edit my book

I had three people read my book, and have a few idea’s which I’d like to implement into it now. This means adding a few chapters, and completely re-writing much of the end. I’m having a hard time focusing on that because I keep getting caught up trying to read it from the beginning again and I end up editing. I guess I should ignore any edits until I get to the point where I want to edit, if there are “small” edits before that, I should ignore them.

In the meantime, I keep having little visions and inspiration for the second book in the series, so I’ve been writing more in that. I guess it’s ok. Someone told me the first book usually sucks anyway, so why not go onto the second? I just really want to finish editing the first book first.

Editing seems to be more complicated than I thought. Writing it was much easier!

I have finally gotten to the point where I can have others look at my work. I had someone edit it who just got back to me this week with edits, and they said they liked it. Next week I’m meeting with the second editor. I need to write a query letter soon so that I can find an agent. I’ve already compiled a list of agencies which work with my particular genre. Of course this has nothing to do with editing, so I won’t go into that here. I guess I’ll just say..it’s on it’s way. (Guess the agent does play a part, because they usually ask you to edit anyway..if you get that far).

The small second edit isn’t a small second edit at all. I seem to be taking this book really seriously now for some reason. One day last week, I spent two hours on one paragraph. It was insane I tell ya. Granted, that was the only paragraph I’ve spent so long on so far, but still..geeez. I need to lighten up or something haha

When I gave up on the laptop idea, I got right to editing on my computer. I’m about 70% done with the first edit! I’m looking forward to printing it all out, and sitting down and reading it a few times. After a hopefully small 2nd edit, I’ll give it to someone else and get their input…finally!

Oh..and finding time has been very rough, some days I only have been able to work on it for 10-15 minutes. I just wanted to offer my advice to those who say they don’t have time. Trust me, I know how hard it is to find time, but even 15 minutes a day is progress! There have been a few days I’ve been able to devote more time to it, but most days I can’t devote much time at all. One sentence, one page, two pages…anything will get you to where you want to be.

I ordered one, and it was broken, and I returned it and realized that I don’t NEED it. It’d be nice, but it’s not absolutely necessary. I’ve since started editing on my computer. I’m making progress, but it’s extremely slow. Progress is progress though.

I wrote my book by hand, because it’s how I feel more comfortable writing. Editing is very hard when you’re doing it by hand…in fact, it’s near impossible unless I want to waste half a forest. I haven’t been working on this goal lately because I want a laptop very badly. I don’t like sitting at my computer to write, but wouldn’t mind having my laptop in my bed so I can be comfy while editing. Now if only I had the money for a laptop so I could complete this project.. I’ll be trying to get one in the next few months for my Alaska trip anyway. I will conquer..

I am extremely close to finishing off the beginning, and bringing the story up to speed where I had left off.. I wrote one sentence yesterday, which still felt like progress since I hadn’t touched it in two weeks.

I guess the good news is that it’s a rainy weekend, so it feels ok to stay in and work on the book.. If all goes well, I’ll get a lot of editing done, and maybe by the end of next month I’ll finally have a first draft and allow someone else to read it.. that’s a big step. :)

The problem I’ve come across, is that I want to completely re-write the first portion of my book. I originally wrote the beginning in 7th grade, and never finished the story. Over the years I kept going back to it and editing it slightly. A year or two ago I picked it up and decided to just leave the beginning alone and just continue the story. I wonder now if that was a big mistake. There isn’t a natural flow from the beginning to the end now. I can easily tell the part that I wrote originally, from the new part.

Anyone have any advice? I’ve tried to think about it, tried reading what I have so far, and have written the first page of the book a few times only to find it’s not even close to how I want it.

I need to figure something out before the month ends. I was thinking about adding to the end of the story a when they’re back home part, and then just taking it off and sticking it in the beginning haha.

Every time I try I fail. I’ve decided that starting in February I’ll devote an hour a day for just THINKING about my book. If something grabs me during that hour and makes me feel like writing, great, otherwise I’ll just be thinking about it all month. o_O

I guess I’m just finding that I’m not thinking about the book much lately because of other goals. If I dedicate time to think about it, I feel I’ll actually make some progress. This is one of my top goals, so I can’t just let it sit there collecting dust.

The book is finished. Wrote it for National Write a Novel month. Now the problem is finding the time to re-write the whole beginning and edit it all! I’ve tried starting it 3 times now, and I’m only on page three. Now I’ve decided that I’ve started it wrong and will have to attack it again once I feel some sort of inspiration.