Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Revision Freakout #1

I'm trying to revise my WIP (translation: failing miserably at it). I have some major revisions I need to tackle, but they are in the middle and near the end of the book. But I keep getting stuck at the beginning of the book because I want to polish before I move any deeper.

I know it's a stall tactic on my part; I'm still not sure how, exactly, I'm going to fix some of those scenes near the back. But I'm also dealing with some PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder for you non-psychologists in the crowd). I shared the first draft (yes, the very first draft) with my agent, who of course said he loved it and then gave me some suggestions of places that needed revisions, which I agreed to tackle next.

But now I'm looking at the manuscript and cringing at how terrible it is. And my agent liked it? *GASP* He must either be lying to me or delusional! Because there is no way this pile of poo I call a manuscript can be loved by anyone other than Oscar the Grouch. He likes garbage. This manuscript is garbage. I should just give it to Oscar and cut my losses.

But on a good note, I normally have a panic attack and doubt myself as I'm trying to figure out how to revise the first draft. So you might say I'm wigging out right on schedule. And next up is The Breakthrough, so I guess I should hold on a little bit longer.

Sorry, Oscar. I'm keeping the manuscript after all.

14 comments:

  1. This happened to me last week - I was convinced my WIP was the worst thing ever, and I had no idea why my agent had ever signed me. Doubts like that suck...but I can say that this week I'm over it! Hang in there :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Well, at least you know yourself and that you'll come through this! Ain't being a writer grande?? :) Good luck with the revisions!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Glad to know I'm in good company, Kirsten!

    And being a writer is certainly...something else, isn't it, Kelly. :)

    Thanks for your comments, you two!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm having the same problem, E. (Well, except for the agent part. I don't have one of those yet). I know some things I need to fix deeper in my ms, but I'm still not happy with the beginning. I start reading the first page and get depressed. *sigh*

    ReplyDelete
  5. *hugs* Larissa. It's stinks, I know, but I'm so glad to hear I'm not alone. I guess it's that whole "misery loves company" thing and all...

    ReplyDelete
  6. I don't have an agent yet, either, but keep in mind that your agent is probably way more objective about this than you are!

    ReplyDelete
  7. (((hugs))) I feel your pain. I battle the same feelings all the time. But a little perspective here. You have a friggin' agent! Do you realize how hard it is to snag an agent. Someone who believes in you? Someone who has connections. That's over half the battle. You're on the right track. Fight off the negative thoughts with the knowledge that you have people in your corner that matter. You go girl!

    :0) I'm in your corner too!


    Christy (by way of Verla Kay)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Probably, Kaylie. Still, I can't believe how terrible my first draft was. I must have been insane to share it with him!

    (But at least he knows the *worst* I can do. And he's still here. So that's a good sign.)

    ReplyDelete
  9. And thanks for the pep talk, Christy! Some days I need a good talking to.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Elissa- I saw the blurb for your book on the Blueboards and loved it. You've got a fantastic voice. Hang in there and send that internal critic packing!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Aw, thanks Christina! You know, I really don't know what my "voice" is, but everyone else seems to love it. So I must be doing something right!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Elissa - Since you're keeping your manuscript, you can send Oscar my way, I've got a pile of garbage he can snack on!

    ReplyDelete
  13. You can do it! Is this your first or second book? I know its better than you think if is since I've read at least part of it.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Now MEG! No Oscar talk! If I can hang on to my garbage and possibly make something out of it, you can too.

    And Alice, it's the second book. The one I've been bringing to group the last few months. That pile of garbage. ;) You've read the first two chapters, I think.

    ReplyDelete