish I had an agent and editor, somebody wise who would just say- this is it: you’ve got it. Stop now.

]]> By: Kristi http://kidlit.com/2009/12/02/revision-is-a-state-of-mind/comment-page-1/#comment-2283 Kristi Thu, 03 Dec 2009 21:52:22 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=944#comment-2283 I enjoy the revision process and even blogged about it. I tend to be a bit of a perfectionist and want things to be great before sending them out so the feedback from beta readers and critique partners is invaluable to me. I can't wait to hear more about the revision process. I enjoy the revision process and even blogged about it. I tend to be a bit of a perfectionist and want things to be great before sending them out so the feedback from beta readers and critique partners is invaluable to me. I can’t wait to hear more about the revision process.

]]> By: bjanderson http://kidlit.com/2009/12/02/revision-is-a-state-of-mind/comment-page-1/#comment-2275 bjanderson Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:00:12 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=944#comment-2275 This is exciting! Thanks for that awesome link to the Scrivener thing, Gwenda. I'd never heard of it before. And I love this post because it makes me feel like maybe I'm on the right track, or someday will be, lol. I really do love revisions because I feel like I have something to work with. I put way more time into revisions than actually writing the initial manuscript. Besides the Scrivener program and your posts to come, Mary, do you have any favorite books or resources on editing that you can recommend? This is exciting! Thanks for that awesome link to the Scrivener thing, Gwenda. I’d never heard of it before. And I love this post because it makes me feel like maybe I’m on the right track, or someday will be, lol.

I really do love revisions because I feel like I have something to work with. I put way more time into revisions than actually writing the initial manuscript. Besides the Scrivener program and your posts to come, Mary, do you have any favorite books or resources on editing that you can recommend?

]]> By: Twitted by yabookwriter http://kidlit.com/2009/12/02/revision-is-a-state-of-mind/comment-page-1/#comment-2273 Twitted by yabookwriter Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:46:11 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=944#comment-2273 [...] This post was Twitted by yabookwriter [...] [...] This post was Twitted by yabookwriter [...]

]]> By: Siski http://kidlit.com/2009/12/02/revision-is-a-state-of-mind/comment-page-1/#comment-2259 Siski Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:52:47 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=944#comment-2259 Gwenda, thanks so much for the Scrivener tip. I was going to go prehistoric-style with a paper and pen, involving much hair-pulling... and in the end I would have looked like a crazy cavewoman! I'm a Mac lady anyhow, so it suits me perfectly. Thanks! Gwenda, thanks so much for the Scrivener tip. I was going to go prehistoric-style with a paper and pen, involving much hair-pulling… and in the end I would have looked like a crazy cavewoman!

I’m a Mac lady anyhow, so it suits me perfectly. Thanks!

]]> By: Laura http://kidlit.com/2009/12/02/revision-is-a-state-of-mind/comment-page-1/#comment-2257 Laura Thu, 03 Dec 2009 01:27:08 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=944#comment-2257 This was a really great post, and I enjoyed the link to your other post about How much revision is normal. Why is it that I feel I need permission to rewrite an entire book? It's mine. I'm allowed. Right? =) I think the worst part about revising is going back through what (for me at least) is usually a really bad first draft. But that's also the great part, because it frees me up to let that first draft just come out, however it comes out. I am really looking forward to your upcoming posts about character, plot, etc. This was a really great post, and I enjoyed the link to your other post about How much revision is normal. Why is it that I feel I need permission to rewrite an entire book? It’s mine. I’m allowed. Right? =)

I think the worst part about revising is going back through what (for me at least) is usually a really bad first draft. But that’s also the great part, because it frees me up to let that first draft just come out, however it comes out.

I am really looking forward to your upcoming posts about character, plot, etc.

]]> By: Mary http://kidlit.com/2009/12/02/revision-is-a-state-of-mind/comment-page-1/#comment-2255 Mary Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:32:54 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=944#comment-2255 Rhiannon -- What about them, specifically? Just... what makes a solid ending? I will add that to my pile. I've already written a pretty snazzy (if I don't say so myself) post about beginnings. :) Rhiannon — What about them, specifically? Just… what makes a solid ending? I will add that to my pile. I’ve already written a pretty snazzy (if I don’t say so myself) post about beginnings. :)

]]> By: Rhiannon Hart http://kidlit.com/2009/12/02/revision-is-a-state-of-mind/comment-page-1/#comment-2254 Rhiannon Hart Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:31:53 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=944#comment-2254 Could you also do an extra-special post about endings if you can? They're driving me nuts right now. Or if you have a previous post you can direct me too that would also be great! Could you also do an extra-special post about endings if you can? They’re driving me nuts right now. Or if you have a previous post you can direct me too that would also be great!

]]> By: Julie Duck http://kidlit.com/2009/12/02/revision-is-a-state-of-mind/comment-page-1/#comment-2252 Julie Duck Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:45:59 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=944#comment-2252 Oh no! Not the dreaded Voice!!!!! Ahhhhhhhh! Just kidding. These posts will be very beneficial for all of your readers, and I look forward to enjoying them. - Julie Oh no! Not the dreaded Voice!!!!! Ahhhhhhhh! Just kidding. These posts will be very beneficial for all of your readers, and I look forward to enjoying them.

- Julie

]]> By: Elizabeth Prats http://kidlit.com/2009/12/02/revision-is-a-state-of-mind/comment-page-1/#comment-2250 Elizabeth Prats Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:33:52 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=944#comment-2250 Oh! That actually sounds very helpful! Thanks, I may look into that program :] Oh! That actually sounds very helpful! Thanks, I may look into that program :]

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