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caz2108
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It occurred to me the other day as I tapped away at revision God knows what on one of my manuscripts...I wonder how long I'll be picking at it? And am I deliberately putting off submitting because, subconsciously, I know it's going to be rejected? I did once get to typing 'THE END'...but then a few weeks later I was messing around with it again.
I'm sure we all secretly think our work has some potential even in its early revisions, but I wondered who out there held the record for continuing to revise and revise and revise and revise.....and never submitting....
Come on...I'll start it off (and I bet this is nowt to some of you)....revision 12 in 2 years....
Caz
p.s. There's no prize. Sorry.
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kazmojazz
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I've been writing mine for two years, four months and still going strong. The only things that have stayed the same throughout are the names of my MCs (edit: as you know, Caz). I do sometimes wonder if I don't want to finish it because I'll miss my characters. Can't imagine writing THE END. I'd be lost.
This post was last edited by kazmojazz, 03 Aug 2011, 17:57
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dendon
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A quick audit... (never done before). 11 yrs writing, (life got in the way) lost count of drafts, I remember at least 9 Chapter 1s, half a dozen titles, (as I discovered that some already published authors stole my titles). 251,000 words of possible ideas, some rubbish, some ok. I call this the Master Script, useful to refer back to when I'm lost for thought. Plus I'll forget them if I don't write them down, file them, then add to some semblance of chronology via word. 1,552 words outline plans B1 46,903 words of background notes (but still typing up from handwritten notes, when I can be bothered) 1,411 words of notes to consider changing 103,267 words for B1 (currently going through yet another redraft) 37,719 words for B2 (mostly in note form) and a file of stick drawings. And this was supposed to be one book... it has burgeoned into a supposed quadrilogy, nowhere near finished, and listening to some reviewers is still rubbish... Oh, and nothing has stayed the same...
This post was last edited by dendon, 03 Aug 2011, 18:47
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archie_the_cat
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I don’t really consider myself a proper writer – I won’t until I get a book published. But isn’t that sort of process you describe– re-writing, changing the story, changing the characters – isn’t that sort of writing another book?
I wrote my first (and only) book in 14 weeks.
At least that was the time from when I started, to when I get to the end of the story. Then there was a period of letting people read it and give me comments and feedback. That led me to revise and add bits, but not really change the basic story in any way. Then there was proofreading which took maybe 2 months.
The whole job was done in 9 months.
I rather assumed that was a lot longer than most people would take – but from the above it sounds rather speedy.
Of course the book might be shite, but that’s another issue.
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kazmojazz
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In a way, I suppose, it is writing another book but it changes so gradually - evolves, maybe - that it's like the difference between a tadpole and a frog. The genes are the same, but the appearance is totally different.
Oh dear! Should never post after a glass of wine!
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sewise
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I've been writing Tales of the Runners for 3 years now and keep starting again. I have even started it over 3 times in the last 3 months. I have loads of scenes and rough drafts, but being on here has opened my eyes to how rubbish some of those are. Stephen King started writing his Dark Tower series in 1978 and finally published the last volume in 2004 - 26 years after the first one came out. Mind you, he scribbled some other stuff in between
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caz2108
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Quote: kazmojazz, Wednesday, 3 Aug 2011 20:25In a way, I suppose, it is writing another book but it changes so gradually - evolves, maybe - that it's like the difference between a tadpole and a frog. The genes are the same, but the appearance is totally different. Oh dear! Should never post after a glass of wine! Tadpoles and frogs?? How many have you had?? Ruddy hell, I hope you're not revising JAC whilst under the infuence. I don't want to see any satanic amphibians when i next read it.....  x
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kazmojazz
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Quote: caz2108, Wednesday, 3 Aug 2011 20:34Tadpoles and frogs?? How many have you had?? Ruddy hell, I hope you're not revising JAC whilst under the infuence. I don't want to see any satanic amphibians when i next read it.....  x    Hic!
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caz2108
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Quote: sewise, Wednesday, 3 Aug 2011 20:32I've been writing Tales of the Runners for 3 years now and keep starting again. I have even started it over 3 times in the last 3 months. I have loads of scenes and rough drafts, but being on here has opened my eyes to how rubbish some of those are. Stephen King started writing his Dark Tower series in 1978 and finally published the last volume in 2004 - 26 years after the first one came out. Mind you, he scribbled some other stuff in between Never mind that Stewart...have you had your A363 exam mark back yet????  Caz (a fellow A363 student)
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caz2108
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Quote: kazmojazz, Wednesday, 3 Aug 2011 20:40Quote: caz2108, Wednesday, 3 Aug 2011 20:34Tadpoles and frogs?? How many have you had?? Ruddy hell, I hope you're not revising JAC whilst under the infuence. I don't want to see any satanic amphibians when i next read it.....  x    Hic! JAC and the (Frog)spawn of satan...hmmm...kind of got a ring to it.....
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